2017 CCMA Award Nominees – Early Bird List

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#CCMAawards #CCMAnomday

 

July 12, 2017, 6:00 a.m. ET (Toronto, ON) – Throughout the morning of Wednesday, July 12, 2017, the Canadian Country Music Association® (CCMA®) will be unveiling the final nominees in 34 award categories for the 2017 CCMA Awards. This 6:00 a.m. ET release is our starting point, and contains 28 CCMA Award categories.

 

Reminder: This is NOT A FINAL LIST. A final list of nominees in the 34 award categories being unveiled today will be distributed in a second release, no later than 11:30 a.m. ET.

 

Follow us across the country as we announce the following six (6) award categories (ARTIST AWARDS) on GLOBAL MORNING TELEVISION. In chronological order (at approximate times):

 

    • 7:20 a.m. ET/8:20 a.m. ATJJ SHIPLETT announces the nominees for ALBUM OF THE YEAR on Global News Morning in HALIFAX
    • 8:10 a.m. ET – The JAMES BARKER BAND announces the nominees for FEMALE ARTIST OF THE YEAR on The Morning Show in TORONTO
    • 8:55 a.m. ET/6:55 a.m. CT – MEGHAN PATRICK announces the nominees for RISING STAR on Global News Morning in SASKATOON
    • 9:10 a.m. ET/7:10 a.m. MTJESS MOSKALUKE announces the nominees for MALE ARTIST OF THE YEAR on Global News Morning in CALGARY
    • 9:50 a.m. ET/7:50 a.m. MTBRETT KISSEL announce the nominees for VIDEO OF THE YEAR on Global News Morning in CALGARY
    • 11:20 a.m. ET/8:20 a.m. PTAARON PRITCHETT announces the nominees for GROUP OR DUO OF THE YEAR on the Global News Morning in VANCOUVER

 

At 11:30 a.m. ET the final, official release for 2017 CCMA Awards nominations will be distributed.

 

  • Note: there are 42 CCMA Award categories in total. The following eight (8) awards will not be announced today for the reasons given below:
    • On-Air Personality(ies) of the Year (Large Market) and (Medium or Small Market), Radio Station of the Year (Large Market) and (Medium or Small Market) – submissions are juried, there are no nominees in these categories
    • Top Selling Album of the Year, Top Selling Canadian Album of the Year and Top Selling Canadian Single of the Year – determined by sales, there are no nominees in these categories
    • CCMA Discovery Award – decided by a jury of industry professionals, there are no nominees in this category

 

*CLICK HERE to view the rules and regulations for the CCMA Awards Program, which include eligibility criteria for all awards.

 

Media Contacts for Information and Artist Interviews:

Jess Seguire | jess@penelopepr.com | 613-921-2314
Tiffany Astle | tiffany@penelopepr.com | 416-554-7329 

 

 

ARTIST AWARDS              

 

APPLE MUSIC FANS’ CHOICE AWARD

 

The Apple Music Fans' Choice Award is considered by many artists to be the highest accolade of accomplishment because it is chosen by very important people: the fans. It is the only CCMA Award where the nominees and the winner are determined by Canadian country music fans. Click here for complete details on the three ways fans can vote this year. New this year, fans can vote by listening to the nominees at applemusic.com/CCMAawards.

 

Gord Bamford

Dean Brody

Chad Brownlee

High Valley

Dallas Smith

 

ROOTS ARTIST OR GROUP OF THE YEAR

The Lovelocks

Jessica Mitchell

Lindi Ortega

JJ Shiplett

The Washboard Union

 

SINGLE OF THE YEAR

Autograph - Dallas Smith

Cool With That - Brett Kissel

Lawn Chair Lazy - James Barker Band

Take Me Home - Jess Moskaluke

Time - Dean Brody

 

SONGWRITER(S) OF THE YEAR presented by ole

James Barker, Gavin Slate, Travis Wood, Donovan Woods

Song: Chills (Performed By: James Barker Band)

Ted Hewitt, Brett Kissel, Phil O'Donnell

Song: Cool With That (Performed By: Brett Kissel)

Clayton Bellamy, Dan Davidson

Song: Found (Performed By: Dan Davidson)

Dean Brody

Song: Time (Performed By: Dean Brody)

Patricia Conroy, Jessica Mitchell, David Thomson

Song: Workin' On Whiskey (Performed By: Jessica Mitchell)

 

