September 9, 2017
News
CCMA Awards Presented at Gala Event in Saskatoon
#CCMAawards
September 9, 2017 (Saskatoon, SK) – The Canadian Country Music Association® (CCMA®) celebrated an evening of glitz and glamour at its second of three awards ceremonies being held this weekend in Saskatoon, SK. Twenty awards were bestowed at the CCMA Gala Dinner & Awards, including inductions into the Canadian Country Music Hall of Fame and the presentation of two CCMA Awards of Achievement.
Paul Brandt was inducted into the Canadian Country Music Hall of Fame in the artist category, while L. Harvey Gold was honoured with the Canadian Country Music Hall of Fame Stan Klees Builder Award. One of Canadian country music’s most renowned artists, and one of the Canadian country music industry’s most respected businessmen, Brant and Gold join a prestigious list of cherished artists and professionals who comprise the Canadian Country Music Hall of Fame.
The Country 105 Caring for Kids Radiothon, which has raised nearly $23 million to-date in its fourteen years of existence for the Alberta Children’s Hospital Foundation, was bestowed the honour of receiving the Slaight Music Humanitarian Award. This particular award recognizes individuals or events that have made an outstanding contribution of time and energy in the support of humanitarian causes through country music. Franck Boucheraud, long time talent buyer for the American Tours Festival in Tours, France, received the Leonard T. Rambeau International Award for his unparalleled commitment to showcasing Canadian country talent at his festival and across Europe. This award recognizes those who work internationally to elevate and celebrate the Canadian country music industry.
It was a night of repeat wins for artist award categories as part of the ceremony. Brett Kissel took home the CCMA Award for Interactive Artist of the Year for the fourth consecutive time. The Washboard Union won Roots Artist or Group of the Year for the second consecutive year, and Dean Brody took home Songwriter of the Year, as he did last year, this year for his single, “Time”. Ripcord by Keith Urban was named Top Selling Album of the Year, Side Effects by Dallas Smith won Top Selling Canadian Album of the Year (presented by Music Canada) and “Bush Party” by Dean Brody took home Top Selling Canadian Single of the Year (presented by ACTRA RACS).
Kalsey Kulyk received the honour of the 2017 CCMA Discovery Award. The award is bestowed upon one of six finalists in the CCMA Discovery Program based upon scores compiled from several major milestones of the program. The CCMA Discovery Program was developed to educate and support Canadian country music artists in their pursuit of a career in the music industry.
2017 CCMA Award winners announced this evening:
2017 CANADIAN COUNTRY MUSIC HALL OF FAME INDUCTEES
ARTIST INDUCTEE
Paul Brandt
STAN KLEES BUILDER AWARD – BUILDER INDUCTEE
L. Harvey Gold
CCMA AWARD OF ACHIEVEMENT
SLAIGHT MUSIC HUMANITARIAN AWARD
Country 105 Caring For Kids Radiothon
LEONARD T. RAMBEAU INTERNATIONAL AWARD
Franck Boucheraud
ARTIST AWARDS
CCMA DISCOVERY AWARD presented by Country 107.3
Kalsey Kulyk
ROOTS ARTIST OR GROUP OF THE YEAR
The Washboard Union
SONGWRITER OF THE YEAR presented by ole
Dean Brody
Song: Time (Performed By: Dean Brody)
INTERACTIVE ARTIST OF THE YEAR
Brett Kissel
MUSICIAN AWARDS
GUITAR PLAYER OF THE YEAR presented by Cithara Guitars
Matt McKay
KEYBOARD PLAYER OF THE YEAR
Bart McKay
SPECIALTY INSTRUMENT PLAYER OF THE YEAR
Denis Dufresne – Banjo
RADIO AWARDS
RADIO STATION OF THE YEAR (LARGE MARKET)
CKRY FM – Calgary, AB
RADIO STATION OF THE YEAR (MEDIUM OR SMALL MARKET)
CHCQ FM – Belleville, ON
INDUSTRY AWARDS
MUSIC PUBLISHING COMPANY OF THE YEAR
ole
RECORD COMPANY OF THE YEAR
Warner Music Canada
RECORD COMPANY PERSON OF THE YEAR
Mike Denney – MDM Recordings Inc.
RON SAKAMOTO TALENT BUYER OR PROMOTER OF THE YEAR
Jim Cressman – Invictus Entertainment Group
TOP SELLING ALBUM OF THE YEAR
Ripcord – Keith Urban
TOP SELLING CANADIAN ALBUM OF THE YEAR presented by Music Canada
Side Effects – Dallas Smith
TOP SELLING CANADIAN SINGLE OF THE YEAR presented by ACTRA RACS
Bush Party – Dean Brody
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 tomorrow night, Sunday, September 10 with the 2017 CCMA Awards Show which 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.