MusicACT president Gil Miller said with more than a $20,000 hole in next year's budget it was unlikely the annual MAMAs would go ahead if more money wasn't found.

''It's a real stumbling block,'' he said. ''A lot of work will need to be done to cover this funding hole. The shortfall is about a quarter of the total funding we need to find for 2014.''

Held for the second time last month, the MAMA Awards were supported by a $22,500 ACT government grant.

The ACT Festival Fund and Events Assistance Program have been amalgamated into a single ACT Event Fund and streamlined application process that runs on a calendar year basis.

Mr Miller said he wasn't aware of the changes until it was too late to make a proposal for the 2014 round.

''There used to be two rounds a year,'' he said. ''It was our responsibility and not Event ACT's fault, but we didn't get the application in on time.''

A spokesman for the ACT Minister for Tourism and Events said while it was unfortunate an application wasn't lodged for funding, information about the changes was advertised, mailed out and available online.

In a competitive round with 79 individual applications for funding, $602,000 has been granted to 33 Canberra events in 2014.

Events initiated as part of the 2013 Canberra centenary celebrations, such as Parties at the Shops where local communities celebrate their suburb, and the Canberra Comedy Festival, are set to continue with the aid of state government grants.

Associate director of the Canberra Comedy Festival, Benjamin Stevenson, said he was delighted with the government support.

''It's a good example of the ACT government getting behind a mainstream event that people want to go to,'' he said. ''The truth is, we can't get this stuff off the ground without this sort of funding assistance.''

Mr Miller said his lack of attention to detail caused the missed opportunity for ACT Event Funding but he was disappointed when other applications for grant assistance were rejected.

''We applied for three lots of funding from artsACT and didn't get it. I was really hopeful there would be support from artsACT,'' he said.

With the avenues for state funding closed, Mr Miller said private sponsorship could be a lifeline for MAMAs.

''We are trying to secure a major sponsor,'' he said. ''But it will most likely be a number of small private sponsors, which is a lot of legwork.''

Despite the setbacks Mr Miller remains positive that music lovers will pick up the shortfall when they realise what is at stake.

''We are going to have to do a lot of advocacy and get real support for the local music scene, but we will get there one way or another.''