INTERACTIVE ARTIST OR GROUP OF THE YEAR

Shae Dupuy

Tim Hicks

Hunter Brothers

Brett Kissel

Wes Mack

 

MUSICIAN AWARDS

 

BASS PLAYER OF THE YEAR

Chris Byrne

Lisa Dodd

Justin Kudding

James Murdoch

Travis Switzer

 

DRUMMER OF THE YEAR

Jimmy Boudreau

Ben Bradley                                                                               

Jayson Brinkworth                                                                  

Rich DaSilva                                                                               

Chad Melchert                                                                         

 

FIDDLE PLAYER OF THE YEAR

Denis Dufresne

Shane Guse

Julie Kennedy

Mike Sanyshyn

Tyler Vollrath

 

GUITAR PLAYER OF THE YEAR AWARD presented by Cithara Guitars

Derek Caven

Ryan Davidson

Matt McKay

Darren Savard

Brennan Wall

 

KEYBOARD PLAYER OF THE YEAR

Scott Galloway

Mike Little

Bart McKay

Carly McKillip

 

***Less than 5 nominees

 

SPECIALTY INSTRUMENT PLAYER OF THE YEAR

Denis Dufresne - Banjo

Shane Guse - Mandolin

Tyler Vollrath - Mandolin

 

**Less than 5 nominees

STEEL GUITAR PLAYER OF THE YEAR

John Ellis

Smokey Fennell

Mitch Jay

Doug Johnson

Scott Smith

 

RADIO AWARDS

 

MUSIC DIRECTOR OF THE YEAR- LARGE MARKET
Larry Donohue
  - CFCW -  Edmonton, AB

Steph Hansen - CKRY-FM/CISN-FM - Calgary, AB/Edmonton, AB

Amanda Kingsland - CKBY-FM - Ottawa, ON

Brittany Thompson - CKKL-FM - Ottawa, ON

Peter Walker - CJKX-FM - Oshawa, ON

 

MUSIC DIRECTOR OF THE YEAR- MEDIUM OR SMALL MARKET
Shilo Bellis - CJXL-FM - Moncton, NB

Paul Ferguson - CHCQ-FM - Belleville, ON

Cal Gratton - CJVR-FM - Melfort, SK

Roo Phelps - CIGV-FM, Kelowna, BC

Brendan Seeley - CKGY-FM - Red Deer, AB

 

INDUSTRY AWARDS

 

BOOKING AGENCY OF THE YEAR

The Feldman Agency

Invictus Entertainment Group

Paquin Artists Agency

Sakamoto Agency

United Talent Agency

 

COUNTRY CLUB OF THE YEAR

Boots & Bourbon Saloon - Toronto, ON

Cook County Saloon - Edmonton, AB

Cowboys Dance Hall - Calgary, AB

Knoxville's Tavern - Edmonton, AB

Ranchman’s Cookhouse and Dancehall - Calgary, AB

 

COUNTRY FESTIVAL, FAIR, OR EXHIBITION OF THE YEAR

Big Valley Jamboree - Camrose, AB

Boots And Hearts Music Festival - Oro-Medonte, ON

Calgary Stampede - Calgary, AB

Cavendish Beach Music Festival - Cavendish, PE

Rockin' River Country MusicFest - Merritt, BC

 

COUNTRY MUSIC PROGRAM OR SPECIAL OF THE YEAR

Brett Kissel - Home Movie - Corus Entertainment

Canadian Coast To Coast - Fabmar Communications

The Casey Clarke Show With Roo Phelps - Casey Clarke Productions

Chevy Top 20 Countdown - Corus Entertainment

Coors Banquet One Horse Town - Corus Entertainment

 

MANAGEMENT COMPANY OF THE YEAR

Chief Music Management

Gold & Gold Productions Ltd.

Invictus Entertainment Group

MDM Recordings Inc.

RGK Entertainment Group Inc.

 

MUSIC PUBLISHING COMPANY OF THE YEAR

ole

Royalty Music Publishing Inc.

Sony/ATV Music Publishing Canada

Universal Music Publishing Canada

Warner/Chappell Music Canada

 

RECORD COMPANY OF THE YEAR

MDM Recordings Inc.

ole red dot

Open Road Recordings Inc.

Sony Music Entertainment (Canada) Inc.

Warner Music Canada

 

RECORD COMPANY PERSON OF THE YEAR

Steve Coady - Warner Music Canada

Warren Copnick - Sony Music Entertainment (Canada) Inc.

