January 27^th, 2015 (Red Deer, AB) – The Association of Country Music in Alberta (ACMA) announces the  winners of 2014 Association of Country Music in Alberta Awards at the Dinner & Awards event at Westerner Park in Red Deer, Alberta.
 
Brett Kissel who had 3 nominations this year, took home the 2014 ACMA Awards for Male Artist of the Year, Album of the Year for “Started With A Song” and Single of the Year for “3-2-1”.

For the 2nd consecutive year, Alee was awarded Female Artist of the Year.

The SOCAN Song of the Year went to Hey Romeo for “Hello Patio” along with co-nominee Deric Ruttan.  
 
The Boom Chucka Boys took home the hardware in both categories they were nominated in, 2014 ACMA Group/Duo of the Year and the 2014 Calgary Stampede Rising Star.

Our ACMA Fan’s Choice went to new comer Hailey Benedict.

Other wins from the evening include Bill Borgwardt for Industry Person of the Year and Calgary Stampede shared the 2014 Talent Buyer of the Year spotlight with Panhandle Productions.
 
The ACMA inducted 2 (two) pioneers into the ACMA Hall of Fame – CFCW founder Hal Yerxa and Alberta Country Legend, Ray Griff.

2nd Round of Voting Now Open!

Vote now and secure your tickets for the award show on January 25, 2015
at http://www.abcountrymusic.ca
We sold out the last 3 years!

To Cast Your Vote: 

1. Follow the link below
2. In the far right hand box, enter your login credentials 
3. On the right hand side, click on the box labelled "Award Nominees - Vote for your Favorites"
4. Once in the Award Categories scroll to enter each category
5. Click "vote" to make your selection
6. Select "Show Award Categories" at the top of each category to return to the main award listing
7. Continue until you have voted in all categories (Your membership information will automatically bring up with categories you are able to vote in)
8. The second round voting will close January 7, 2015 at 4:00 pm MST

www.abcountrymusic.ca/nominees.aspx 
 

* The system will allow you to change your vote at any time until the round closes but, you will only be able to register 1 vote in each category. If you change your selection, your last vote will over-ride the previous selection. 

1st Round of Voting Now Open!

To cast your vote:
 

1. Follow the link below
2. In the far right hand box, enter your login in credentials,
3. On the right hand side, click on the box titled "Award Nominees - Vote for your favourites"
4. Once in the Award Categories scroll to enter each category
5. Click "vote" to make your selection
6. Select "Show Award Categories" at the top of each category to return to the main award listing
7. Continue until you have voted in all categories.  (Your membership information will automatically bring up which categories you are able to vote in.)

Country Club of the Year
Cook County Saloon – Edmonton, AB

Country Music Program or Special of the Year
Gord Bamford: Christmas in Canada – CMT

Music Director of the Year – Major Market 
Scott Phillips – CKRY-FM, Calgary/CISN-FM, Edmonton

Recording Studio of the Year 
MCC Recordings Studio – Calgary, AB

Interactive Artist of the Year 
Brett Kissel

Radio Station of the Year – Major Market
CKRY FM – Country 105; Calgary, AB

Single of the Year 
“When Your Lips Are So Close” – Gord Bamford

CMT Video of the Year 
“3-2-1” – Brett Kissel

Male Artist of the Year 
Gord Bamford

The Association of Country Music in Alberta (ACMA) and the Canadian Country Music Association (CCMA) are proud to announce the following performers who will be taking part in two special showcases at West Edmonton Mall during Country Music Week 2014. 

The acoustic showcases run on Thursday September 4th and Friday September 5^th from 6 – 8 pm at the Newcap Stage in West Edmonton Mall. 

Thursday’s West Edmonton Mall Showcase will feature Amy Nelson, Drew Gregory, Lindsay Broughton, Livy Jeanne, Tenille, The Orchard, Tristan Horncastle, and TwoShine County.

On Friday the Coast To Coast Country Showcase will feature acts from 8 provinces across Canada.  Joining ACMA Artist Trinity Bradshaw will be Karen Lee Batton (BCCMA),Kevin Davison (NS), Mike Leblanc (NB), Runaway Angle (CMAO), Ryan Keown (MCMA), Tim Chaisson (PEI) and Wyatt (SCMA).

