March 6, 2018
CMAOntario is inviting submissions from Ontario artists for consideration in our ‘Artist of the Month’ feature where we profile one artist per month on our website and in our newsletter. Our goal is to learn more about artists active in our region, while giving members the chance to spread the word about their happenings. To be considered, please include the following in your submission and forward to info@cmaontario.ca with “Artist of the Month Suggestion” in the subject heading: Artist/band name Hometown Website Photo Bio Links to music and videos Links to social media sites List of upcoming shows Latest single released or soon to be released Any other info on promo and media coverage Only CMAOntario Members will be considered for the ‘Artist of the […]
March 6, 2018
This month, our feature video from Patrice Whiffen at Country Music Junkies profiles Canadian country music trio, The Washboard Union! One day into the Happy Endings Tour, David, Chris and Aaron from The Washboard Union fill us in our their west coast tour, as a direct support for Old Dominion. They talk about defying the boundaries of the country music genre, and how humbled they are by their continued fan support. They also talk about their new single, ‘What We’re Made Of,’ which dropped on February 9, along with what fans can expect in 2018! For more on Country Music Junkies, visit www.CountryMusicJunkies.com. Listen to the exclusive interview with The Washboard Union below: About Patrice: To Patrice Whiffen, country music is a lifestyle. As the appropriately deemed, […]
March 6, 2018
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”. […]
March 5, 2018
SUBMISSION DEADLINE: MARCH 22, 2018 Working off the past success of Music Cities Exchange, London Music Office has partnered with the Country Music Association of Ontario in the lead up to CMAOntario Festival and Awards (this June in London) for a special Music Cities Exchange with The City of Kitchener and Music Works. All artists interested in performing must submit for consideration to CMAOntario and must be a member in good standing. London artists must also create an artist profile. The London event will take place on Friday, May 4th at Cowboys and the Kitchener event Saturday, May 5th at Dallas Nightclub. Interested in playing? Submit for consideration to info@cmaontario.ca with subject line “Music Cities Exchange”. This opportunity is exclusive to artists from London or Kitchener/Waterloo/Cambridge. London Artists must submit a link to their […]
March 5, 2018
SUBMISSION DEADLINE: MARCH 16, 2018 CMAOntario, in collaboration with Brooklin Spring Fair, is giving one of our Artist Members the opportunity to perform at The Brooklin Spring Fair between May 31st and June 3rd, 2018 If you are a CMAOntario member in good standing – you are eligible to submit for consideration for this performance opportunity! The deadline to submit for this opportunity is March 16th at 5:00pm. One lucky CMAOntario Artist Member will receive: One 30-minute set at the Outdoor Stage Photo, bio and website link posted on the festival website and social media sites $200 honourarium Full backline and lighting provided by Brooklin Spring Fair The opportunity is open to both solo artists and bands. Submissions open now! You will need your CMAOntario Membership User Name and Password to apply for this performance opportunity. Please click […]
February 22, 2018
New Country Spirit & CMAOntario present… Emerging Country Music Artist Showcase Official Showcase Information & Rules The Country Music Association of Ontario is thrilled to launch our partner initiative with New Country Spirit which will give Ontario country music artists an opportunity to showcase their talents on June 16 and 17, 2018 at the Mississauga Waterfront Festival in beautiful Port Credit (Mississauga), Ontario. You don’t want to miss your chance to perform at this festival! For more information about the festival, please go to http //www.themwf.com/ Prizes Grand Prize Winner Performance on the MWF Credit Goes Country Main Stage, Saturday evening, June 16, 2018 $200 honorarium donated by CMAOntario Professional Photo Shoot with Brandon Ferguson Photography $100 Gift Card donated by Rock ‘N Horse Saloon-Toronto […]
February 22, 2018
