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November 30, 2022
In The Country with Dave Woods: One On One With Dustin Bird
December 21, 2022In The News (December 2022)
This section of the newsletter is comprised of news stories, press releases and links to Internet articles that are sent in by our members who believe they will be of general interest to the membership. We include them as a courtesy to our members but do not verify or edit their content. Their inclusion does not constitute an endorsement by the CMAOntario nor do their contents reflect the views or opinions of the CMAOntario. If you would like to have something included in the newsletter, please send us a short synopsis, a photo or graphic and the hotlink that can be included in the news listing. Submissions can be sent to verle@cmaontario.ca. Please make sure the Subject Line reads “For inclusion in the CMAOntario Newsletter”. The deadline for submissions is the 20th of each month.
Paige Rutledge Drops “Ain’t That Bad”
Paige Rutledge has released her latest single, “Ain’t That Bad” to streaming platforms everywhere. Written by Paige Rutledge, Lydia Sutherland and Rich Cloke, “Ain’t That Bad” comes after Paige’s summer release, “Drinking Alone”, which landed the playlist cover for Breakthrough Country on Amazon Music and made Spotify’s RADAR Playlist.
Link to streaming services: https://linktr.ee/paigerutledge
https://www.paigerutledge.com/
(Source: Member Submission)
US Country Music Demographic Data from Luminate
7.6 million viewers tuned into the 56th Annual CMA Awards featuring performances by Carrie Underwood, Luke Combs, Carly Pearce, Zac Brown Band, Lainey Wilson, Patty Loveless with Chris Stapleton, Miranda lambert and many more. Country music continues to reign as one of the most popular genres, as 8% of Music Listeners in the U.S. expressed Country as the single genre they listen to most often (second to Classic Rock with 9%). With Country music’s continued success, many are curious to look further into the genre’s fans as we continue to see its growth in consumption (YTD 73.5B ODA Streams, up 12% compared to the same period last year) and how it is also diversifying. Data from Luminate’s Artist + Genre Tracker shows that 58% of Country fans are Female and 29% are Baby Boomers. We also learned that 48% of Country Gen Z fans discover new music and artists from short video clips on social media websites/apps compared to 43% of Country Millennial fans whose discovery is from video/audio streaming services.
As a sample analysis using Luminate’s Artist + Genre Tracker, we can look into Lainey Wilson and Cody Johnson, who were top winners at the CMA Awards, and Breland, a New Jersey native who is having a successful year. Breland is one of the emerging black artists bridging the gap between cultures and shaping country music’s future.
Luminate is: “Entertainment’s preeminent data and insights company, unleashing access to the most essential, objective, and trustworthy information across music, film and television.”
(Source: Luminate Data Newsletter – Edited)
Angela Saini is “In It For The Ride”
Angela Saini has released her newest single “In It For The Ride”. The track is a sassy country-pop rocker that bursts with big hooks, sunny harmonies, and thoughtful messaging. It epitomizes hope while living through challenging moments where you just want to give up.
“In recent years I have found a deep peace and confidence in my journey and creativity, and have come to realize that it’s not where we GO, it’s who we BECOME” Angela says. The song is about celebrating the journey, which is just as important as the destination.
YouTube video: https://youtu.be/dfNc-k_QogY
Streaming Links: https://music.angelasaini.com/iiftr
(Source: Member Submission)
The Steel Horse Gypsies Release “Mornings With Maggie”
The Steel Horse Gypsies – featuring Bill McConnell, Wendell Ferguson, Aaron Solomon, Rob Angelow, John Granberg and Joe Iannuzzi – have released their latest single “Mornings With Maggie”.
Watch the video HERE.
Stream on Spotify HERE.
(Source: Member Submission)
Bree Taylor Offers Hope for the Lonely-Hearted in Single “My Last Breath” from New Album Dauntless
Bree Taylor, Mississauga Music’s FAN CHOICE Award 2022 recipient, released her final single – “My Last Breath” which is merely one song of perseverance on an entire album, Dauntless, dedicated to fearlessness. Dauntless received funding from the Ontario Arts Council, as a recipient of the disability arts grant in support of Bree’s album and experience as an artist with a hearing disability.
