Canada’s country music industry celebrated its best and brightest over the weekend, first with the CCMA Gala on Saturday and then with the broadcasted CCMA Awards show from the FirstOntario Centre in Hamilton, ON on Sunday night. Broadcast live on CBC, the Sunday evening saw host Shania Twain awarded with Top Selling Album of the Year, Top Selling Canadian Album of the Year, the CCMA Generation Award, and the coveted Apple Music Fans’ Choice Award.
One-of-a-kind performances were at the heart of the show’s success, starting with the night’s opener – a Shania Twain tribute performed by Album of the Year winner Jess Moskaluke, Kira Isabella, and Madeline Merlo. Surrounded by a crowd of 10,000 country music fans, the 2018 CCMA Awards stage came to life as internet-sensation Mason Ramsey made his first Canadian award show appearance and international superstar Keith Urban performed his hit “Never Coming Down.”
Highlights also included collaboration performances by 2018 CCMA Award winner Brett Kissel (Interactive Artist of the Year) and Serena Ryder, a tribute performance for 2018 Hall of Fame inductee Terri Clark by Suzy Boggus, Jessica Mitchell, Meghan Patrick (2018 Female Artist of the Year) and Clark herself.
2018 CCMA Award Winners:
FORD Album of the Year
Past the Past – Jess Moskaluke
Apple Music Fans’ Choice Award
Shania Twain
Female Artist of the Year
Meghan Patrick
Group or Duo of the Year
The Washboard Union
Male Artist of the Year
Dallas Smith
Sirius XM Rising Star
The Reklaws
Single of the Year
“Chills” – James Barker Band
The Canadian Country Music Association (CCMA) handed out 14 awards at the CCMA Gala Dinner & Awards, presented by SOCAN, its second of three awards ceremonies being held this weekend in Hamilton, ON. The evening was brought to life with numerous performances, inductions into the Canadian Country Music Hall of Fame (Terri Clark and Jackie Rae Greening) and the presentation of two CCMA Awards of Achievement (Slaight Music Humanitarian Award and the Leonard T. Rambeau International Award).
It was also a night of repeat wins in a handful of artist award categories. Brett Kissel took home the CCMA Award for Interactive Artist of the Year for the fifth consecutive year while The Washboard Union celebrated their third win in the Roots Artist or Group of the Year category. Four-time 2018 CCMA Award nominees James Barker Band took home their first CCMA Awards win for Top Selling Canadian Single of the Year (“Chills”).
2018 CCMA GALA AWARD WINNERS
Interactive Artist or Group of the Year
Brett Kissel
Roots Artist or Group of the Year (presented by CCS Rights Management)
The Washboard Union
Songwriter(s) of the Year (presented by ole)
Skip Black, Aaron Goodvin, Catt Gravitt
Song: Lonely Drum (Performed By: Aaron Goodvin)
Top Selling Canadian Single of the Year (presented by ACTRA RACS)
“Chills” – James Barker Band
Guitar Player of the Year (presented by Yamaha)
Matt McKay
Keyboard Player of the Year (presented by Yamaha)
Bart McKay
Specialty Instrument Player of the Year (presented by Judy Marsales Real Estate)
Shane Guse – Mandolin
Radio Station of the Year (Large Market)
CISN-FM – Edmonton, Alberta
Radio Station of the Year (Medium or Small Market)
CHCQ-FM – Belleville, Ontario
Music Publishing Company of the Year
ole
Record Company of the Year (presented by Music Canada)
Warner Music Canada
Industry Person of the Year
Steve Coady – Vice President, Radio Promotions – Warner Music Canada
Ron Sakamoto Talent Buyer or Promoter of the Year
Jim Cressman – Invictus Entertainment Group
Stingray Video of the Year
“Sky Stays This Blue” – Dallas Smith
For more information, go to www.ccma.org.
