The Canadian Country Music Association (CCMA) is pleased to announce the nominees in thirty-four (34) CCMA Award categories today, eight (8) of which will be presented on the 2015 CCMA Awards Show, being broadcast on CBC-TV at 8 p.m. local time (8:30 p.m. NT) with an encore airing on CMT (Canada) at 10 p.m. ET/7 p.m. PT on Sunday, September 13.
Gord Bamford heads into the 2015 CCMA Awards season with six nominations, five among artist award categories: Fans’ Choice, Male Artist of the Year, Single of the Year, Songwriter(s) of the Year and Video of the Year, and one industry award nod for Producer of the Year. Dean Brody also boasts six nominations, total, in the categories of Fans’ Choice, Album of the Year, Male Artist of the Year, Single of the Year, Songwriter(s) of the Year and Video of the Year. Following close behind in nominations is Brett Kissel who is up for Male Artist of the Year, Single of the Year, Video of the Year and Interactive Artist of the Year; as well as Dallas Smith who has nominations for Fans’ Choice, Male Artist of the Year, Album of the Year and Single of the Year.
With three nominations each is Jason Blaine, artist award nods for Blaine include Songwriter(s) of the Year and Video of the Year, as well as Producer of the Year in the industry award category; Tim Hicks for Album of the Year, Male Artist of the Year and Interactive Artist of the Year; and High Valley with nominations for Album of the Year, Group or Duo of the Year and Interactive Artist of the Year. Jess Moskaluke is also up for three CCMA Awards this year, including: Female Artist of the Year, Album of the Year and Single of the Year.
The 2015 CCMA Fans’ Choice Award nominees were revealed last night on Entertainment Tonight Canada. This prestigious award, voted on by Canadian country music fans is once again stacked with powerhouse male performers: Gord Bamford, Paul Brandt, Dean Brody, Johnny Reid and Dallas Smith. Voting for the CCMA Fans’ Choice Award is open as of today at 12:00 p.m. ET. Those who vote have the opportunity to enter the CCMA Ultimate Fan Contest, which will see one lucky winner flown to Halifax to attend Country Music Week 2015 and present the CCMA Fans’ Choice Award live on the 2015 CCMA Awards Show. CLICK HERE to cast your vote.
For the first time in CCMA Awards history, there are eight (8) final nominees in the Rising Star category (as a result of multiple ties on the previous ballot, used to determine these nominees). “This speaks to the strong emerging talent found across the country,” notes CCMA President, Don Green. “The Canadian country music industry is burgeoning when it comes to both fan recognition and artist development.”
He continues, “The CCMA Board of Directors and staff wish to extend heart-felt congratulations to the 155 CCMA Members with nominations today, especially those 26 individuals who are being nominated for the first time. This is a huge achievement and we are proud to celebrate your accomplishments.”
Forty-one (41) CCMA Awards will be given out over four (4) awards ceremonies during Country Music Week in Halifax, Nova Scotia, September 10 – 13. Ticket and event information regarding Country Music Week can be found at ccma.org.
