Hamilton, ON (September 15, 2023) – Tonight, the Canadian Country Music Association® (CCMA®) celebrated an electrifying year, handing out 35 awards at the 2023 CCMA Music Industry Gala Dinner & Awards Presented by Stingray. Kicking off the first of two exhilarating evenings celebrating the best and brightest in country music, tonight’s gala also featured memorable performances from Jade Eagleson, Hunter Brothers, Kyle McKearney, Madeline Merlo, Jess Moskaluke, Griffen Palmer, and Meghan Patrick.
Gahnegiyohsta (Shelly Hill – Knowledge Keeper, Mohawk, Turtle Clan, Six Nations, ON) opened the awards with a stunning Indigenous welcome, and the evening, hosted by Stingray’s Jackie Rae Greening, was full of special moments, including the 2023 Canadian Country Music Hall of Fame® inductions of Brian Edwards and Jason McCoy, and Dean Brody honoured as the Gary Slaight Music Humanitarian Award recipient.
Kyle McKearney performs at the Station on Jasper photo by Mike Scott
Multiple first time winners were crowned this year including Julie Kennedy who took home her first win as Fiddle Player of the Year, Rich DaSilva who was named Drummer of the Year, Wendy Boomer who was crowned Country Personality of the Year and Republic Live’s Brooke Dunford who won her first trophy for Ron Sakamoto Talent Buyer or Promoter of the Year. In addition to performing, McKearney took home the award for Alternative Country Album of the Year (A Traveler’s Lament), and sharing the honour of Musical Collaboration of the Year are High Valley and Alison Krauss (Do This Life) and Dallas Smith & MacKenzie Porter (One Too). A full rundown of the night’s winners can be found below.
The excitement of the evening continued when the city of Edmonton was announced as the 2024 CCMA Awards host city, returning to Alberta’s capital next September for the first time since back-to-back visits in 2013 and 2014. Country Music Week 2024 marks the eighth time in the city, all culminating with the 2024 CCMA Awards presented by TD at Rogers Place in Edmonton’s ICE District.
2023 CCMA Music Industry Gala Dinner & Awards Presented By Stingray
Top Selling Album of the Year
One Thing At A Time – Morgan Wallen
Top Selling Canadian Album of the Year, presented by Anthem Entertainment
Good Ol’ Days – The Reklaws
Top Selling Canadian Single of the Year
Dear Alcohol – Dax
Steel Guitar Player of the Year
Doug Johnson
Specialty Instrument Player of the Year
Mitch Jay
Keyboard Player of the Year
Brendan Waters
Canadian Country Music Hall of FameÒ Induction (Artist)
Jason McCoy
Fiddle Player of the Year
Julie Kennedy
Drummer of the Year
Rich DaSilva
Bass Player of the Year
Justin Kudding
Guitar Player of the Year presented by PRS Guitars
Brennan Wall
Gary Slaight Music Humanitarian Award
Dean Brody
Country Music Program or Special of the Year
Christmas Time with Tenille Townes 2022 (Sony Music Entertainment (Canada) Inc)
Country Club of the Year
The King Eddy – Calgary, AB
Country Festival, Fair or Exhibition of the Year
Boots and Hearts Music Festival – Oro-Medonte, ON
Country Personality(ies) of the Year
Wendy Boomer (CKBY-FM)
Radio Station of the Year (Medium or Small Market)
CHCQ-FM – Belleville, ON
Radio Station of the Year (Large Market), presented by Explore Edmonton
CJJR-FM – Vancouver, BC
Music Publishing Company of the Year, presented by CMRRA
Big Loud Publishing
Canadian Country Music Hall of FameÒ Induction (Stan Klees Builder)
Brian Edwards
Booking Agency of the Year
Sakamoto Agency
Video Director of the Year
Travis Nesbitt
Innovative Campaign of the Year, presented by Flair Airlines
Jade Eagleson – “She Don’t Know” Wedding Contest
Creative Team or Designer of the Year
Design Team: Austin Chaffe
Single: Beer Me (Artist: James Barker Band), Shakin’ In Them Boots (Artist: Jade Eagleson) Marketing Campaign: Dean Brody x NHLPA (Artist: Dean Brody) Tour Marketing/Live Show Element: Northern Anthem (Artist: Dean Brody), Brand Launch: EPK (Artist: Griffen Palmer), Album Marketing: Good Ol’ Days (Artist: The Reklaws), Merch: (Artist: The Reklaws)
Alternative Country Album of the Year
A Traveler’s Lament – Kyle McKearney
Record Producer(s) of the Year
Danick Dupelle
Single: Back To Drinkin’ Whiskey (Artist: Tyler Joe Miller), Single: Never Met A Beer (Artist: Tyler Joe Miller, Matt Lang)
Ron Sakamoto Talent Buyer or Promoter of the Year
Brooke Dunford – Republic Live
Retailer or Commercial Platform of the Year
Spotify Canada Inc.
Record Company of the Year
Big Loud Records
Recording Studio of the Year
MCC Recording Studio – Calgary, AB
Management Company of the Year
The Core Entertainment
Video of the Year, presented by Stingray
Float – Tim & The Glory Boys
Songwriter(s) of the Year, presented by SOCAN
Bryan Adams, Daniel Tashian, Tenille Townes, Kate York
Song: The Thing That Wrecks You (Performed by: Tenille Townes featuring Bryan Adams)
Musical Collaboration of the Year
Do This Life – High Valley, Alison Krauss
One Too – Dallas Smith & MacKenzie Porter
Industry Person of the Year, presented by TD
Warren Copnick – Sony Music Entertainment (Canada) Inc
Tickets for the 2023 CCMA Awards presented by TD and hosted by The Reklaws are available starting at $59.99 plus taxes/fees in-person through the FirstOntario Centre Box office or online at www.Ticketmaster.ca, with $1 from each ticket sold going towards the CCMA Foundation, a charitable organization that aims to support Canadians with the help of the music community, artists, and partners with a vision to change lives through the power of music under three pillars – music for change, music for healing and music for youth. Tune-in to the 2023 CCMA Awards presented by TD live on CTV at 8:00 p.m. EDT/9:00 p.m. ADT/7:00 p.m. CDT, and at 8:00 p.m. local time in Saskatchewan, Alberta and British Colombia.
