The Canadian Country Music Association is pleased to announce the final nominees in thirty-four (34) CCMA Award categories today, eight of which will be presented during the 2016 CCMA Awards Show on Sunday, September 11; which will once again be hosted by the talented Canadian television personality Jessi Cruickshank, and broadcast on CBC at 8 p.m. (8:30 p.m. NT) with an encore airing on CMT (Canada) at 10 p.m. ET/7 p.m. PT.
On the heels of a successful year, Dean Brody heads into the 2016 CCMA Awards season with five nominations: Fans’ Choice, Male Artist of the Year, Single of the Year, Video of the Year and Songwriter of the Year. Brett Kissel also boasts five nominations; four in the artist award category: Fans’ Choice, Male Artist of the Year, Single of the Year and Interactive Artist of the Year, and one industry nomination for Record Producer of the Year.
With an impressive four nominations each are Gord Bamford (Album of the Year, Male Artist of the Year, Single of the Year and Songwriter of the Year); Johnny Reid (Fans’ Choice, Male Artist of the Year, Video of the Year and Producer of the Year); Dallas Smith (Fans’ Choice, Male Artist of the Year, Single of the Year and Interactive Artist of the Year) and The Washboard Union (Group or Duo of the Year, Rising Star, Video of the Year and Roots Artist of the Year).
And with three nominees each are Cold Creek County (Group or Duo of the Year, Rising Star and Video of the Year); Jess Moskaluke (Female Artist of the Year, Video of the Year and Interactive Artist of the Year) and Bobby Wills (Album of the Year, Single of the Year and Songwriter of the Year).
The 2016 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 artists: Dean Brody, Brett Kissel, Johnny Reid, Dallas Smith and Yoan. Voting for the CCMA Fans’ Choice Award is open today, as of 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 London to attend Country Music Week 2016 and present the CCMA Fans’ Choice Award live on the 2016 CCMA Awards Show. CLICK HERE to cast your vote and enter the contest.
Returning to host the CCMA Awards Show for a second year is Jessi Cruickshank. Cruickshank is the CSA (Canadian Screen Awards) nominated host of Canada’s Smartest Person, returning for Season 3 on CBC this fall, the L.A. correspondent for etalk, and one of the co-hosts of CBC’s highly anticipated new daytime show, premiering October 3. Hailed as “one of the funniest women on TV today, period” by The Province, Cruickshank grew up in Vancouver, where she broke into comedy as the only girl in an all-male improv troupe alongside Seth Rogen. She soon became a household name as the face of MTV Canada, hosting the daily comedy show MTV Live and smash hit The Hills After Show, which was syndicated in 10 countries and generated record-breaking ratings in Canada and the U.S. Cruickshank went on to host Live from E!, Jerseylicious, Oh Sit!, Jessi Cruickshank’s Real Hollywood Survival Guide and Olympic Morning. She has also travelled the world as a keynote speaker and the Canadian ambassador for Free the Children.
“I am thrilled to be back as your CCMA Awards Show host!” said Cruickshank. “This time around, I guarantee the show will be bigger, the stars will be brighter and the jeans will be tighter. Giddy Up.”
“Congratulations to the 155 CCMA Members from the Canadian country music community that are receiving nominations today, 40 of whom are receiving a CCMA nomination for the first time,” shared Don Green, President of the Canadian Country Music Association. “Let this be an acknowledgement and accolade of the hard work they’ve put into their craft over the last year. We are so proud of the accomplishments of our CCMA family, and look forward to celebrating with everyone this September in London.”