ARTIST AWARDS
FANS’ CHOICE AWARD
Gord Bamford
Paul Brandt
Dean Brody
Johnny Reid
Dallas Smith
ALBUM OF THE YEAR
5:01 – Tim Hicks
County Line – High Valley
Gypsy Road – Dean Brody
Lifted – Dallas Smith
Light Up The Night – Jess Moskaluke
FEMALE ARTIST OF THE YEAR
Terri Clark
Kira Isabella
Beverley Mahood
Jess Moskaluke
MacKenzie Porter
MALE ARTIST OF THE YEAR
Gord Bamford
Dean Brody
Tim Hicks
Brett Kissel
Dallas Smith
GROUP OR DUO OF THE YEAR
Autumn Hill
The Boom Chucka Boys
High Valley
The Road Hammers
Small Town Pistols
SINGLE OF THE YEAR
3-2-1 – Brett Kissel
Another Man’s Gold – Dean Brody
Cheap Wine and Cigarettes – Jess Moskaluke
Wastin’ Gas – Dallas Smith
Where A Farm Used To Be – Gord Bamford
VIDEO OF THE YEAR
Country Side – Jason Blaine
If You Ask Me To – MacKenzie Porter
Tough People Do – Brett Kissel
Upside Down – Dean Brody
Where A Farm Used To Be – Gord Bamford
SONGWRITER(S) OF THE YEAR
Before You Drive Me Crazy
(Written By: Wes Mack, Micah Wilshire, Rick Ferrell, Performed By: Wes Mack)
Country Side
(Written By: Jason Blaine, Deric Ruttan, Performed By: Jason Blaine)
Never Didn’t Love You
(Written By: Walt Aldridge, Michael Pyle, Bobby Wills, Performed By: Bobby Wills)
Upside Down
(Written By: Dean Brody, Performed By: Dean Brody)
Where A Farm Used To Be
(Written By: Gord Bamford, Buddy Owens, Phil O’Donnell, Performed By: Gord Bamford)
INTERACTIVE ARTIST OR GROUP OF THE YEAR
Leah Daniels
Tim Hicks
High Valley
Brett Kissel
Twin Kennedy
RISING STAR
Jason Benoit
Lindsay Broughton
Leah Daniels
Lindsay Ell
Tristan Horncastle
Jordan McIntosh
Madeline Merlo
Steven Lee Olsen
ROOTS ARTIST OF THE YEAR
The Bros. Landreth
Tim Chaisson
The Lovelocks
Lindi Ortega
The Western Swing Authority
MUSICIAN AWARDS
All Star Band – BASS
Chris Byrne
Scott Cooke
Lisa Dodd
Justin Kudding
Travis Switzer
All Star Band – DRUMS
Ben Bradley
Stephen Broadhurst
Corbett Frasz
Chad Melchert
Ben Shillabeer
All Star Band – FIDDLE
Denis Dufresne
Shane Guse
MacKenzie Porter
Ali Raney
Tyler Vollrath
All Star Band – GUITAR
Jason Barry
Ryan Davidson
Matt McKay
Mitch Merrett
Darren Savard
All Star Band – KEYBOARDS
Scott Galloway
Mike Little
Bart McKay
Carly McKillip
Dale Wallace
All Star Band – SPECIAL INSTRUMENT
Dave Barber (Banjo)
Shane Chisholm (Gastank Bass)
Shane Guse (Mandolin)
Robin Pelletier (Mandolin)
Tyler Vollrath (Mandolin)
All Star Band – STEEL GUITAR
Darrek Anderson
John Ellis
Smokey Fennell
Doug Johnson
Ed (Peewee Charles) Ringwald
RADIO AWARDS
MUSIC DIRECTOR OF THE YEAR – LARGE MARKET
Dayna Bourgoin – CKKL – FM, Ottawa, ON
Larry Donohue – CFCW, Edmonton, AB
Pat Dubois – CKBL – FM, Saskatoon, SK
Mark Patric – CJJR – FM, Vancouver, BC
Scott Phillips – CKRY – FM, Calgary, AB/CISN-FM, Edmonton, AB
MUSIC DIRECTOR OF THE YEAR – MEDIUM OR SMALL MARKET
Paul Ferguson – CHCQ – FM, Belleville, ON
Cal Gratton – CJVR – FM/CIXM – FM, Melfort, SK/Whitecourt, AB
Jody Seeley – CFXO – FM, High River, AB
Peter Walker – CJKX – FM, Oshawa, ON
Abbey White – CKGY – FM, Red Deer, AB
INDUSTRY AWARDS
ALBUM DESIGN OF THE YEAR
5:01 (Artist: Tim Hicks)
(Design Team: Mitchell Nevins Photography: Dustin Rabin)
The Fighters (Artist: Chad Brownlee)
(Design Team: Brandon Heard/Sheila Hash (Mediavandals) Photography: John Fucile/SmackDab Media
Gypsy Road (Artist: Dean Brody)
(Design Team: Mitchell Nevins Photography: Margaret Malandruccolo)
MacKenzie Porter (Artist: MacKenzie Porter)
(Design Team: Shan Designs Photography: Kelsey Porter Photography)
Ramble (Artist: The Boom Chucka Boys)
(Design Team: Brandon Heard (Mediavandals) Photography: Ashley Champagne)
BOOKING AGENCY OF THE YEAR
The Agency Group
The Feldman Agency
Invictus Entertainment Group
Paquin Entertainment Group
Sakamoto Entertainment
COUNTRY CLUB OF THE YEAR
Boots & Bourbon Saloon – Toronto, ON
Cook County Saloon – Edmonton, AB
Cowboys Dance Hall – Calgary, AB
Ranchman’s Cookhouse & Dancehall – Calgary, AB
Rock ‘N’ Horse – Toronto, ON
COUNTRY FESTIVAL, FAIR, OR EXHIBITION OF THE YEAR
Big Valley Jamboree – Camrose, AB
Boots and Hearts Music Festival – Bowmanville, ON
Calgary Stampede – Calgary, AB
Cavendish Beach Music Festival – Cavendish, PE
Dauphin’s Countryfest – Dauphin, MB
COUNTRY MUSIC PROGRAM OR SPECIAL OF THE YEAR
Canadian Country Spotlight – Media BemBem Inc.