“My Last Breath” is the final single off Taylor’s debut album Dauntless, representing her metamorphosis as a person and an artist. “Dauntless was chosen as a title because the word encompasses who I have become as a person and as an artist in being bold, fearless, courageous and unapologetically me,” Taylor explains. “It represents coming into who I am and standing up for myself and what I believe in and not being told who to be or having to fit someone else’s mold of who they think I should be.”
Dauntless kicks off on an upbeat, exuberant note with “Turn It Up” – celebrating life, and the love of music. “Burning Bridges” (which soared to No. 1 on the Canadian Indie charts in October 2020) promotes forward movement, and the willingness to keep going despite any roadblocks. Then, with its laid-back chorus of “put your beers up in the air,” “Sha La La” comes along as an ode to fun, and memorable nights out full of live music, karaoke, and, yes, plenty of beer! The smash hit “Kryptonite” – which yielded a second No. 1 hit on the charts, along with nominations for “Song of the Year,” “Video of the Year,” and “Best New Artist” from the Mississauga Music Awards – is about an addictive relationship that’s wrong even though it feels so right.
Meanwhile, the heartbreaking “Cry” hit No. 2 on the Indie charts, and it captures the healing power of a good cry and it being okay to not be okay sometimes. “Drive” goes back to the theme of putting the pedal to the metal, about a revitalizing road trip with your best girlfriends. “On My Own” further encapsulates dauntlessness, in an introspective examination of trusting oneself and being okay alone. The album concludes on the aforementioned “My Last Breath,” simultaneously about a life-changing love, and the aching desire for it before it arrives.
Bree also holds philanthropic causes close to her heart. Supporting and bringing awareness to mental health, human equality and poverty. Bree recently kicked off her new concert series ‘Cheers & Beers’ on June 10th, 2022, in support of TenFed and Kids Against Hunger Canada, helping to feed children and families suffering from food insensitivity in Canada and across the globe. The series is set to return in the new year and celebrate Bree’s album release with the vinyl records available at the end of March 2023.
Her newest single, “My Last Breath,” and her unshakeable debut album Dauntless are both available now.
(Source: Member Submission)
“Sand In My Boots” is the Latest Single from Alli Walker
Ontario singer-songwriter and Spotify’s Radar Artist on the Horizon, Alli Walker, has released the song, “Sand In My Boots (Female POV)”, November 18th, 2022.
Alli Walker, Eric Paul and producer Dustin Bird took the storyline of “Sand In My Boots” (the #1 song from Morgan Wallen, about a short-lived romance while out of town) and re-wrote it from the female’s perspective, garnering TikTok traffic. Boasting over 2M+ streams, Walker has landed spots on some of Canada’s top playlists, including covers on both Apple Music’s ‘Canada’s Country’ and Amazon Music’s ‘Breakthrough Country.’ She continues the momentum from the recent release of “Same Stars”, as well as her CMAOntario Awards nomination in the Rising Star category.
Link to single: https://ffm.to/sandinmybootsalliwalker
(Source: Member Submission)
James Downham Puts Finishing Touches on Upcoming Debut Album
Stratford, Ontario’s James Downham is putting the finishing touches on his upcoming debut full-length country album, ‘The Long Way Home.’ His current album single, “Raised On,” is at country radio right now. The album is due for release on April 20th, 2023, with an album release concert at Stratford’s Revival House live music venue. Downham will be joined on stage by special guest, Amanda Kind, to perform their duet, “We’re Okay”.
In October, Downham filmed the music video for upcoming single, “Wine and Whiskey” with Roadhouse Productions. Filming took place at Revival House and Stratford’s Rockwell Lounge. The video and song will be released in the New Year.
(Source: CCMA The Source)
MDM Wraps Up 2022
MDM Recordings released a compilation MDM Wrap Up on December 16th.