Calling all Country Music Artists! 

The Association of Country Music in Alberta (“ACMA”)  is running a contest in tandem with the Canadian Country Music Association (“CCMA”) for your chance to win a once in a lifetime opportunity to play alongside Canada’s Country Music greats at Country Music Week this year in Edmonton, AB from September 4-7.

How it works: 

Each province has been asked to select one Country Music Artist/Act (“Act”) to represent that province in the “CCMA Spotlight Performance Contest” (“National Contest”).  

When all the participating provincial Acts from across Canada are chosen for the National Contest, these Acts would be highlighted on an online poll (not through Facebook) and the public would be encouraged to vote on who they want to see perform at Country Music Week this year. These Acts must abide by the “CCMA Spotlight Performance Contest – OFFICIAL CONTEST RULES AND REGULATIONS”. This National Contest will open on June 26, 2014 and close on July 3, 2014. The winner will be announced on July 10, 2014. 

Acts who are interested in representing their province on this National Contest are required to email their submission (submission requirements below) to the ACMA ~ [email protected] by May 29th, 2014.

Submission Requirements (to be emailed to the ACMA)

• Two Songs (MP3 format)  

• Fifty-word bio

• One Promotional Photo (JPEG or EPS format)

• Social Media Platforms (please include links to social media outlets you use (i.e., link to Facebook artist page, twitter account, website etc)

Your submissions will be juried by the ACMA and one successful Act will be selected to move on to the National Contest for their chance to win two performance spots at Country Music Week® in Edmonton, Alberta.  The winner will win a performance spot at the CCMA Industry Lunch taking place on Friday September 5 and the CCMA Pre-Show Party happening on September 7, 2014. 

More Information on Country Music Week Events: 

CCMA Industry Lunch & Awards

The first of four Canadian Country Music Association Award ceremonies, the CCMA industry Lunch & Awards recognizes some of Canada’s most influential industry professionals in the areas of radio, retailer, album design, video director and record producer among other achievements. Always accompanied by great food and the promise of some enjoyable entertainment, the CCMA Industry Lunch & Awards is pleased to acknowledge those who work to promote the genre day in and day out, all year round. Be there to see the industry’s key players from behind the scenes taking the stage to accept their honours and applaud them for all the hard work that they put into making country music an enticing market for all. The winning act will perform one (1) song on the CCMA Industry Lunch & Awards, the CCMA will work with the winner to ensure proper accompaniment at this event.

CCMA Pre-Show Party

The CCMA Awards John Deere branded Green Carpet will attract nominees, performers and presenters and national media. In 2013, there were over 35 media outlets present on the carpet including, print (photographers), television, radio and online. Bigger than that is the Fan Zone which in 2012 and 2013 attracted over 6,500 screaming fans excited to see their favourite stars as they arrived at the broadcast. We will be celebrating with these early arrivers with a Pre-Show party in the parking lot of Rexall Place. We are bringing in a portable stage, performers, an all-star host, food trucks, vendors and a photo booth to capture all the fun.  The winning act will perform two (2) songs on the CCMA Pre-Show Party.  The CCMA will work with the winner to ensure proper accompaniment at this event.

What the National Contest winner receives: 

There is only one (1) prize awarded, which goes to the Winner. The prize consists of:

• A performance spot at the CCMA Industry Lunch & Awards

• A performance spot at the CCMA Pre-Show Party

• A free one (1) year CCMA membership

• A free one (1) year membership to the association the winner qualified

• One (1) complimentary Full Delegate Registration to Country Music Week in Edmonton, AB (non-transferable)

• One (1) $450.00 honorarium from Radio Starmaker Fund

• One (1) hotel room for four (4) night accommodation (Friday, Saturday and Sunday) at the Courtyard by Marriot in Edmonton

• Transportation (economy class) to and from hometown to Edmonton (to a maximum $1,000 Cdn).

Note: In the case that the winner is a duo or band, the CCMA will review the prize package on a case by case basis   

January 27^th, 2014 (Red Deer, AB) – The Association of Country Music in Alberta (ACMA) announces the  winners of 2013 Association of Country Music in Alberta Awards at the Dinner & Awards event at Westerner Park in Red Deer, Alberta.