SUBMISSION DEADLINE: FEBRUARY 27, 2018 If you are a member in good standing who is planning to attend the upcoming CMAOntario Festival & Awards June 1-3 in London, Ontario – you are eligible to submit for consideration for a showcase opportunity! Up to 4 acts will be selected to showcase on Saturday, June 2nd as part of the CMAOntario New Faces Showcase and Concert at Market Square. Showcasing at this CMAOntario event provides a unique opportunity to reach industry members from booking agencies, radio, publishing and labels and fans. You will need your CMAOntario Membership User Name and Password to apply for this performance opportunity. Please click the link below to login and submit your application. https://cmaontario.ca/login/ Once there, click on “Performance Opportunities” to complete your submission. If the link above […]
January 25, 2018
The CMAOntario’s Board Members would like to wish all a belated Happy New Year, and all the best for 2018. I believe we are all in for a much smoother and more bountiful year. Opportunities abound! As the Board continues to prepare for 2018 in London, the Membership Committee has created some new performance opportunities with a number of Ontario Fairs. These performance opportunities will be decided by a submission-based application and the chosen artists will be selected by a jury made up of industry personnel. Keep an eye on the newsletter to get all the deets – it will be coming up soon! I was unable to make the 2017 Unison Holiday Schmoozefest, but that party raised $35,000 for Canadian Music Workers in Crisis. […]
January 25, 2018
They may be young, but that hasn’t stopped a trio of Tillsonburg, ON sisters from making a name for themselves in the country music community. The Small Town Girls (sisters, Haley, Hannah, and Cassie Van Maele) may not yet be household names or radio regulars, but these teenage musicians are doing the legwork that country music admires, as they hone their skills and put in their 10,000 hours on every stage they can. And some of those stages are pretty big! This February, The Small Town Girls will join Brett Kissel on tour as they open his show on the 23rd in North Bay, ON. Their opening spot on the We Were That Song Tour is their second appearance with Kissel, following up their January […]
January 25, 2018
Tell me about one of your influences and how that artist has shaped you. Currently, Kacey Musgraves is a massive inspiration to me as a SONGWRITER. Kacey doesn’t seem to give a rip about what she does and does not “sell”. I really admire anyone who does what they want, because it is the art they want to create. In the “beginning”, when I was a kid, I always listened to older music. My mom must have thought I was on drugs. All my friends were listening to Our Lady Peace and The Offspring (we really only had one radio station in rural British Columbia), and I went and bought Full Moon Fever by Tom Petty and wore the S*$% out of that album and the […]
January 25, 2018
Born: Evelyn (Mary) Bailey – December 24, 1946 – Toronto, Ontario (by Larry Delaney) Mary Bailey earned early experience as a child performer working the Ontario music scene, including guest appearances on the Earl Heywood Show (Wingham) and The Ken Soble Amateur Hour Show (Hamilton). By her early teens, she put the entertainment world on hold, and later, began working as a jewellery fashion designer and Ontario regional manager for the Sarah Coventry Jewellery company. During this time, Mary developed keen skills as a songwriter and by the mid-1970’s, was signed to a recording contract with RCA Victor (Canada), releasing several singles, which earned national airplay and chart positions from 1976-79. These early career hits resulted in a 1977 nomination for Best New Female Artist […]
January 25, 2018
This month, our feature video from Patrice Whiffen at Country Music Junkies profiles Canadian country music artist, Brooklyn Roebuck! Brooklyn Roebuck talks about her current single, “Sweet on Me”. She also talks about how her sound and style have evolved, and what fans can expect from her new music due out in 2018. For more information about Brooklyn Roebuck, or to check out her current single, click here: https://www.brooklynroebuck.com/ For more on Country Music Junkies, visit www.CountryMusicJunkies.com. Listen to the exclusive interview with Brooklyn Roebuck 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 view of the world of country […]
January 25, 2018
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”. […]
December 21, 2017
