In The News (March 2023)

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.

The Western Swing Authority Ready New Album for 2023

Kitchener-Waterloo’s Western Swing Authority has new music coming in 2023.

The band spent a week in the studio with producer Colin Linden last month and tracked 12 songs. Tracks are currently being mixed and a full album release will be coming out later this year on the Curve Music label. This will be the band’s 5th full studio album.

(Source: CCMA Member News)

Amanda Jordan & Dayna Reid Among Semi-Finalists for 2023 SiriusXM’s Top of the Country

On February 28, SiriusXM Canada, in partnership with the Canadian Country Music Association® (CCMA), announced the eight semi-finalists for the 2023 SiriusXM’s Top of the Country competition. Among them are Ontario’s own Amanda Jordan and Dayna Reid. Each of the semi-finalists will record original tracks in-studio, which will be voted on by Canadian country fans. The field will be narrowed down to the top three, but only one will eventually be crowned the winner, receiving $25,000 and the title of the SiriusXM Top of the Country champion. 

The 2023 semi-finalists are: 

• Amanda Jordan – Smith Falls, Ontario 
• Dayna Reid – Elmvale, Ontario 
• Hailey Benedict – St. Albert, Alberta
• Noah Derksen – Winnipeg, Manitoba
• Teigen Gayse – Kelowna, B.C.
• Mark Ledlin – Vancouver, B.C.
• The Prairie States – Edmonton, Alberta
• Lydia Sutherland – Montréal, Québec

To learn more about the artists, please visit www.siriusxm.ca/topcountry.

(Source: Press Release (Edited))

Ryan Langdon Releases New Video: “Friends Don’t Let Friends”

“Friends Don’t Let Friends” is the latest release from Ryan Langdon. The track is currently available on all streaming platforms and at radio. An accompanying video for the song was released earlier this week on YouTube.

Watch here.

(Source: Member Submission)

James Downham Releases New Single “Wine & Whiskey”

James Downham’s latest single, “Wine & Whiskey” was released on Feb 24th and is now available on all streaming services. The track, from his upcoming full-length album, “The Long Way Home,” was produced by Matt Koebel (Amanda Kind, Angelica Appelman, Paige Rutledge). The song’s video, shot by Roadhouse Productions, features Hamilton actress Shannon MacKinnon (in her very first country music video!). The video was filmed in Downham’s hometown of Stratford, Ontario.

(Source: CCMA Member News (Edited))

Sam Davs Debuts “Wish You Were Hotter”

Sam Davs (Ottawa, ON) is heating things up with the release of her country/rock debut single “Wish You Were Hotter.” The inspiration came from being told by a guy that if she was “just a little bit hotter” he would have dated her. The resulting song is a body-positive empowering love anthem, having peaked at #44 on the iTunes Country Charts on release day. The new single has garnered over 4,500 collective streams and has been added to dozens of playlists since its release.

(Source: CCMA Member News (Edited))

Nicole Rayy’s Now & Then Reflects on Decade Since Debut Release

A decade after her debut EP, Alliston, Ontario’s Nicole Rayy reflects on the essential markers of her career with the release of her new album Now & Then. The album features fan favourites that have already accumulated over 2.5 million Spotify streams. Nicole has grown her name in the industry for bringing female-identifying artists together through her All Woman Music showcase series, which has seen showcases and songwriter rounds across Canada.

The CMAOntario member joins the Blue Jay Sessions for a collaboration on March 10. The acclaimed Blue Jay Sessions series hosts its first-ever Edmonton pop-up from March 9-12 at two venues, OTTO Food & Drink and the EPCOR Tower. The OTTO series (March 9-11) presents two songwriters’ sessions per evening. More info here.

(Source: Multiple sources)

Julianne Hobby Releases New Single “End Of Day Sun”

Julianne Hobby’s new single, “End Of Day Sun”, was released March 3, 2023.

This song comes on the heels of her debut in January, “Say It First”, released across all streaming platforms. Hailing from London, Ontario, Julianne’s full length album is slated for release this year.

(Source: CCMA Member News (Edited))

Andrew Hyatt Releases New Single & Video “Four Good Years”

On February 15, Sudbury’s award-winning Andrew Hyatt shared the official acoustic video for his song “Four Good Years”, from the previously released eight-track EP of the same title via 604 Records. Written by James McNair, Andy Albert, Jordan Schmidt, and Michael Hardy and produced by Scott Cooke, Hyatt presents a stripped back version of the single with a behind the scenes look into the recording process.

Catch Hyatt performing live in Ontario on the following dates:

Windsor – April 28 @ The Colosseum Caesars Windsor with Dallas Smith
Collingwood – May 13 @ Summer Country Kickoff

(Source: Multiple Sources)

Tim Hicks Achieves Platinum with “Stompin’ Ground” and Releases Third Single from His Latest Album

Tim Hicks released his third single, the title track from his latest album “Talk To Time”, to radio on February 20, 2023. The release of “Talk To Time” comes just in time to celebrate his Top 10 single “Stompin’ Ground” receiving Platinum status in Canada and follows the announcement of summer festival dates across the country, including Boots & Hearts, Dauphin’s Country Fest, Country on the Bay, and Country Rocks the Farm.

Tim is also celebrating ten years of his debut album Throw Down in 2023, which will be marked with a special edition vinyl and a re-mastered digital release of the album with two additional tracks.

(Source: Artist Website (Edited))

Busy Start to 2023 for Graham Scott Fleming

It’s been a busy start to 2023 for Elmvale’s Graham Scott Fleming as he recently released his single “Toughest Act To Follow”, available now on all streaming services. A music video is currently being filmed and will release later in March. Graham spent most of January and early February in Nashville and LA, working with new and familiar faces, completing the writing for his upcoming EP, out later this year. Graham also announced festival slots at Boots & Hearts and Burlington Music Festival, with more to be announced.

(Source: CCMA Member News (Edited))

Dayna Reid Makes Waves with Debut Single “She’s Me”