Newsletter
September 19, 2017
Most of the CMAOntario Board of Directors and many of our members attended the 2017 CCMA Country Music Week held in Saskatoon this past week. The weekend was full of great events and performances. Highlights included the opening reception and Discovery Showcase (with Danielle Bourjeaurd, Jesse Gold, Steph La Rochelle and special guest Eric Ethridge) and the songwriting sessions, which featured a number of our own: Andrew Hyatt, Jason Blaine, The Lovelocks, Patrick Ballantyne, Buck Twenty, Deric Ruttan, James Barker (James Barker Band), Gavin Slate, David Leask and Jessica Mitchell. Another sold-out Legends show, hosted by Deric Ruttan and Cal Gratton, blew everyone away with stand-out performances. The CCMA Industry Lunch and Awards honoured Ontarians Paul Ferguson, CHCQ-FM, Belleville with Music Director of the Year […]
September 19, 2017
Ty Baynton is a small town Ontario boy, growing up an hour outside of downtown Toronto in Waterdown, but that hasn’t stopped him from making it to the big city and beyond with his own country music. The first time we saw Baynton live on stage was at the Boots & Hearts Music Festival as a finalist in the 2014 Emerging Artist Showcase. In the three years since, we’ve had the chance to see Baynton grow as an artist, a performer, and we’ve had the chance to catch up with him at the jewel of Canadian country at Canadian Country Music Week 2016 in London. Baynton counts Randy Travis as one of his earliest influences. When we spoke with him at the CCMAs, he told […]
September 19, 2017
Born: January 6, 1934 – Joyceville, Ontario Died: January 20, 1989 – Ottawa, Ontario (by Larry Delaney) Bob King was one of Canada’s first country stars to earn recognition beyond our national borders. Raised in the Ottawa Valley, Bob King headed up his first band, The Country Cousins, at age 14, playing area talent contests. At age 16, he became a solo artist, beating out another Ottawa youngster, Paul Anka, in a talent show. Soon afterwards, Bob King joined on as a member of the popular traditional country group, Mac Beattie & The Ottawa Valley Melodiers. In 1954, at age 20, Bob King was signed to a solo recording contract with RCA Victor. His debut single, “Laurel Lee”, became an instant hit, selling a reported 50,000 […]
September 19, 2017
This month, our feature video from Patrice Whiffen at Country Music Junkies profiles Canadian country music artist, Ashlynne Vince! Welland, ON native, Ashlynne Vince, talks about her new single, “No Boys Allowed” which dropped back in the spring. She talks about her experience opening for Brett Kissel at the beginning of the year, along with her upcoming tour schedule. For more information about Ashlynne Vince, or to check out her new single, click here: https://ashvince.ca/. For more on Country Music Junkies, visit www.CountryMusicJunkies.com. Listen to the exclusive interview with Ashlynne Vince below: About Patrice: To Patrice Whiffen, country music is a lifestyle. As the appropriately deemed, “Country Music Junkie,” she strives to share her passion for country music with the world. As a radio broadcaster with an inside […]
September 19, 2017
Tell us some of the artists that have influenced you. Early on, my influences were Barenaked Ladies and Sarah McLachlan. I have always looked up to Patricia Conroy. Right now, Dierks Bentley and Keith Urban are huge influences for me. You had the opportunity to write and record “Hung Up ” with well-known producer Dave (Dwave) Thomson. This was your first single at Country radio from your EP called “Always Easy”. What was it like working with Dwave? Working with Dwave was amazing. I won the opportunity after competing in the Magna Hoedown Showdown. We basically had 1 day to write a song and record it the next day. With us both being from Niagara, we had lots in common, which helped. Writing with new people can be hit […]
September 19, 2017
What is MusicOntario? Launched in 2012, MusicOntario is a non-profit, membership-based Music Industry Association (MIA), representing Ontario’s independent artists and businesses. As a division of the Canadian Independent Music Association (CIMA), our mission is to provide professional development, services and support to the independent music industry in Ontario. What do we do? MusicOntario curates programs, events and initiatives that assist in nurturing, promoting, and sustaining growth within the provincial music sector. We do this by both creating accessible opportunities for emerging local talent and professionals, and connecting them to Ontario’s existing industry infrastructures, festivals and organizations within Ontario’s communities. From 2015-2017, MusicOntario delivered over 108 events (and counting), ranging from workshops, panels, b2b and peer mentorship sessions, to showcases, domestic and international market access, networking […]
September 19, 2017
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. ole Signs Co-Publishing and Administration Deal with The Reklaws ole, the world’s fastest-growing independent music publishing and rights management company, announced it has entered into a worldwide co-publishing and administration deal with Cambridge, Ontario-based country music singer/songwriter duo, The Reklaws. Winners of the 2012 CCMA Discover Program and the 2013 […]
August 11, 2017
Wow, I can’t believe that the summer is almost gone… or was it ever here? I’m hoping some of you were able to get out to play or attend some fairs and festivals these last few months. I know that many of our Ontario artists were hitting the stages in the West; and now it is time to turn to Eastern Canada, where the majority of fairs happen August through October. For information on the fairs and festivals based in Canada, please reach out to C.A.F.E (Canadian Association of Fairs and Festivals) http://www.canadian-fairs.ca Congratulations to Shae Dupuy, who recently won the 2017 Canadian Songwriting Competition – Country Category – for her song “Wishing On You”, co-written by Drew Gregory and Mike Little and produced by […]
August 10, 2017
The CMAOntario is happy to announce that Johnson Crook of Toronto, Ontario, is the winner of the Lucknow’s Music In The Fields performance opportunity. Johnson Crook will take to the Emerging Artist Stage on Friday, August 25 for two performance slots – 8:30pm and 10:00pm. If you’re going to the festival, make sure to catch their performance. About Johnson Crook: Toronto roots-rock band Johnson Crook share a love of pure, honest music stemming from their small-town backgrounds. Drawing inspiration from groups like the Eagles and the Avett Brothers, each member contributes equally, injecting their unique personalities into the overall sound built on four voices. Watch for a new album Aug 2017. Website: http://www.johnsoncrook.com/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/johnsoncrookband Twitter: https://twitter.com/JohnsonCrook Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/johnsoncrook/ YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCBMNHaFdlI3RiW7QY23Vleg Congratulations Johnson Crook! We wish you much success as you represent the CMAOntario at one of Ontario’s […]