ONTARIO’S COUNTRY MUSIC INDUSTRY SHINES AT THE 2016 CMAO AWARDS
The spotlight was on Ontario’s thriving country music community last night as the Country Music Association of Ontario handed out the 4th Annual CMAO Awards. The crowd joined host Jason McCoy at the Flato Markham Theatre in Markham for an evening of accolades and performances by some of Ontario’s best and brightest stars.
Multiple winners included Jason Blaine and newcomers Cold Creek County who walked away with three awards apiece. Blaine shared his Songwriter of the Year win alongside Deric Ruttan for their penning of the single “Country Side” which also took the honours for Music Video of the Year. Cold Creek County took home 2 awards, followed by their 3rd award, the inaugural and coveted Fans’ Choice award. After hearing of their first 2 wins, they told Top Country,
“It was unbelievable. Even just to be nominated is an honour for us and really just having that was good enough for our band. But to win 2 awards… we don’t even know yet! After this we’re going to go have a drink and then we’ll talk about how we feel, but right now it’s awesome! We’re going to wake up tomorrow and be like ‘was that a dream?‘, because we’re going to drink a lot to celebrate”
The audience was treated to a stellar lineup of performances from 13 of Ontario’s hottest country stars including 2016 CMAO winners Tebey (Single of the Year), and Leah Daniels (Female Artist of the Year) as well as newcomers Jessica Mitchell and Meghan Patrick (chart-topping single Bow Chica Wow Wow and album Grace & Grit). The Road Hammers closed out the evening with a roaring rendition of “One Horse Town” featuring special guest Tim Hicks.
Jessica Mitchell earned herself a standing ovation and shared her thoughts with us.
It’s nuts man. Funny enough I had a dream last night that I played and got a standing ovation, so I don’t know how that all ties in. Legit. That legit happened. It’s a good feeling to be respected by every body. I just really love music and I love this atmosphere of getting to express yourself. It’s awesome.
Meghan Patrick, who confessed she looks up to Jessica Mitchell the most, told us about what it was like performing to a crowd of her peers.
It’s almost a little more intimidating than a regular crowd because you want to impress everyone and put your best foot forward. But not so much in this situation though because we’re all kind of buddies and we came up in this together. I just had fun.
The complete list of 2016 CMAO award winners are:
SINGLE OF THE YEAR (sponsored by KICX 106)
“When the Buzz Wears Off” – Tebey
ALBUM OF THE YEAR (sponsored by hmv Canada)
What Love Is All About – Johnny Reid
SONGWRITER(S) OF THE YEAR (sponsored by SOCAN)
Jason Blaine, Deric Ruttan – “Country Side” performed by Jason Blaine
FEMALE ARTIST OF THE YEAR (sponsored by Spring Tree Farm)
Leah Daniels
MALE ARTIST OF THE YEAR (sponsored by Havelock Country Jamboree)
Jason Blaine
GROUP OR DUO OF THE YEAR (sponsored by The Remington Group)
Cold Creek County
ROOTS ARTIST OR GROUP OF THE YEAR (sponsored by Skelton Truck Lines Ltd.)
The Good Family
RISING STAR AWARD (sponsored by Slaight Music)
Cold Creek County
MUSIC VIDEO OF THE YEAR (sponsored by Kylemore Communities)
“Country Side” – Jason Blaine
FANS’ CHOICE (sponsored by Ontario Media Development Corporation)
Cold Creek County
RECORD PRODUCER(S) OF THE YEAR (sponsored by MetalWorks Studios)
Jason Barry – Run Angel Run by Runaway Angel; Now Playing and Sweet Harriet by The Western Swing Authority; Boomerang by Genevieve Fisher; Toes by Scotty James
RADIO STATION OF THE YEAR (MAJOR MARKET) (sponsored by Canadian Country Spotlight)
CHKX-FM (KX 94.7), Hamilton
RADIO STATION OF THE YEAR (SECONDARY MARKET) (sponsored by Lucknow’s Music in the Fields)
CJDL-FM (Country 107.3), Tillsonburg
IMPACT AWARD
Prairie Oyster
JASON MCCOY
