Newsletter

Dear members: I can’t believe that we are days away from executing our second annual awards show on May 26th. We wouldn’t have come this far without the hard work and passion exhibited by the CMAO’s Board of Directors and our volunteers. Our sponsors have been generous and extremely supportive. Our member artists have also been very supportive. It takes a community to make this show happen and that community has rallied for a second year. I’m grateful for the dedication of the many individuals and organizations. The Board of Directors has been hard at work ensuring that the CMAO continues to evolve into a sustainable organization that will have a deep and long-lasting impact on Ontario’s country music scene. I’m absolutely exhilarated to announce […]

Now, true journalism purposefully removes the writer’s feelings from the subject to get a clear, uninvolved view of how things are. In writing about this month’s subject, I can’t get there. I met Brian Allen at a stage in my life where I was seeking direction and role models. He became one, although he had no idea at the time. In the late ’60’s and early ’70’s I was nuts about bands. I’d go to every high school dance I could get into. I’d watch Crowbar tear up the stage at Lorne Park; Alice Cooper at Brampton Centennial; Magic Bubble, Papa Grey, Abernathy Shagnaster, Choker, Mandala. I used to go see Rush when they were a Led Zeppelin cover band – the early, heady days […]

 by Stephanie Brooks  Country music is glowing this time of year, with various awards shows highlighting the genre and putting the industry on the main stage. For music professionals, artists, singers, songwriters, musicians and fans, it’s an exciting time of year before the summer outdoor festival season begins. Nashville lights up with glitter and glam for another star-studded series of events that honour the best the business has to offer, June 5-8 for the CMA Festival. This annual event promises the country music world four full days of concerts, meet-and-greets, and events around town. The star-studded line-up this year features acts like Brad Paisley, Chris Young, Eric Church, Hunter Hayes, Tim McGraw, The Band Perry and Little Big Town – the latter of which introduces […]

Songwriter Spotlight: Dave Woods interviews Tim Taylor Tim Taylor started his professional music career playing the Ontario bar circuit in the late seventies. In the eighties, he formed an award-winning duo with Anita Perras. The nineties saw his relocation to Nashville to focus on songwriting. The result is his massive “Cavalcade of Hits” song catalogue, which includes cuts by many of Canada’s top country recording artists. The songs include singles by Jason McCoy, Aaron Pritchett, Gil Grand, Steve Fox & Beverley Mahood, The Good Brothers, Thomas Wade, Duane Steele, and Jay Semko. Those singles and many others have placed on the charts and won industry awards. Tim writes regularly with established and up-and-coming artists, including Ontario’s Elyse Saunders. Elyse’s brand new country single “Just Like […]

Has it been almost a year already? Here we go again – the SECOND Annual (feels really good to type that) CMAO Awards Show! As we were striking the set from last year’s show, the theatre manager approached us and basically insisted that we return… and with the euphoria still hanging in the air, how could we refuse? Within minutes of the house lights coming up, Slaight Music committed to being our title sponsor again for 2014. Plus, as a bonus we couldn’t have predicted, there was a blizzard of glowing posts and photos dropped on social media for almost a month following the show. A sold-out crowd of 520 happy and loud country fans joined us last year and we at the CMAO were […]

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 […]