The Canadian Country Music Association® (CCMA®) unveiled today that Tim Hicks, Brett Kissel, and Dallas Smith will perform on the 2015 CCMA Awards Show, as will special international guests, Florida Georgia Line. These are the first acts announced to take the stage as part of the 2015 CCMA Awards Show, which will 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 onSunday, September 13.
Taking place in Halifax, Nova Scotia for the first time in over 30 years, the CCMA is thrilled to be bringing both Country Music Week and the 2015 CCMA Awards Show to Atlantic Canada this fall. “This year’s CCMA Awards Show will have a whole new look and feel compared to years passed,” said Don Green, President of the Canadian Country Music Association. “Awards shows, just like country music, are constantly evolving. We think country music fans new and old, and viewers both at home and in the stands will all take memorable moments away from this year’s big event. For fans who plan on attending the 2015 CCMA Awards Show in-person: get your tickets now! We anticipate a sold-out crowd for this unforgettable event.”
Two time JUNO Award nominee and 2014 CCMA Award winner for Rising Star, Tim Hicks has cemented his status as one of the biggest breakout Canadian country music acts seen this decade. Hicks boasts five Top 10 singles, nearly 4 million YouTube hits, two JUNO Award nominations, and a fourth Gold-certified single fueled by the anthem, “Here Comes The Thunder”. In 2013, Hicks became the highest selling digital Canadian Country Artist of the Year for his debut album Throw Down, as well as the Most Played Debut Artist overall at Country radio. Hicks’ sophomore album, 5:01, debuted at #1 on the SoundScan Country Album sales chart last August (2014), making this his first #1 country album and paving the way for an undeniably huge year in 2015.
Alberta’s Brett Kissel took home the 2014 CCMA Awards for CMT Video of the Year and Interactive Artist of the Year. He also won the 2014 Canadian Radio Music Award for Country Breakthrough Artist of the Year, and was the first country artist to be awarded the Breakthrough Artist of the Year at the 2014 JUNO Awards in 17 years. With countless sold out shows across North America, Kissel was primed for his major label debut album through Warner Music Canada, Started With A Song, which saw a total of five Billboard Canada Top 10 singles, including “Raise Your Glass”, “3-2-1”, “Tough People Do” and “Something You Just Don’t Forget”. Kissel’s current single, “Airwaves”, was released earlier this month, and is the first single from his forthcoming second album.
Hot on the heels of a successful 2014, Dallas Smith is showing no signs of slowing down this year. Smith won the 2015 JUNO Award for Country Album of the Year, and was chosen by SiriusXM as Country Artist of the Year at the 2015 Indie Awards. Named by Mediabase as 2014’s most played Canadian country artist at radio, Smith is the only male Canadian artist to spend multiple weeks at the top of the Country Airplay Chart in the Nielsen BDS era for his single “Wastin’ Gas”. Additionally, the Gold-certified #1 track broke the record for the highest one-week spin total at country radio in Canada ever. His latest album, Lifted, reunited Smith with prized producer Joey Moi (Florida Georgia Line, Jake Owen) and was followed by the sold out 2015 headline Tippin’ Point Tour.
The CCMA could not be happier to be welcoming special guests, the supremely popular Florida Georgia Line (FGL), to the CCMA Awards Show this year. Fueled with three scorching consecutive #1 hits – Gold-certified “Sippin’ On Fire”, “Sun Daze” and 2X Platinum-certified “Dirt” – FGL radiates with their Gold-certified sophomore album, Anything Goes. This latest album soared to a #1 debut on the all-genre Billboard 200 and Billboard Top Country Albums charts with music critics and fans alike embracing the superstar duo’s fresh sound. FGL has skyrocketed to stardom becoming the only artists in history to join Brooks & Dunn in achieving four back-to-back, multi-week #1 singles; breaking the record for the longest #1 on Billboard’s Hot Country Songs chart and selling over 21 million tracks worldwide off their 2X Platinum debut Here’s to the Good Times, and Anything Goes. The talented duo is currently taking their signature show across North America with their headline Anything Goes Tour 2015, making a special stop in Halifax for the 2015 CCMA Awards Show.
The 2015 CCMA Awards Show will see eight CCMA Awards presented, will highlight a number of special performances and will include appearances by a collection of Canadian personalities and country music acts. This year’s show will be produced by Bristow Global Media Inc. Tickets are available at all Ticket Atlantic locations, by phone at 1-877-451-1221 or online at ticketatlantic.com, with prices ranging from $60.00 to $106.00, plus service charges and fees. Additional CCMA Award Show performers and presenters will be announced throughout the month of August.
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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 and the 2015 CCMA Awards include FACTOR, Canada’s Private Radio Broadcasters and The Government of Canada through the Department of Canadian Heritage’s “Canada Music Fund” and the Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency (ACOA), Radio Starmaker Fund, the Province of Nova Scotia, the City of Halifax and Destination Halifax.
About CBC/Radio-Canada
CBC/Radio-Canada is Canada’s national public broadcaster and one of its largest cultural institutions. The Corporation is a leader in reaching Canadians on new platforms and delivers a comprehensive range of radio, television, internet, and satellite based services. Deeply rooted in the regions, CBC/Radio-Canada is the only domestic broadcaster to offer diverse regional and cultural perspectives in English, French and eight Aboriginal languages.
A space for us all is CBC/Radio-Canada’s strategy to transform the public broadcaster, and ensure that it continues to fulfill its mandate for Canadians, now and for future generations. Through to 2020, it will increase its investment in prime-time television programming and continue to create radio programs of the highest quality, while promoting the development of digital and mobile platforms and content.
About CMT (Canada)
CMT (Canada) is Canada’s source for country music and lifestyle programming. The network offers a mix of original programming, entertaining series, movies, music videos and specials. CMT is owned by Corus Entertainment, a Canadian-based media and entertainment company. For more information, please visit CMT.ca and corusent.com.
About Bristow Global Media Inc. (BGM)
Bristow Global Media Inc. (BGM) is a Toronto based content creation company, specializing in creating multi-platform content across all genres including scripted, lifestyle, reality, documentary and sports. The company was launched in 2013 by leading broadcast executive and producer Julie Bristow, whose 20 year career at the CBC included the creation of award-winning entertainment divisions, the launch of national digital media platforms and the stewardship of iconic sports brands. BGM is partnered with Jamie Oliver’s Fresh One Productions in the UK for content development.
Media Contacts
Tiffany Astle | [email protected] | 416-554-7329
Emily Graham | [email protected] | 647-787-7583
