2023 CMAOntario Awards: Winners Announced!

The Country Music Association of Ontario
Announces
Winners of the 2023 CMAOntario Awards

Robyn Ottolini and The Reklaws Lead In Wins

June 4, 2023 (HAMILTON)

The Country Music Association of Ontario (CMAOntario) is proud to announce the winners for the 11^th Annual CMAOntario Awards, which took place June 4 at Theatre Aquarius in Hamilton, Ontario. Presented by Slaight Music, the CMAOntario Awards acknowledged the talent and achievements of Ontario’s country music industry across 19 categories with presentations and performances.

Robyn Ottolini took home Single of the Year and Female Artist of the Year, while The Reklaws scored Group or Duo of the Year and The Compass Award.

Hosted by Jason McCoy and Shannon Ella, the 11th Annual CMAOntario Awards Show featured performances by Jade Eagleson, Robyn Ottolini, Nate Haller, Karli June, Graham Scott Fleming, Sacha, Elyse Saunders, Vincent Bishop, Jason Blaine, Genevieve Fisher, Andrew Hyatt, Ryan Langdon, Owen Riegling, Julian Taylor, and The Western Swing Authority.

The CMAOntario Awards also included a special performance by Jason McCoy and Nicole Rayy in honour of 2023 Impact Award recipients The Family Brown, and a tribute performance to Gordon Lightfoot featuring The Good Brothers.

THE 2023 CMAONTARIO AWARD WINNERS ARE:

SINGLE OF THE YEAR – sponsored by Pure Country 93
“Say It” – Robyn Ottolini

ALBUM OF THE YEAR – sponsored by Country 106.7
Party in the Back – Nate Haller

SONGWRITER(S) OF THE YEAR – sponsored by SOCAN
Steven Lee Olsen, Brandon Day – Nashville or Nothing (recorded by Steven Lee Olsen)

FEMALE ARTIST OF THE YEAR – sponsored by VEC Entertainment Group
Robyn Ottolini

MALE ARTIST OF THE YEAR – sponsored by IBEW Local 353
Tim Hicks

GROUP OR DUO OF THE YEAR – sponsored by Country 103
The Reklaws

RECORD PRODUCER(S) OF THE YEAR
Karen Kosowski – Karli June

RADIO STATION OF THE YEAR (LARGE MARKET)  – sponsored by Fielding Estate Winery
KX-947, Hamilton

RADIO STATION OF THE YEAR (MEDIUM MARKET) – sponsored by Lucknow’s Music in the Fields
Pure Country 105, Peterborough

RADIO STATION OF THE YEAR (SMALL MARKET)
100.1 FM The Ranch, Listowel

ROOTS ARTIST OR GROUP OF THE YEAR
Mackenzie Leigh Meyer

RISING STAR – sponsored by Slaight Music
Josh Ross

MUSIC VIDEO OF THE YEAR – sponsored by Jim Dunlop Productions
“Genes” – Elyse Saunders

MUSIC INDUSTRY PERSON OF THE YEAR – sponsored by Manrkē
Dave Woods

FRANCOPHONE ARTIST OR GROUP OF THE YEAR
Reney Ray

FANS’ CHOICE – sponsored by Tourism Hamilton
Jade Eagleson

COMPASS AWARD – sponsored by Luminate
The Reklaws

HOLLY & STEVE KASSAY GENEROUS SPIRIT AWARD
Kayla Wilging

IMPACT AWARD
Family Brown

The CMAOntario Award Show was preceded by a weekend of activities as part of the CMAOntario Festival & Awards Weekend, June 2-4, 2023. The CMAOntario Festival & Awards Weekend included Songs & Stories: Songwriters in the Round, R2i TuneUp Conference, Bonfire and Tailgate Party.

www.cmaontario.ca
Facebook / Twitter / Instagram: @theCMAOntario
#CMAOntario

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Media Contact: Damien Nelson, damien@wantandable.ca

About CMAOntario: In 2007, Rob MacArthur and founding patron Linda Wright together with a number of key industry professionals founded the Country Music Association of Ontario. The Association’s mandate is to foster the growth and development of Ontario’s country music and its industry, provincially, nationally and internationally. The CMAOntario has hosted ten annual Awards Shows and seven two-day Road to Independence educational conferences with the generous assistance of presenting sponsor Slaight Music and support of Ontario Creates. www.cmaontario.ca

About Slaight Music: Slaight Music was started in 2011 with a mandate to support the Canadian music community through a variety of initiatives, and to develop Canadian talent via strategic partnerships with industry peers. We work with artists from across the country and across the musical spectrum, helping to further careers and get great music heard. We’re also invested in the technology sphere, helping Canadian music entrepreneurs develop the next generation of digital platforms and services. And, we support a variety of music-related events, causes and charities. www.slaightmusic.com