Mike Denney - MDM Recordings Inc.

Ron Kitchener - Open Road Recordings Inc.

Louis O'Reilly - Big Star Recordings Inc.

 

RECORDING PACKAGE OF THE YEAR
Design Team: Mitchell Nevins Photography: Phil Crozier

Album: Beautiful Freakshow (Artist: Dean Brody)

Design Team: Mitchell Nevins

Album: Echo Road: The Best of Doc Walker (Artist: Doc Walker)

Design Team: Mitchell Nevins Photography: Phil Crozier

Album: Shake These Walls (Artist: Tim Hicks)

Design Team: Janelle Shiplett Photography: Brent Mykytyshyn, Ari Heinikainen, Mike Peleshok

Album: Something To Believe In (Artist: JJ Shiplett)         

Design Team: Mitchell Nevins, Madeline Merlo

Single: War Paint (Artist: Madeline Merlo)           

 

RECORDING STUDIO OF THE YEAR

Barrytone Studios - St. Clements, ON

Bart McKay Productions - Saskatoon, SK

MCC Recording Studio - Calgary, AB

OCL Studios - Chestermere, AB

Revolution Recording - Toronto, ON

 

RECORD PRODUCER(S) OF THE YEAR

Chris Baseford, Vince Gill, Jeff Johnson, Chad Kroeger, Carly McKillip, Justin Niebank

Album: Grace & Grit (Artist: Meghan Patrick)

Scott Cooke

Album: The Score (Artist: Aaron Pritchett)

Scott Cooke, Ben Glover, Mitch Merrett

Album: Hearts On Fire (Artist: Chad Brownlee)  

Joey Moi

Album: Side Effects (Artist: Dallas Smith)

Phil O'Donnell 

Album: Tin Roof (Artist: Gord Bamford)

 

RETAILER OF THE YEAR

Apple Canada

Spotify Canada Inc.

Sunrise Records

Walmart Canada

 

**Less than 5 nominees

 

RON SAKAMOTO TALENT BUYER OR PROMOTER OF THE YEAR

Kelly Berehulka - Casinos Of Winnipeg

Paul Biro - Sakamoto Agency

Jim Cressman - Invictus Entertainment Group

Adam Oppenheim - Stampede Entertainment Inc.

Emmanuel Patterson - Live Nation Entertainment

 

VIDEO DIRECTOR OF THE YEAR

Stephano Barberis         

Video: I Hate You For It (Artist: Chad Brownlee), Video: One Little Kiss (Artist: Dallas Smith), Video: Red Dress, (Artist: JoJo Mason), Video: Somethin' We Shouldn't Do (Artist: Chad Brownlee), Video: Summer Girl (Artist: Bucko & Toad), Video: Time (Artist: Dean Brody)

Emma Higgins

Video: Still Loving You (Artist: Meghan Patrick)

Ben Knechtel    

Video: Chills (Artist: James Barker Band), Video: Cool With That (Artist: Brett Kissel), Video: Drive Me Away (Artist: Jess Moskaluke), Video: Elevator (Artist: Jess Moskaluke), Video: Every Week's Got A Friday (Artist: High Valley), Video: Starts With A Girl (Artist: David James)

Travis Nesbitt

Video: Found (Artist: Dan Davidson)

Joel Stewart      

Video: I Didn't Fall In Love With Your Hair (Artist: Brett Kissel)

 

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About the Canadian Country Music Association (CCMA)
Established in 1976, the CCMA is a membership-based, not-for-profit organization committed to the promotion and recognition of Canadian country music. Built upon the foundation to educate, elevate and celebrate Canadian talent, the CCMA progressively heralds the spirit, community and creativity that country music fosters through year-round initiatives, culminating every fall with Country Music Week and the Canadian Country Music Association Awards. Sponsors of PotashCorp Country Music Week and the 2017 CCMA Awards Show include FACTOR, Canada’s Private Radio Broadcasters and the Government of Canada through the Department of Canadian Heritage’s “Canada Music Fund”, Radio Starmaker Fund, the Province of Saskatchewan, the City of Saskatoon, Tourism Saskatchewan and Tourism Saskatoon. Produced with the participation of the Bell Fund. 

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We acknowledge the financial support of FACTOR, the Government of Canada and of Canada’s private radio broadcasters.
 Nous reconnaissons l’appui financier de FACTOR, du gouvernement du Canada, et des radio diffuseurs privés du Canada.