The Casey Clarke Country Countdown – Casey Clarke Productions
Chevrolet Top 20 Countdown – CMT
Down East Country with George Canyon – KaromaCS-Media2K
Live At The Edison – CMT
MANAGEMENT COMPANY OF THE YEAR
Cache Entertainment Inc.
Chief Music Management
Invictus Entertainment Group
MDM Recordings Inc.
RGK Entertainment Group Inc.
MUSIC PUBLISHING COMPANY OF THE YEAR
CCS Rights Management
ole
Royalty Music Publishing Inc.
Sony/ATV Music Publishing Canada
Warner/Chappell Music Canada
RECORD COMPANY OF THE YEAR
Big Star Recordings Inc.
MDM Recordings Inc.
Open Road Recordings Inc.
Royalty Records Inc.
Sony Music Entertainment (Canada) Inc.
RECORD COMPANY PERSON OF THE YEAR
Warren Copnick – Sony Music Entertainment (Canada) Inc.
Mike Denney – MDM Recordings Inc.
Brianne Deslippe – Universal Music Canada
Louis O’Reilly – Big Star Recordings Inc.
Rob Smith – Royalty Records Inc.
RECORDING STUDIO OF THE YEAR
Barrytone Studios – St. Clements, ON
Bart McKay Productions – Saskatoon, SK
MCC Recording Studio – Calgary, AB
Noble Street Studios – Toronto, ON
OCL Studios – Chestermere, AB
RECORD PRODUCER(S) OF THE YEAR
Gord Bamford (Album: Ramble, Artist: The Boom Chucka Boys)
Jason Blaine/ Deric Ruttan (Single: Country Side, Artist: Jason Blaine)
Jeff Coplan (Album: 5:01, Artist: Tim Hicks)
Danick Dupelle/ Tebey Ottoh (Album: Two, Artist: Tebey)
Joey Moi (Album: Lifted, Artist: Dallas Smith)
RETAILER OF THE YEAR
HMV Canada Inc.
iTunes Canada
Lammle’s Western Wear & Tack
Walmart Canada Corp.
RON SAKAMOTO TALENT BUYER OR PROMOTER OF THE YEAR
Paul Biro/Shawn Sakamoto – Sakamoto Entertainment
Jim Cressman/ Rob Cyrynowski – Invictus Entertainment Group
Lindsay Ell/Rod Tate – Calgary Stampede
Rob Waloschuk – Performance Promotions Ltd.
Larry Werner – Big Valley Jamboree
VIDEO DIRECTOR OF THE YEAR
Stephano Barberis
(Video: Undressed, Artist: Bobby Wills; Video: Boat On The Water, Artist: Aaron Pritchett; Video: I Only Smoke When I Drink, Artist: Small Town Pistols)
Harv Glazer
(Video: Where A Farm Used To Be, Artist: Gord Bamford)
Wes Mack
(Video: Before You Drive Me Crazy, Artist: Wes Mack)
Lisa Mann
(Video: Tough People Do, Artist: Brett Kissel)
David Tenniswood
(Video: If You Ask Me To, Artist: MacKenzie Porter)
