Newsletter

Excerpt #9 from “Winning The Music Game” by Brian Allen Co-writing is one of the best ways to exponentially expand your creative skills. Much like many writers, my first songs were written in solitude. And like the child in grade school, I did not want anyone to see what I was making until it was finished. I had an ingrained fear that the song would lose its way if someone else was involved. This very subjective perspective continued well into my professional career. It seemed that every time I decided to relent and allow someone into the process, I felt like the concept was regressing rather than progressing. Whether that was my immaturity or not, I will never know… but I do know it was […]

This month, our feature video from Patrice Whiffen at Country Music Junkies profiles Canadian country music singer/songwriter, Tebey! After writing for country stars like Emerson Drive and Doc Walker, and writing for pop stars One Direction and FLO RIDA, Tebey decided to take some time to focus on his own music. His first album, The Wait, introduced listeners to Tebey’s unique sound, touching stories and powerful vocals. Tebey’s next chapter is his sophomore album, Two. Tebey shares the stories behind the album, along with what inspired his current single, “Wake Me Up,” featuring Emerson Drive. Check out the exclusive interview, here! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L6IeZGPs0GE About Patrice: To Patrice Whiffen, country music is a lifestyle. As the appropriately deemed, “Country Music Junkie,” she strives to share her passion for […]

DemoRama LIVE is a unique live performance opportunity created by the CMAO that has been touring around Ontario for the past 8 months, leading up to the Best Of DemoRama LIVE. 2 winners from each DemoRama LIVE event location are chosen for a showcase opportunity called the Best Of DemoRama LIVE at Boots & Bourbon in Toronto, with a chance to win the grand prize: a 2014 CMAO Award Show VIP Package for two, which will include schmoozing at the VIP Reception and 2 VIP CMAO Award Show tickets, with the winner’s name announced live at the show. The runner-up will receive an Amsterdam Brewery package including free beer and dinner for 2 at the Amsterdam Brewhouse on the lake in Toronto. As of the […]

There are only a few weeks remaining before the 15th Annual Tin Pan North Songwriter’s Festival, Ontario’s largest 3 day songwriter’s festival will be taking place at various venues across the GTA. Tin Pan North is a celebration of original songwriting in an intimate setting. In addition to showcasing local talent, each show features some of Canada’s finest talent as well as some heavy hitters in the world of songwriting that come up to take part in the festival from Nashville. The confirmed venues for this year are as follows: The Moonshine Café 137 Kerr Street Oakville, Ontario 905-844-2655 Thursday May 22, Friday May 23rd 7:30-9:30pm http://www.themoonshinecafe.com/ The Black Swan Tavern 154 Danforth Avenue Toronto, Ontario 416-469-0357 Thursday May 22, Friday May 23rd 7:30-9:30pm Cadillac […]

Dear members: I want to congratulate London, Ontario, for its successful bid in returning Country Music Week and the CCMA awards to Ontario in 2016. The CMAO is extremely excited about the news and we want to help the CCMA make it a hugely successful event. In March, we announced our first batch of performers for the 2014 CMAO Awards show and they are: The Western Swing Authority, Jason Blaine, Autumn Hill and The Good Family. We are very proud of the first flight. Be on the lookout on facebook and Twitter for more exciting news about the performers and presenters. Get your tickets while they last – go to www.cmaontario.ca. The first CMAO Awards Contenders ballot submission deadline was March 18, 2014. Good luck to […]

This month we pay a visit to another CMAO Board member; one who’s won the CCMA Agent of the Year Award five times in a row: Cathie Faint. Cathie owns and manages CFE (Catherine Faint Entertainment) and has worked for many years with some of the top names in the music industry. Not just country music, but right across the board. What does it take to get to that position? Cathie sums it all up in just three words: “Integrity, integrity and integrity”. But before we get to her personal credo, let’s go back and see where Cathie Faint came from. Her mom was a chef, working in the hospitality business, and her father was a jack of all trades, including plucking the banjo. Mr. […]

For a long while, it would have seemed strange to see people wearing cowboy boots trotting around Toronto’s entertainment district – or anywhere in the downtown core, really. Until now. Be it a result of the economy, the time or other circumstances, many wonder why it took so long for a country bar to show up in the city – let alone two in the span of one week. But folks are sure happy they’re here. “Maybe it was overlooked… there’s always been a strong country following in Toronto and across the country,” says Matt Gibbons, the owner of Rock ‘n’ Horse. One of two new country venues that’s popped up in the city recently, Rock ‘n’ Horse is a restaurant/bar offering southern food, line […]

Two Voices, One Hit One of the questions I always ask on my show is “Who would you like to sing a duet with?” I’m always interested in the answer because I’ve always loved the magic that happens when two voices join together to create a powerful song. There are some artists whose biggest hits have been duets. Kenny Rogers has had successful musical collaborations with Sheena Easton, Kim Carnes and Dolly Parton. Kenny and Dolly recorded the classic “Islands In The Stream” in 1983. It was a song that almost ended before it began. Kenny had grown tired of the song in the studio and thought it wasn’t working. Producer Barry Gibb (who wrote the song with his brothers Robin and Maurice) suggested Dolly […]