Purpose of the Indigenous Music Countdown (IMC)
We provide a national platform that amplifies Indigenous voices, strengthens our music ecosystem, and also builds visibility across Turtle Island with our valued partnerships.
The Indigenous Music Countdown (IMC) was established in 2001 to create a central, recognized chart for “radio ready” Indigenous music. It functions similar to a “Billboard” for the community by tracking popularity, community and industry impact and radio play. By providing measurable recognition through chart positions of popular songs, the IMC helps artists build industry credibility and provides a career asset that supports grant applications, media kits, and touring pitches.
Furthermore, the IMC supports cultural sovereignty within the music industry as a form of Indigenous cultural control in broadcasting. It ensures that Indigenous music is not gate kept by mainstream radio. We also prioritize Indigenous languages and stories, and create space for artists who may not necessarily fit on commercial radio formats, ultimately strengthening self-determined cultural visibility and representation in the media.
IMC Guidelines, Criteria and Procedures
These guidelines establish the standards, criteria, and procedures for selecting music for the Indigenous Music Countdown’s Top 40. We strive to ensure consistency, fairness, co-broadcaster relevance, cultural responsibility, and compliance with Canadian broadcasting regulations.
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Guiding Principles
Music selection for the IMC Top 40 must:
- Have an Indigenous lead vocalist/front person who has submitted Indigenous Identity background for on-air reference
- A single must not be older than six-months old to comply with CRTC regulations
- Consideration of media attention, touring, number of streams, fan support, etc.
- Match the formats IMC regularly features, these include: CHR, AC, EDM, Country, Singer- Songwriter, Pop, Rock, Hip Hop, fusions with traditional vocals and/or instrumentation.
Some genres not included within the IMC format at this time due to significant submissions are: cover songs (unless, they feature an Indigenous language and or include traditional instrumentation), experimental music, spoken word, classical, cover songs, heavy metal, thrash punk, opera and jazz instrumentals.
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Radio Ready – Quality Standards for Broadcast Partners including SiriusXM
The IMC’s goal is to deliver an overall playlist that reflects commercial radio standards, featuring fresh new music that represents the best Indigenous radio music available throughout Turtle Island and beyond. This includes the following technical standards but not limited to:
- Professional mix + master— balanced frequencies, clean vocals, controlled lows and high ends.
- Loudness consistency— mastered to appropriate standards so the single does not distort under radio compression. Radio processors add heavy multiband compression; the track must withstand it.
- Dynamic range preserved— not over compressed; mids and low ends retain a punch.
- Peak levels — no clipping; peaks controlled for broadcast.
- Clean audio— non musical noise, artifacts, distorted levels, or file integrity issues.
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Musical & Structural Standards
The IMC team also gives consideration to songwriting and the overall structure of a song:
- Length 3–4 minute is ideal for most FM formats.
- Strong hook early— memorable chorus and musical hooks that entice immediate listener engagement.
- Clear structure— i.e. intro, verse, chorus, bridge; no long intros (this is only a reference, songs chosen usually possess dynamic structures).
- Wide appeal themes — emotional, or relatable content, song themes that strongly trigger trauma may not be suitable for the IMC. These songs usually require a/an interview(s) and possible help-line contact information.
- Clean (non‑explicit) versionRadio edits are recommended in these cases. Too many edits weaken the enjoy ability of a song. Some artists have edited radio friendly versions with alternative lyrics which work well.
IMC Submission – Frequently Asked Questions
Why do I have to share my Indignity to submit my music to the IMC?
- The Indigenous Music Countdown focuses on featuring music by Indigenous artists. To ensure legitimate representation on the IMC charts, we must accurately reference your Indigenous heritage. We require specific details regarding your affiliation to connect your music to the wider Indigenous community. If your music is selected, this information will be referenced alongside your name on our social media platforms and during on-air broadcasts. Please provide details regarding your First Nations, Inuit, or Métis heritage, including the specific community or nation with which you are registered or affiliated. Please note that a general statement of being Indigenous is not sufficient for the IMC’s programming requirements. Additionally, unverified family lore is not considered a valid identifier for IMC airplay.
What audio formats do you accept for submissions?
- The IMC accepts WAV or MP3 file submissions.
Is it important to register my music for radio play royalties?
- Yes, absolutely. This is the responsibility of the artist/producer/manager or otherwise to register musical works with SOCAN, who will assign you an ISRC registration.
Can I submit a new song while I’m still on the IMC Chart?
- The IMC receives thousands of submissions each year. In order to be fair to the many emmerging artists as possible that we receive, we initiated a grace period of three to four weeks for an artist to enter a follow-up song on the IMC chart.
- Not all submissions are added,selection is largely weighted by the “radio readiness” of a track. We sometimes receive submissions that are of demo quality, lack professional production standards, or do not match our program format. Other times, we simply have a high amount of songs on standby to add. Please bear in mind that a selection process is necessary given the high volume of music we receive each month from across Turtle Island and beyond. Unfortunately, our program’s scope is not wide enough to highlight every artist submitted. Other factors that influence a songs addition include:- The Waiting List: Again, we often have many tracks on standby to be added, and we want to work toward adding new voices.
– Chart Balance: We consider the current ratio of fast versus slow songs.
– Representation: A balance of First Nation, Métis, Inuit artists, regional representation, gender, and other diversity ratios.
These are a few of the primary components of the IMC selection process