The collection features remixes, rarities and the hits and comprises everything from fan favourites to previously unreleased tunes.
Check out their socials for more info:
https://www.instagram.com/mdmrecordings/
https://www.facebook.com/MDMRecordings
https://twitter.com/mdmrecordings
(Source: CCMA The Source)
Andrew Hyatt Releases Holiday Single “All We Need”
Sudbury’s Andrew Hyatt raises a toast to the ones he loves with his latest holiday single “All We Need”, out now via 604 Records.
Written in collaboration with writer, producer and engineer Derek Hoffman, the sentimental track reflects on the highs, lows, and moments of love and loss throughout the year and encourages listeners to hold onto hope.
(Source: CCMA The Source)
Tim Hicks Headlines 2023 Boots and Hearts Kick Off Party
Tim Hicks will headline the Thursday night Kick Off Party at the 2023 Boots and Hearts Music Festival with rising star Josh Ross.
The multiple CMAOntario Awards winner, five-time JUNO Award nominee and CCMA Award winner has quite a track record: a Double Platinum selling single, three Platinum selling singles, nine Gold singles, one Gold album and eighteen Top 10 radio hits (including the #1 singles “No Truck Song” and “What A Song Should Do”), in addition to over 100 million collective streams.
Tim is attacking the Top Ten at Canadian Country Radio this month with his single “Dodge Out of Hell” from his latest album Talk To Time, released September 2nd. Talk To Time has surpassed over 10 million global streams and includes the most recent single “Whiskey Does”.
Tim recently wrapped up his cross Canada Zero To Sixty Tour with special guest Robyn Ottolini. Follow Tim Hicks for 2023 touring and festival news: https://www.timhicksmusic.com/
(Source: CCMA The Source)
Ron Robertson Releases Bristol
Ontario singer-songwriter Ron Robertson has just released his second album, Bristol.
Bristol combines rock, folk and rockabilly to create the album’s 11 original tracks. The album includes a duet with Suzie Vinnick and features some of Canada’s finest musicians, including: Wendell Ferguson, John Dymond, Gary Craig, Burke Carrol.
Look for the first single to be released in January 2023.
(Source: CCMA The Source)
Larry Delaney: A Life Immersed In and Enriched By Country Music
Larry Delaney is a builder, but don’t think house construction. For over 32 years, the long-time New Edinburgh resident has been instrumental in helping to build the careers of hundreds of Canadian country musicians as the former editor and publisher of Country Music News.
Launched with local musician Neville Wells in 1980 on a shoestring budget, CMM was the only country music publication with a national focus. It ceased publication in 2012. Delaney’s incalculable contribution to the country music industry was recognized in June 2022 when he was awarded the Impact Award from the Country Music Association of Ontario.
(Full Article: New Edinburgh.ca)
Graham Scott Fleming Releases “Somedays”
Graham Scott Fleming recently signed with Paquin Artists Agency and is booking festivals and shows into 2023. Graham recently released the single “Somedays”, featuring it during his opening set for Aaron Pritchett at The Ranch in Barrie. The music video for “Somedays” has already clocked up 35,000 views.
(Source: CCMA The Source)
The Reklaws Offer a Hot Weekend in The Cold
The Reklaws will be offering a hot weekend in the cold weather months by bringing their Winter’s a Beach Whirlwind Weekend tour to their hometown of Kitchener on January 26 at Centre In The Square, Toronto’s HISTORY on January 27 and in Montreal at Le Studio TD on January 29th.
(Source: CCMA The Source)
“Tell Me Something Good” is The Latest Single from Johnson’s Creek
Johnson’s Creek is hyping the release of their latest single, titled “Tell Me Something Good”. Written by Johnson’s Creek, the track was recorded, produced, engineered and mastered by Johnson’s Creek’s lead guitarist Michael Lanteigne in his home studio in Newmarket, Ontario. Look for 2023 touring news on their official site: https://johnsonscreekband.com/
(Source: CCMA The Source)