Newsletter

by Stephanie Brooks It was a busy few months of preparation, soundchecks, press conferences, RSVPs, hype and hoopla, and glitz and glam. The inaugural 2013 CMAO Awards held on May 27 in Markham were just as flawless as the winners they crowned. The awards were a celebration and showcase of the best Ontario has to offer in country music and provide both artists and budding artists with a tangible and exciting goal to work toward. And along with awards shows like The Grammy’s, The Juno’s, CMT Awards, CMA’s and ACM’s (hey, we’re right up there, aren’t we?), the eventful ride that was the first CMAO Awards is coming to a bittersweet close… for a year. After all, it’s the start of a new season – […]

The Board of Directors of the CMAO would like to congratulate everyone involved in making our inaugural show such a success: our generous sponsors, our media partners, the witty presenters, our host, Charlie Major, and the talented artists who provided such great performances. As well as these people, we are very grateful for the staff and crew of the Markham Theatre, our event volunteers, house band musicians The Western Swing Authority, our announcer Bill Hart and all of our members (and soon to be members) that attended the show. We would also like to recognize our past presidents of the CMAO Board who have given so much to the organization during and beyond their tenures: Heather Ostertag, Barry Haugen and founding president, Robert McArthur.

Toronto, Canada: Burlington, Ontario’s Billy J White has a lot to be excited about. With the steady growth of his profile and performances in the country music scene, Billy was nominated for 2013’s Male Artist of the Year by the Country Music Association of Ontario, has a string of festival and fair dates this coming summer including Manitoulin Country Fest, Country In the Woods and Lucknow Fall Fair, has recently performed the Milton Street Festival and took the songwriters circle stage at NSAI’s annual Tin Pan North with multi-award-winning songwriter, Tim Taylor. Billy’s motto “Come See Me Live” has captured the attention of fans, garnering him the spot of Grand Marshal at Burlington’s Sound of Music Festival Parade on Saturday, June 15th. “Last year Billy […]

Announcing “Fair Trade Music” Initiative, World’s Songwriters and Composers Unite to form a Global Advocacy Network Washington, DC, June 3, 2013: For the first time in music industry history, over 25,000 songwriters and composers from nearly fifty countries throughout Europe, North America, South America, and Africa have joined together to form a new, wholly independent advocacy Network for music creators. Its immediate goal will be the championing of a set of Fair Trade Music Principles designed to ensure transparency, fair compensation, and autonomy for music creators in an increasingly complex and non-transparent music business landscape. The new group, characterized by its founders as a “Network of independent alliances,” will serve not only to support advocacy for music creator rights throughout the world, but as a […]

Canadian Musician magazine has launched Canadian Musician Radio, a weekly internet radio program hosted by CM Editor Andrew King and Assistant Editor Mike Raine. The weekly program will be broadcast on Wednesdays at 8 p.m. EST at www.canadianmusicianradio.com Each program will be roughly half an hour in length and feature weekly news updates, informative how-to discussions with industry insiders and experts, profile interviews with great Canadian acts, and lively discussions on issues pertinent to musicians and music industry professionals. CM Radio will also keep listeners up-to-date on events, artistic and career opportunities, and industry trends. Everything related to music, from songwriting to marketing and promotion, will be discussed with experts and experienced pros. Listeners who follow the Canadian Musician Radio channel will receive automatic updates […]

CMAO member Chris Jacks would like us all to know about a country music series he is running. Chris and his company Your Show Productions are presenting North of Nashville, showcasing country artists every Sunday night at Lou Dawg’s in downtown Toronto. The cover charge of $5.00 will be split among the artists, and Lou Dawg’s will offer Tennessee’s most famous whiskey, Jack Daniel’s, at $4.50 a shot all night. If that ain’t country, we don’t know what is! If you are interested in playing at one of these events, please contact Chris at: chris.jacks@yourshowproductions.com Details: What: North of Nashville country music series Where: Lou Dawg’s, 589 King St. W., Toronto When: Every Sunday at 8 PM

Time Sensitive: Send Submissions To The Diamonds In The Rough Showcase Stage At Country Music Week In Edmonton. Deadline is May 15th, 2013 In case you didn’t go to the CCMA’s Country Music Week event in Regina last year, a new opportunity was created there for artists to showcase. Angie Morris hosted a stage event called “Diamonds In the Rough” at a popular bar area in the Radisson Hotel. It was a wonderful opportunity for many artists to showcase during the week. Alberta’s Michaela Clarke was surprised and thrilled to play to all of Eric Church’s crew among folks who came to see her set. Eric’s guitar tech even checked her guitar for her before going on stage. The showcase was a success on many […]

Canadian bluegrass band the Dixie Flyers were honoured at the Ninth Annual Jack Richardson Awards (JRMAs) Sunday, Apr. 14 at the London Music Hall in downtown London. Formed in 1974, London’s Dixie Flyers were inducted into the JRMA Hall of Fame after an impressive career that includes nine recordings on Boot, Stony Plain and their own Flat-top label. The Flyers’ alumni list reads like a who’s who of the Canadian music scene: “I think over the 37 years, the band has consisted of only about 20 different members” said JRMA steering committee member Darin Addison. “Even though the band is not active now and everyone in the band is getting older, I think it’s the right time to recognize the Dixie Flyers.” Co-founders Bert Baumbach […]

Hey artists! Got that big radio interview coming up? They asked you to perform live? Probably a little nervous now, huh? As a radio guy, I can tell you we also get a little apprehensive before these interviews, although the more you do them, the less worried you get. My first interview was a doozy! I just landed my first daytime gig doing afternoon drive for a big market station when I was informed that Blackhawk would be dropping by! (For those that don’t know them, google them and stop making me feel old!) Wow! I loved these guys and I was easily more nervous than them because I was, and still am, a huge fan. When they arrived, I just didn’t bother trying to […]