Bobby Wills who had 4 nominations this year, took home the 2013 ACMA Awards for Male Artist of the Year, the SOCAN Song of the Year  for “ Somebody Will” along with co-nominees Walt Aldridge and Mike Pyle and Album of the Year for “ If It Was That Easy”.

Brett Kissel also had 4 nominations and was awarded with the 2013 ACMA Awards for Single of the Year for “Started with a Song” and the Calgary Stampede Rising Star.

The winner of the 2013 ACMA Female Artist of the Year went to Alee who was nominated in a total of 4 categories.

The 2013 ACMA Group/Duo of the Year was Calgary’s own PEAR and for the 2^nd consecutive year, Grande Prairie’s Tenille took home the 2013 Fan’s Choice.

Other wins from the evening include Jody Seeley for Industry Person of the Year and Panhandle Productions for Talent Buyer of the Year.

The Honourable Gene Zwozdesky and CCMA Hall of Fame Inductee Ed Harris presented the 2013 ACMA Hall of Fame Award to Albert music pioneer, R. Harlan Smith. 

The list of 2013 ACMA Award winners highlights of the evening can be at www.abcountrymusic.ca. 

The Association of Country Music in Alberta is pleased to announce this year's line-up for our 3^rd Annual ACMA Dinner & Awards Show Saturday, January 25^th, 2014 at Westerner Park in Red Deer, Alberta.

Hosted by 99.7 Sun Country Morning Show Announcer – Jody Seeley – the evening will include performances from ACMA Rising Star Nominee’s: Alee (also nominated for Female Artist of the Year, Song of the Year and Album of the Year); Jason Hastie (also nominated for Male Artist of the Year and Album of the Year); The Boom Chucka Boys (also nominated for Group/Duo of the Year, Fan’s Choice, Song of the Year, and Album of the Year) and The Orchard (also nominated for Group/Duo of the Year and Song of the Year). Other showcase performances are scheduled from ACMA artists Trinity Bradshaw and Wildflower.  We are pleased to once again have a special performance guest from Alberta Music and this year that will be Calgary’s own, JJ Shiplett.  The evening will conclude with our All Star Jam hosted by Domino, nominated for Group/Duo of the Year, Fan’s Choice, Song of the Year, and Album of the Year.

There are limited tickets left and they can be purchased by emailing: [email protected]

ACMA 3rd Annual Awards Show & Dinner Tickets On Sale Now!

Tickets for the 2013 ACMA Awards Show & Dinner

Saturday January 25th, 2014
Westerner Park, Red Deer Alberta
are on sale now!

ACMA Members:  $75.00 / each
Non-Members:  $100.00 each

To purchase your tickets please email:
[email protected]

We thank our host hotel for the 2013 Awards & Dinner ~ Sheraton Red Deer.  To take advantage of a discounted rate for attendee's, please either email: [email protected]  or call   (800) 662-7197 and ask for the ACMA Awards Rate. 

November 18^th, 2013 (Edmonton, AB) – The Association of Country Music in Alberta (ACMA) is pleased to announce the 2013 Hall of Fame Inductee is 
R. Harlan Smith.
 

It was over 46 years ago that the then Bob Smith (later known as R. Harlan Smith) recorded and released his first single – a cover of US pop star Al Martino’s hit song, “Mary In The Morning”.  In those days, Bob Smith was singing and performing six nights per week at Edmonton’s Midtowner Hotel’s Oak Room, and was also featured on a live ½ hour weekly radio show every Thursday evening direct from the club on Edmonton’s easy listening/pop music station CHQT.  Both CHQT and Edmonton’s rock giant CHED gave the record a few spins – just enough to whet the recording and writing appetite of the young performer.  The next few months saw Bob Smith and his band move onto the stage of perhaps the most upscale nightclub in Edmonton – the Sheraton Hotel’s Top Of The Inn Ballroom – where he and his eight-piece band, complete with horns, vibes, guitar and piano made the Top Of The Inn one of the places to be for a night on the town.
 