For the latest CCMA news, follow along on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and YouTube or visit www.ccma.org.
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 Country Music Week 2023 and the 2023 CCMA Awards Show presented by TD include FACTOR, Canada’s Private Radio Broadcasters, and the Government of Canada through the Department of Canadian Heritage’s “Canada Music Fund”.
About Stingray
Stingray (TSX: RAY.A; RAY.B), a global music, media, and technology company, is an industry leader in TV broadcasting, streaming, radio, business services, and advertising. Stingray provides an array of music, digital, and advertising services to enterprise brands worldwide, including audio and video channels, over 100 radio stations, subscription video-on-demand content, FAST channels, karaoke products and music apps, and in-car and on-board infotainment content. Stingray Business, a division of Stingray, provides commercial solutions in music, in-store advertising solutions, digital signage, and AI-driven consumer insights and feedback. Stingray Advertising is North America’s largest retail audio advertising network, delivering digital audio messaging to more than 20,000 major retail locations. Stingray has close to 1000 employees worldwide and reaches 540 million consumers in 160 countries. For more information, visit www.stingray.com.
About Anthem Entertainment
Anthem Entertainment is one of the world’s leading independent music companies. Comprised of award-winning organizations, Anthem Entertainment is home to Anthem Music Publishing, Anthem Records, and a production music division that encompasses Jingle Punks, 5 Alarm Music, and Cavendish Music. Headquartered in Toronto, with operations in Nashville, New York, Los Angeles, and London, Anthem supports and invests in the careers and works of songwriters and artists, and the creation of exceptional music for recording artists and audio-visual productions. Anthem’s unique approach combines the resources, power, and reach of a major with the agility, entrepreneurism, and soul of an independent. Anthem’s subsidiary businesses include Compact Media, the leading film and television audio-visual secondary rights management company based in London.
About PRS Guitars:
PRS Guitars is a leading manufacturer of high-quality instruments in Stevensville, Maryland and has provided some of the world’s most renowned musicians with instruments since 1985. The PRS team of highly skilled craftspeople design and build a wide variety of musical instruments and gear for worldwide distribution, including electric, acoustic, and bass guitars as well as boutique-style guitar amplifiers and effects pedals. The PRS SE Series complements the Maryland-made PRS line by offering highly approachable and more affordable electric, acoustic, and bass guitars. Carlos Santana, Mark Tremonti, John Mayer, Luke Bryan, Myles Kennedy, Orianthi, Mark Lettieri, and Rhonda Smith are among the artists currently playing PRS instruments and/or amplifiers.
About Explore Edmonton
Explore Edmonton Corporation (EEC) is the Destination Management and Marketing Organization (DMMO) for Edmonton. EEC tells our city’s story, elevates the Edmonton experience, and generates inbound visitation. EEC manages the Edmonton Convention Centre and the Edmonton EXPO Centre. While EEC’s mandate is focused on attracting visitors from beyond our city’s limits, what we do and how we do it also enhances and amplifies the quality of life for Edmontonians.
About CMRRA
The Canadian Musical Reproduction Rights Agency Ltd. (CMRRA), a SoundExchange company, represents the vast majority of the music publishers doing business in Canada. CMRRA licenses dozens of digital services including all of the major online music services operating in Canada. It licenses, collects and distributes royalties for the majority of songs recorded, sold and broadcast in Canada. For more information, please visit cmrra.ca
About Flair Airlines
Flair Airlines is Canada’s leading low-fare airline and its greenest airline, on a mission to provide affordable air travel that connects them to the people and experiences they love. With an expanding fleet of Boeing 737 aircraft, Flair is growing to serve over 35 cities across Canada, the U.S., Mexico, the Dominican Republic, and Jamaica. For more information, please visit www.flyflair.com.
About SOCAN
SOCAN is a rights management organization that connects more than four-million music creators worldwide and more than a quarter-million businesses and individuals in Canada. More than 185,000 songwriters, composers, and music publishers are its direct members, and more than 100,000 organizations are Licensed To Play music across Canada. With a concerted use of progressive technology and unique data, SOCAN is dedicated to upholding the fundamental truth that music has value and creators and publishers deserve fair compensation for their work. For more information: www.socan.com.
About TD Bank Group
The Toronto-Dominion Bank and its subsidiaries are collectively known as TD Bank Group (“TD” or the “Bank”). TD is the sixth largest bank in North America by assets and serves over 27.5 million customers in four key businesses operating in a number of locations in financial centres around the globe: Canadian Personal and Commercial Banking, including TD Canada Trust and TD Auto Finance Canada; U.S. Retail, including TD Bank, America’s Most Convenient Bank®, TD Auto Finance U.S., TD Wealth (U.S.), and an investment in The Charles Schwab Corporation; Wealth Management and Insurance, including TD Wealth (Canada), TD Direct Investing, and TD Insurance; and Wholesale Banking, including TD Securities and TD Cowen. TD also ranks among the world’s leading online financial services firms, with more than 16 million active online and mobile customers. TD had $1.9 trillion in assets on July 31, 2023. The Toronto-Dominion Bank trades under the symbol “TD” on the Toronto and New York Stock Exchanges.