ARTIST AWARDS
FANS’ CHOICE
Dean Brody
Brett Kissel
Johnny Reid
Dallas Smith
Yoan
ALBUM OF THE YEAR
Edge Of The Storm – Wes Mack
Hearts On Fire – Chad Brownlee
I Got This – George Canyon
Tin Roof – Gord Bamford
Tougher Than Love – Bobby Wills
FEMALE ARTIST OF THE YEAR
Lindsay Ell
Kira Isabella
Madeline Merlo
Jess Moskaluke
MacKenzie Porter
MALE ARTIST OF THE YEAR
Gord Bamford
Dean Brody
Brett Kissel
Johnny Reid
Dallas Smith
GROUP OR DUO OF THE YEAR
Autumn Hill
Cold Creek County
High Valley
The Road Hammers
The Washboard Union
ROOTS ARTIST OF THE YEAR
The Lovelocks
Jessica Mitchell
Lindi Ortega
The Washboard Union
The Western Swing Authority
RISING STAR
Alee
Cold Creek County
David James
River Town Saints
The Washboard Union
SINGLE OF THE YEAR
Airwaves – Brett Kissel
Bring Down The House – Dean Brody
Cheap Seats – Dallas Smith
Don’t Let Her Be Gone – Gord Bamford
Won’t You Be Mine – Bobby Wills
VIDEO OF THE YEAR – Presented by Coors Banquet
Bring Down The House – Dean Brody
Hearts On Fire – Chad Brownlee
Kiss Me Quiet – Jess Moskaluke
Maybe It’s The Moonshine – The Washboard Union
Our Town – Cold Creek County
What Love Is All About – Johnny Reid
SONGWRITER(S) OF THE YEAR – Presented by olé
Chad Kroeger, Meghan Patrick
Song: Bow Chicka Wow Wow (Performed By: Meghan Patrick)
Dean Brody
Song: Bring Down The House (Performed By: Dean Brody)
Deric Ruttan, Craig Wiseman
Song: Came Here To Forget (Performed By: Blake Shelton)
Gord Bamford, Wade Kirby, Phil O’Donnell
Song: Heard You In A Song (Performed By: Gord Bamford)
Matt Johnson, Michael Pyle, Bobby Wills
Song: Won’t You Be Mine (Performed By: Bobby Wills)
INTERACTIVE ARTIST OR GROUP OF THE YEAR
Leah Daniels
Tim Hicks
Brett Kissel
Wes Mack
Jess Moskaluke
Dallas Smith
MUSICIAN AWARDS
BASS PLAYER OF THE YEAR
Luanne Carl
Lisa Dodd
Doug Elash
Justin Kudding
Travis Switzer
DRUMMER OF THE YEAR
Jimmy Boudreau
Ben Bradley
Rich DaSilva
Chad Melchert
Rob Wells
FIDDLE PLAYER OF THE YEAR
Denis Dufresne
Shane Guse
Julie Kennedy
Ali Raney
Tyler Vollrath
GUITAR PLAYER OF THE YEAR
Jason Barry
Ryan Davidson
Matt McKay
Darren Savard
Brennan Wall
KEYBOARD PLAYER OF THE YEAR
Scott Galloway
Darryl Havers
Mike Little
Bart McKay
Carly McKillip
SPECIALTY INSTRUMENT PLAYER OF THE YEAR
Dave Barber – Banjo
Denis Dufresne – Mandolin
Shane Guse – Mandolin
Robin Pelletier – Mandolin
Tyler Vollrath – Mandolin
STEEL GUITAR PLAYER OF THE YEAR
John Ellis
Smokey Fennell
Mitch Jay
Doug Johnson
Ed “Pee Wee Charles” Ringwald
RADIO AWARDS
MUSIC DIRECTOR OF THE YEAR – LARGE MARKET
Docc Andrews – CJJR FM – Vancouver, BC
Dayna Bourgoin – CKKL FM – Ottawa, ON
Larry Donohue – CFCW – Edmonton, AB
Amanda Kingsland – CKBY FM – Ottawa, ON
Scott Phillips – CKRY FM/CISN FM – Calgary, AB/Edmonton, AB
MUSIC DIRECTOR OF THE YEAR – MEDIUM OR SMALL MARKET
Shilo Bellis – CJXL FM – Moncton, NB
Paul Ferguson – CHCQ FM – Belleville, ON
Roo Phelps – CIGV FM – Kelowna, BC
Brendan Seeley – CKGY FM – Red Deer, AB
Jody Seeley – CFXO FM – High River, 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
The Crazy Horse Stonegrill Steakhouse & Saloon – Ottawa, ON
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
Dauphin’s Countryfest – Dauphin, MB
COUNTRY MUSIC PROGRAM OR SPECIAL OF THE YEAR
Canadian Coast to Coast – CJVR FM
Canadian Country Spotlight – Media BemBem Inc.