The musical menu in those heady days, of course, wasn’t very country, but a solid offering of movie themes, show tunes, and pop hits of the day.  But for a boy who grew up on the prairies of Saskatchewan, whose early life was filled with the sounds of country music, and who had on occasion as a teenager performed on live radio with a Saskatchewan country band on Regina’s CKRM.  The early influences and opportunities to travel and perform playing country music prompted the still then Bob Smith to make a country song demo.  The young performer visited with Warren Holte, who then managed one of the most successful country radio stations in Canada – CFCW, Camrose, Alberta.  The meeting and demo did the trick.  CFCW hired the new singer and his band for their complete summer rodeo show circuit, and the country music career of Bob Smith was, as they say, launched.
 
Between shows, traveling and performing, Harlan began the serious business of writing and recording.  Lady luck also seemed to be on Harlan’s side as his first serious attempt at song writing in 1969 produced the 1970 Apex Records number 1 Canadian country record, “Ode To suburbia”, RPM Canadian Country Chart, from his Apex “Bob Smith Sings” album.
 
Over the next 30-odd years Harlan recorded two albums for GRT Records (“Uptown Country” and “I Remember Love”) and five subsequent albums on his own label Royalty Records receiving numerous regional, provincial and national industry awards, nominations, including awards of excellence for performance, production, songwriting, and industry builder.  In 1977 Harlan was the recipient of Canadian Country Music Album of the Year Award for his album “Here Comes Yesterday”.  Throughout his career Harlan sang and performed live and had his recordings played in numerous countries, wrote over 200 songs, produced over 40 albums and 200 plus singles, mainly for western Canadian artists, the majority of which, over the years, charted nationally and some internationally, twice won the award as Canadian Country Music Producer of the Year, and holds the distinction of being the first Canadian record producer to have 4 separate singles by 4 different artists all charting nationally in Canada’s top 50 at the same time, all four being western Canadian artists.
 
Because of his belief in Canadian country music, especially the kind coming from Western Canada, in 1974 R. Harlan Smith, along with a business associate Jack Dubasz, founded one of Canada’s most successful record label/distributors – 100% owned and controlled, Alberta’s Royalty Records.  Later on, Harlan developed the concept of a Canadian Country Music All-Star Show through a separate company, Royalty Shows Ltd.  The late 1980’s and early 1990’s saw the 13 piece show travel and perform not only in western Canada, but in a variety of foreign countries including Holland, Belgium, England, Scotland, Denmark and Germany, thus creating international exposure not only for the musicians involved, but for western Canadian artists and their songs, such as Laura Vinson, Gary Fjellgaard, Chris Nielsen, and others to new markets and performance opportunities. 
 
Harlan was also a founding member, secretary-treasurer by acclamation, and later vice-president and six-year board member of the Canadian Country Music Association, president of the Alberta Recording Industries Association, director of Global Country Canada, and vice-president of the Alberta Cultural Industries Association.  Harlan has also been honoured by the city of Moose Jaw, SK as an Honorary Citizen, is an Honorary Westerner and an Honorary Calgarian, and in 2004 received the prestigious honour of Industry Builder from the Western Canadian Music Alliance.  In 2005 Harlan was also inducted into the Canadian Country Music Hall of Fame as an Industry Builder.  Several years ago, Harlan was a nominee for Alberta’s inaugural prestigious Lieutenant Governor’s Awards, chosen along with 84 other artists, performers, architects and playwrights.  In 2012 Harlan was awarded the Lifetime Achievement Award by the Alberta Men & Women of Country Music.
 
In 1972 Harlan founded Helping Hand Music Ltd, now known as Royalty Music Publishing Inc, the first wholly owned Canadian music publishing company from western Canada to be invited to join the Canadian Music Publishers Association.  The song publishing company now holds administration or copyright ownership on a significant catalogue of music of mainly western Canada based writers.  Through his music publishing efforts and sound recording projects, many young, unheard of writers saw their songs recorded and played on national and sometimes international radio.
 
