#ottmusic

To participate: #ottmusic application form

Deadline: April 3, 2025 at 1 pm

More information: MOH_MA@ottawa.ca

Since 2015, #ottmusic has evolved into an initiative that brings together City-led programs, opportunities, and information for musicians and residents.

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 further updates on this unique initiative, follow the City of Ottawa on X (formerly Twitter), Instagram, or like the City of Ottawa on Facebook.

Use this application form to apply to one or any of the #ottmusic programs for 2025:

• Music on Hold, and
• City Sounds.

Simply select the program or programs you wish to apply to and fill in the required fields.

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.

To participate: #ottmusic application form (link)

Deadline: April 3, 2025 at 1 pm

Rules

1. Applicants must live within 150 km of the City of Ottawa.
2. Submissions must not include profanity, violent or discriminatory language.
3. Must be original music owned by the applicants. Original music is defined as a piece of music that has not been written or produced before.
4. Only one submission per applicant or group.
5. Applicants must be aged 18+. An individual cannot apply on behalf of a minor. 
6. City of Ottawa employees or elected representatives are not eligible to apply. 

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, artistic practice and community involvement, and content. Each successful applicant will receive a $200 licensing fee for use of the song during a 12-month period.

For more information, please review the #ottmusic application form or contact MOH_MA@ottawa.ca.

The City of Ottawa is very proud to introduce 25 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.

Discover the strength and diversity of Ottawa's music scene through City Sounds, an annual program featuring a streamable playlist of local music and promotional use in other free City programs and services.

The goal of this program is to showcase musicians who live in the Ottawa region!

To participate: #ottmusic application form

Deadline: April 3, 2025 at 1 pm

Rules

1. This opportunity is free and voluntary to applicants who live within 150 km of the City of Ottawa.
2. Submissions must not include profanity, violent or discriminatory language.
3. Must be original music owned by the applicants. Original music is defined as a piece of music that has not been written or produced before.
4. Only one submission per applicant or group.
5. Review and indicate your consent to the terms and conditions of the License Agreement.
6. Applicants must be aged 18+. An individual cannot apply on behalf of a minor. 
7. City of Ottawa employees or elected representatives are not eligible to apply. 

All submissions will be reviewed for profanity, violent or discriminatory language.

For more information, please review the #ottmusic application form orcontact MOH_MA@ottawa.ca.

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 and promotional use in other free City programs and services.

1. 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.
2. I certify that I am the applicant for myself/or the group and that we are 18 years of age or older.
3. I hereby grant to the City a non-exclusive worldwide, royalty-free, perpetual license of my sound recording 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 from the City of Ottawa website and in promotion of free City programs and services where myself and the City Sounds program are credited. I agree that my sound recording being made available to the public through the City Sounds program is valuable and sufficient consideration.
4. 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.
5. 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.
6. I hereby grant to the City a non-exclusive worldwide, royalty-free, perpetual license at no cost to the City, to use and make available to the public my images and artwork for the purpose of promotion of my work by the City in all media and formats now known or hereafter devised. 
7. 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.
8. This Agreement will take effect at the date and time my sound recording is submitted to City.
9. 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 and other City uses following the notice period. Written notice may be provided to MOH_MA@ottawa.ca.
10. The City may terminate this Agreement for convenience at any time without notice. 

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.