Over the last three years, our band has been lucky enough to receive a substantial amount of funding from the Radio Starmaker Fund, and it has completely changed the way that we look at the future of our business.

Today in the music industry, it sometimes feels like every day someone new is sticking their hand in your pocket -- especially on the touring side of the business — and it can really take its toll on the bank accounts of new artists and groups. Radio Starmaker stands nearly alone in the help department and has been our saving grace on more than one occasion; like the difference between sleeping in a sprinter van and in a hotel bed.

Our group was fortunate enough to have success relatively early in Canada, but it’s a big world out there and the global battle hasn’t been quite so swift, specifically in regions such as Europe and the United States. As one can imagine, anytime you do business outside of your home country the expenses add up, and just like any business still in its infancy, the money tends to go out faster than it comes in. Unlike most other businesses, musicians often don’t have the luxury of going to a bank or lender, and without access to funding like Radio Starmaker, most acts would be bankrupt before they make a dent in any foreign market.

We hear on a daily basis from fellow musicians in other countries about how lucky we are to have access to support like this. It gives us a leg up on every other country, and is a big reason why Canada is currently, and will continue to be, a dominant force in music around the world.

James Barker
James Barker Band