The 2016 CMAO Award Nominees
Today in Toronto, the Country Music Association of Ontario (CMAO) announced the nominees for the fourth annual CMAO Awards. Presented by Slaight Music, with support from the Ontario Media Development Corporation, the awards celebrate the talent and achievements of Ontario’s country music industry over the past year. The ever-engaging and entertaining Jason McCoy of The Road Hammers returns as host of the CMAO Awards Show, which takes place Monday, May 30, 2016, at the Flato Markham Theatre in Markham, Ontario. The Western Swing Authority also returns to the awards show as the house band.
Leading this year’s award nominations are Jason Blaine, Leah Daniels and Tebey, with five nominations apiece. Deric Ruttan and Runaway Angel follow closely behind with four nods each, while Autumn Hill, Cold Creek County, Johnny Reid and Tianna Woods each garner three nominations. See the full nominees listing for the 2016 CMAO Awards below. Eligible CMAO members will have the opportunity to vote on the final ballot as of today up until Tuesday, April 26th at 11:59PM EST. Votes cast by CMAO members will determine the final winners.
The CMAO Impact Award, sponsored by the Canadian Country Music Association (CCMA), will be presented to the iconic Canadian country roots band Prairie Oyster. The CMAO Impact Award recognizes an artist, group, industry personality or company/organization that has left an enduring and indelibly positive footprint on the landscape of country music in Ontario. Previous recipients include Paula Chopik and Ed Leslie (producers of Havelock Country Jamboree) and the legendary Gordon Lightfoot.
Introduced as a new category this year is the Fans’ Choice award, made possible by the Ontario Media Development Corporation through the Ontario Music Fund. Music fans, along with the CMAO membership, will have the opportunity to vote for nominees in this category starting today through the public online voting portal on the CMAO website at www.cmaontario.ca. Voting for this category will also close Tuesday, April 26th at 11:59PM EST.
The CMAO Awards are preceded by the third edition of the CMAO R2I Spring Tune Up Conference, featuring a two-day program of learning, networking and showcasing on Saturday, May 28 and Sunday, May 29, 2016, at the Edward Village Hotel in Markham. Register here; www.cmaontario.ca.
The 2016 CMAO award nominees are:
SINGLE OF THE YEAR (sponsored by Republic Live – Boots & Hearts Festival)
“Blame” – Autumn Hill
“Bring Your Own Sunshine” – Tianna Woods
“Country Side” – Jason Blaine
“Go Back” – Leah Daniels
“My Someday” – Runaway Angel
“Our Town” – Cold Creek County
“When the Buzz Wears Off” – Tebey
ALBUM OF THE YEAR (sponsored by HMV Canada)
5:01+ – Tim Hicks
Anchor – Autumn Hill
Pistology – Small Town Pistols
Tianna Woods – Tianna Woods
What It Feels Like – Leah Daniels
What Love Is All About – Johnny Reid
SONGWRITER(S) OF THE YEAR (sponsored by SOCAN)
Deric Ruttan, Jonathan Singleton – “Don’t It Feel Good” performed by Deric Ruttan
Jason Blaine, Deric Ruttan – “Country Side” performed by Jason Blaine
Leah Daniels, Beverley Mahood, Patricia Conroy – “Dream Without You” performed by Leah Daniels
Shane Guse, Larry Wayne Clark – “Sweet Harriet” performed by The Western Swing Authority
Stacey Zegers, Cadence Grace, Ann Chaplin, Dave Thomson – “My Someday” performed by Runaway Angel
Tebey – “When The Buzz Wears Off” performed by Tebey
FEMALE ARTIST OF THE YEAR (sponsored by Spring Tree Farm)
Genevieve Fisher
Jessica Mitchell
Kira Isabella
Leah Daniels
Lindsay Broughton
Tianna Woods
MALE ARTIST OF THE YEAR
Deric Ruttan
Jason Blaine
Johnny Reid
Marshall Dane
Tebey
Tim Hicks
GROUP OR DUO OF THE YEAR (sponsored by The Remington Group)
Autumn Hill
Blackwell
Cold Creek County
Runaway Angel
Small Town Pistols
The Western Swing Authority
ROOTS ARTIST OR GROUP OF THE YEAR (sponsored by Skelton Truck Lines Ltd.)
Heather Ballentine
Lindi Ortega
The Good Family
The Lovelocks
The Western Swing Authority
Whitney Rose
RISING STAR AWARD (sponsored by Slaight Music)
Ben Hudson
Brooklyn Roebuck
Cold Creek County
Cory Marquardt
Heather Ballentine
Jessica Mitchell