2017 has been an incredible year for the Country Music Association of Ontario and the continued success stories of our members. The Board of Directors would like to thank all of our members for their ongoing support and friendships. It really does feel like a big family. Our membership is at a record high and new members continue to join weekly, and as a gentle reminder, January 2018 is the month that memberships are to be renewed. Please visit our website at www.cmaontario.ca for online renewal. Tickets are going fast for the 2018 Award Show and CMAOntario members can still take advantage of a special members-only price. Promo codes to access the members’ discount will be sent to CMAOntario members via email through the Association. […]
December 21, 2017
Windsor, Ontario native Kelsi Mayne has been honing her musical craft for years, and in 2017, country music fans finally got an official taste of what she has to share with the world. Mayne’s debut single and video were released in October, and have caught the eyes and ears of fans with nearly 30,000 spins on YouTube and Spotify in its first two months. And while Still Not Over You may be her first original single, country fans may be familiar with Kelsi’s voice already from her covers of Sam Hunt’s Body Like A Back Road and Cam’s Burning House. All three songs showcase the talent that Kelsi possesses, and offer a glimpse at what we hope she has to share in the near future. […]
December 21, 2017
Brooklyn, tell us about your main influences and why those artists mean so much to you. My main musical influences are the Dixie Chicks, Pink and Taylor Swift. Each one of them is a very talented writer. They have a great ability to tell a story and make you feel what they are going through in their songs. Pink and Taylor go one step further for me, though. I am all about the show. The creativity these two artists have and how they leave their audiences in awe at their live shows is the kind of artist I strive to be. What have you learned about songwriting since writing your first song? Songwriting is such a journey. It’s amazing how much your writing can evolve […]
December 21, 2017
Born: October 4, 1925 – St. Catharines, Ontario Died: May 18, 1996 – St. Catharines, Ontario (by Larry Delaney) As a youngster, Jack Kingston sang in church choirs in his hometown of St. Catharines, Ontario and by his late teens, was performing on CKTB radio (St. Catharines) and formed the country band The Kingston Brothers with his brother Alex Kingston and friend Alex Dalgleish. After the break-up of the group in the late 1940’s, Jack Kingston joined the Wingham, Ontario-based CKNX “Traveling Barn Dance”, where he was nicknamed “The Yodeling Cowboy”. By the early 1950’s, Jack Kingston became the first Canadian country artist to be signed to Capitol Records (Canada), releasing two singles. Soon afterwards, Jack Kingston became a member of the famed Main Street […]
December 21, 2017
This month, our feature video from Patrice Whiffen at Country Music Junkies profiles Canadian country music artist, Jacqui Verellen! Jacqui Verellen talks about her start in country music, and how a university degree in Opera helped lead her down the path of pursuing a career in country music. Jacqui also shares the story behind her soulful country song, “Home is Home”. For more information about Jacqui Verellen, or to check out her current single, click here: https://www.jacquiverellen.com For more on Country Music Junkies, visit www.CountryMusicJunkies.com. Listen to the exclusive interview with Jacqui Verellen 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 […]
December 21, 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. Cold Creek County on Tour with Old Dominion Cold Creek County is hitting the road in 2018, opening for Old Dominion, alongside The Washboard Union, for the Canadian leg of their Happy Endings World Tour. Tour kicks off February 1 in Regina, Saskatchewan and tickets are on sale now. Check out […]
November 17, 2017
Short message this month folks, but I do want to remind everyone of some important deadlines. “KICK IT WITH KISSEL” CONTEST If you have not already uploaded your video to Twitter, Instagram or Facebook using the hashtag #KickItWithKissel you will be missing a chance to open for Brett on his northern Ontario dates in February. Check out our October newsletter as well as our website for contest rules and available markets and dates. The deadline to upload your video is November 30th. CMAOntario ROADSHOW GOES TO PETERBOROUGH On Saturday, November 25th, the CMAOntario Roadshow will be pulling into Fleming College to host a daylong program of educational seminars. For aspiring music professionals, artists and songwriters, it is a unique opportunity to network with peers and access […]