CCMA Award Winners Announced in 18 Categories During First 2017 Awards Ceremony

CCMA AWARD WINNERS ANNOUNCED IN 18 CATEGORIES
DURING FIRST 2017 AWARDS CEREMONY
#CCMAawards

September 8, 2016 (Saskatoon, SK) – The Canadian Country Music Association® (CCMA®) is pleased to announce the winners in 18 categories of the 2017 CCMA Awards Program. These CCMA Awards were presented during the first of three awards ceremonies set to take place over the coming days as part of PotashCorp Country Music Week® 2017.

“Congratulations to all the nominees from this afternoon’s award ceremony. On behalf of our entire association, we are truly appreciative of all the ways you elevate the genre of Canadian country music,” said Tracy Martin, Interim President of the Canadian Country Music Association.

2017 CCMA Award winners announced today:

MUSICIAN AWARDS

BASS PLAYER OF THE YEAR
Travis Switzer

DRUMMER OF THE YEAR
Ben Bradley

FIDDLE PLAYER OF THE YEAR
Shane Guse

STEEL GUITAR PLAYER OF THE YEAR
Mitch Jay

*This is Shane Guse’s fifth win in the Fiddle Player of the Year category. As such, he is now entered into the Musician Awards Hall of Honour. The Hall of Honour is reserved for musicians who have been awarded the same CCMA Musician Award five (5) or more times. Upon achieving their fifth award, their name is entered into the Hall in celebration of their great contribution to Canadian country music.

RADIO AWARDS

MUSIC DIRECTOR OF THE YEAR (LARGE MARKET)
Amanda Kingsland – CKBY FM – Ottawa, ON

MUSIC DIRECTOR OF THE YEAR (MEDIUM OR SMALL MARKET)
Paul Ferguson – CHCQ FM – Belleville, ON

ON-AIR PERSONALITY(IES) OF THE YEAR (LARGE MARKET)
Chris Scheetz, Jacqueline Sweeney, Matt DeBeurs (CISN in the Mornings with Chris, Jack & Matt)
103.9 Country – CISN-FM – Edmonton, AB

ON-AIR PERSONALITY(IES) OF THE YEAR (MEDIUM OR SMALL MARKET)
Casey Clarke and Roo Phelps (The Casey Clarke Show with Roo Phelps)
New Country 100.7 – CIGV-FM – Kelowna, B.C.

INDUSTRY AWARDS

BOOKING AGENCY OF THE YEAR
Invictus Entertainment Group

COUNTRY CLUB OF THE YEAR
Ranchman’s Cookhouse and Dancehall – Calgary, AB

COUNTRY FESTIVAL, FAIR OR EXHIBITION OF THE YEAR
Boots And Hearts Music Festival – Oro-Medonte, ON

COUNTRY MUSIC PROGRAM OR SPECIAL OF THE YEAR
Brett Kissel – Home Movie – Corus Entertainment

MANAGEMENT COMPANY OF THE YEAR
Invictus Entertainment Group

RECORDING PACKAGE OF THE YEAR
Design Team: Mitchell Nevins; Photography: Phil Crozier (Artist: Dean Brody)
Album: Beautiful Freakshow

RECORDING STUDIO OF THE YEAR
Bart McKay Productions – Saskatoon, SK

RECORD PRODUCERS OF THE YEAR
Chris Baseford, Vince Gill, Jeff Johnson, Chad Kroeger, Carly McKillip, Justin Niebank
Album: Grace & Grit (Artist: Meghan Patrick)

RETAILER OF THE YEAR
Apple Canada

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)

Tomorrow (Saturday, September 9), at the CCMA Gala Dinner & Awards, a total of 20 CCMA Awards will be presented, including CCMA Awards of Achievement and the 2017 Canadian Country Music Hall of Fame presentations.

MEDIA NOTE: The most up-to-date list of 2017 CCMA Award winners
can be found at ccma.org throughout PotashCorp Country Music Week.

PotashCorp Country Music Week culminates on Sunday, September 10 at the 2017 CCMA Awards Show where eight CCMA Awards will be presented from Saskatoon’s SaskTel Centre. The 2017 CCMA Awards Show will be broadcast on CBC at 8:00 p.m. local time (8:30 NT).

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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.

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

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.