Chevy Top 20 Countdown – CMT
Coors Banquet One Horse Town – CMT
The Drop: Gord Bamford – 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/Little Red Bungalow
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.
Open Road Recordings Inc.
Sony Music Entertainment (Canada) Inc.
Universal Music Canada
Warner Music Canada
RECORD COMPANY PERSON OF THE YEAR
Steve Coady – Warner Music Canada
Warren Copnick – Sony Music Entertainment (Canada) Inc.
Jim Cressman – Big Star Recordings Inc.
Mike Denney – MDM Recordings Inc.
Brianne Deslippe – Universal Music Canada
Ron Kitchener – Open Road Recordings Inc.
RECORDING PACKAGE OF THE YEAR
Edge Of The Storm
Design Team: Kyle Bottoms [Four-Age Productions], Simon Paul; Photography: Phil Crozier, Andy Hines [Tray Photo] (Artist: Wes Mack)
Hearts On Fire
Design Team: Antoine Moonen; Photography: Carmen Choney (Artist: Chad Brownlee)
Pick Me Up
Design Team: Patrick Duffy [Attention]; Photography: Juan Pont Lezica (Artist: Brett Kissel)
Songs About A Girl
Design Team: Sheila Hash, Brandon Heard; Photography: MacKenzie Jean (Artist: David James)
Turnin’ Up A Sundown
Design Team: Bronwin Parks [Feisty Creative]; Photography: Mark Maryanovich (Artist: Tristan Horncastle)
RECORDING STUDIO OF THE YEAR – Presented by Fanshawe College
Barrytone Studios – St. Clements, ON
Bart McKay Productions – Saskatoon, SK
MCC Recording Studio – Calgary, AB
OCL Studios – Chestermere, AB
Revolution Recordings – 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)
Jason Blaine, Phil O’Donnell, Deric Ruttan
Album: Country Side (Artist: Jason Blaine)
George Canyon, Jeff Johnson, Johnny Reid
Album: I Got This (Artist: George Canyon)
Mickey Jack Cones, Brett Kissel, Bart McKay
Album: Pick Me Up (Artist: Brett Kissel)
Bob Ezrin
Album: What Love Is All About (Artist: Johnny Reid)
RETAILER OF THE YEAR
Google Play
HMV Canada Inc.
iTunes Canada
Lammle’s Western Wear & Tack
Walmart Canada
RON SAKAMOTO TALENT BUYER OR PROMOTER OF THE YEAR
Paul Biro – Sakamoto Agency
Jim Cressman – Invictus Entertainment Group
Alex Vyskocil – Live Nation Entertainment
Rob Waloschuk – Performance Promotions Ltd.
Lindsay Weryshko – Calgary Stampede
VIDEO DIRECTOR OF THE YEAR
Stephano Barberis
Video: Cheap Seats (Artist: Dallas Smith), Video: Don’t Let Her Be Gone (Artist: Gord Bamford), Video: Hearts On Fire (Artist: Chad Brownlee), Video: So Much For Taking It Slow (Artist: Bobby Wills)
Andy Hines
Video: The Way You Let Me Down (Artist: Wes Mack)
Ben Knechtel
Video: Airwaves (Artist: Brett Kissel)
Colin Minihan
Video: Bring Down The House (Artist: Dean Brody)
David Tenniswood
Video: Kiss Me Quiet (Artist: Jess Moskaluke)
