About
Emerging from the 2018 council-approved Ottawa Music Strategy, #ottmusic has evolved into an initiative that brings together City-led programs, opportunities and information for musicians and residents.
In 2020, the City launched three core #ottmusic programs – Music on Hold, OC Transpo Busking Program and City Sounds.
This is a great opportunity for local musicians to share their music with Ottawa residents and beyond! An Ottawa artist has been defined as one who resides within 150 kilometres of the City centre.
Please check back regularly as more content will be added. For more information contact MOH_MA@ottawa.ca.
For further updates on this unique initiative, follow the City on Twitter @ottawacity, on Instagram @cityofottawa or like the City of Ottawa on Facebook.
How to apply
Applications for #ottmusic 2022 have now closed.
Please check back for program result announcements.
For more information contact MOH_MA@ottawa.ca.
Music on Hold
Applications for Music on Hold 2022 are closed and will reopen winter 2023.
Music on Hold is a program that brings local music to the City of Ottawa's phone system. When a caller has to wait on the phone, we want them to hear your music! Your music will also be featured on this page, so if a caller likes what they hear, they can connect with you directly.
The City of Ottawa is furthering its commitment to providing new opportunities to Ottawa's cultural community, while offering residents an enhanced experience when calling the City. The City wants to help musicians reach a broader audience and to show musicians our appreciation.
Interested in applying next year? Here is what you’ll need to know.
Rules
- Applicants must live within 150 km of the City of Ottawa.
- Submissions must not include profanity, violent or discriminatory language.
- Must be original music owned by the applicant.
- Only one submission per applicant or group.
- Applicants must be aged 18+
All submissions will be reviewed by a committee of musicians and industry professionals from the Ottawa area who will recommend up to 25 songs for use on the City of Ottawa phone system. Recommendations will be based on artistic merit, diversity, community involvement and content. Each successful applicant will receive a $200 licensing fee for use of up to 1 minute of the song during a 12-month period.
For more information please contact MOH_MA@ottawa.ca.
Music on Hold Playlist 2022
The City of Ottawa is very proud to introduce 35 tracks selected for the Music on Hold playlist!
A committee of musicians and industry professionals from the Ottawa area selected each track for the Music on Hold playlist. Themes, points of view or comments conveyed in each track are those of the artist and do not represent those of the City of Ottawa.
OC Transpo Busking Program
OC Transpo’s busking program will bring local musical entertainment, vibrancy and a sense of community to O-Train Line 1 stations.
The program falls under the City’s #ottmusic initiative and will help to expand City-led music programming.
Due to COVID-19 the OC Transpo Busking Program is on hold until we can assess all program elements and ensure they meet current public health directives. The health and safety of our customers, staff, and partners remains our primary focus during these times.
We will communicate updates as soon as more information is available.
For more information please contact MOH_MA@ottawa.ca.
City Sounds
Applications for City Sounds 2022 have now closed.
Please check back for program result announcements.
Discover the strength and diversity of Ottawa's music scene through City Sounds, an annual streamable playlist featuring local musicians.
The goal of this program is to showcase musicians who live in the Ottawa region!
Interested in applying next year? Here is what you’ll need to know:
Rules:
- This opportunity is free and voluntary to applicants who live within 150 km of the City of Ottawa.
- Submissions must not include profanity, violent or discriminatory language.
- Must be original music owned by the applicant.
- Only one submission per applicant.
- Review and indicate your consent to the terms and conditions of the License Agreement.
- Applicants must be aged 18+
All submissions will be reviewed for profanity, violent or discriminatory language.
For more information please contact MOH_MA@ottawa.ca.
City Sounds License Agreement
Please review the terms and conditions of the following License Agreement if you would like your song to be considered for inclusion in the City Sounds playlist.
- I (the Artist) have submitted a sound recording to the City of Ottawa (the City) that is an original musical work that I created and own. I have not granted exclusive rights to this sound recording to any other person or entity.
- The City will use my sound recording to promote my work to the public through inclusion in a streamable playlist of local musicians on ottawa.ca. I agree this is valuable and sufficient consideration.
- I hereby grant to the City a non-exclusive worldwide, royalty-free, perpetual license at no cost to the City, to copy, use, reproduce, adapt, distribute, transmit and make available to the public in all media and formats now known or hereafter devised including a digital copy to be made available for streaming on the City of Ottawa website.
- I warrant and represent that the sound recording is my original work and I have the necessary ownership rights. I warrant and represent that the sound recording does not violate the proprietary rights of others. I further warrant and represent that the sound recording does not contain explicit lyrics or matter which is defamatory, an invasion of privacy, or an unlawful appropriation of name and likeness.
- I understand and agree that the City of Ottawa may, at its sole discretion, determine whether to accept and use any part of my sound recording, and may select a sound recording of up to the full song recording. The City may, at its sole discretion, determine the length of time it uses and re-uses the sound recording and may discontinue its use of the sound recordings at any time without notice to me.
- The City of Ottawa assumes no liability for any damages or costs arising from this License Agreement or arising from its use of my sound recording.
- This Agreement will take effect at the date and time my sound recording is submitted to City.
- I may terminate this Agreement for convenience upon thirty days written notice to the City. Terminating this Agreement will result in my sound recording being removed from the playlist following the notice period. Written notice may be provided to MOH_MA@ottawa.ca.
- The City may terminate this Agreement for convenience at any time without notice.
City Sounds Playlist 2021
The City of Ottawa is very proud to introduce 117 tracks submitted for the City Sounds playlist!
Themes, points of view or comments conveyed in each track are those of the artist and do not represent those of the City of Ottawa.