Born in Saskatchewan and moving to Alberta as a young man, Harlan made his home in Alberta for 53 years, only recently moving to the Okanagan Valley – Vernon, BC.  Perhaps one of the best quotes regarding Harlan’s career comes from an article written by Vicki Covington in Canada’s Country Music News, a national trade magazine.  We quote as follows, “Some say that no one has done more for Western Canada’s country talent than R. Harlan Smith.” 
 
Several years ago Harlan retired, but on occasion still performs with the Alberta Country Legends, and consults on a limited basis, when asked, within the industry. The Royalty group of companies are now under the guidance of Harlan’s son, Rob D Smith, and a hand-picked team of dedicated people whose mandate is to further the growth of Royalty Records as an Alberta owned nationally recognized label/distributor/music rights/intellectual property company focusing mainly on the development, marketing, and promotion of Alberta’s and Canada’s best musical talents to Canada and the world.

Alberta Country Webcast live from the Citadel Theatre Announces the 2013 Acoustic Performers.

The Association of Country Music in Alberta (ACMA) and Alberta Music are proud to announce some of Alberta’s top talent showcasing this year’s Alberta Country Webcast, sponsored in part by CISN, which will take place over the course of three days at this year's Country Music Week, September 5-8 in Edmonton, Alberta.  

We welcome both emerging and established artists including:  Tenille, Braden Gates, Candice Ryan, Wildflower, Shane Chisholm, Emily Seal, Justin Hogg, Dani-Lynn, Danielle Lowe, PEAR, JJ Shiplett, Quentin Reddy, Tiffany Dowhan, Lauren Mayell, Sarah Beth Keeley, Richard Woodman, Tanya Ryan, Trinity Bradshaw, The Command Sisters, Sarah Curle, Madisson Krebs, Matt Pattershuk, Chemical Cowboys, Katie Mission, Jake Ian, The Orchard, The Doll Sisters, Katie & Jason, Domino, The Boom Chucka Boys and CCMA Discovery Artist Blake Reid. 

The Alberta Country Webcast will be streamed live over the internet and viewers will have the opportunity to get to know a little about each of the showcasing artists as seasoned hosts Carly Kincaid and Kathy Le question these artists on their music careers, goals and what we can expect in the coming months. 

The Alberta Country Webcast will take place beginning Thursday, September 5 from 11:00 AM – 6:00 PM MST with additional performances on Friday, September 6 from 12:00 PM – 5:00 PM MST and Saturday September 7 from 12:00 PM - 4:00 PM MST.  

Tune in to http://countrymusicweek.ca/index.php/webcast.html to catch the webcast live during these times:

CCMA Alberta Acoustic Showcase

Alberta Country Webcast – Three days of live acoustic performances and interviews from the lobby of Citadel Theatre broadcast live to the world via the web. 

CCMA Unofficial Kickoff Party: Call for Submissions

The Canadian Country Music Association® (CCMA®) is pleased to announce that Edmonton, Alberta’s Alee is the winner of the 2013 Jiffy Lube FanFest Performance Contest!  Alee had been selected to represent the Association of Country Music in Alberta (ACMA) in the fan-voted contest hosted on Facebook by the CCMA.  Alee will be taking to the stage in Edmonton, Alberta to perform with several country music fan favourites on Saturday, Sept 7! 

Jiffy Lube FanFest is a FREE larger-than-life festival held at the Shaw Conference Centre in celebration of Country music’s biggest and brightest stars.  FanFest itself has a little something for every fan, from the die-hard, album-wielding devotees to the entry-level music lovers who are looking for something new.  Between 16 hot performances, souvenir stands, food vendors and numerous autograph and photo opportunities, this is a an event for even the most reserved of country music fans. Jiffy Lube FanFest is open to everyone, young and old, FREE of charge! 

Calling all Country Music Artists!

The Association of Country Music in Alberta (“ACMA”) is running a contest in tandem with the Canadian Country Music Association (“CCMA”) for your chance to win a once in a lifetime opportunity to play alongside Canada’s Country Music greats this September 7 at Jiffy Lube FanFest (“FanFest”) in Edmonton, Alberta as part of Country Music Week! 

How it works:

Each province has been asked to select one Country Music Artist/Act (“Act”) to represent that province in the “2013 Jiffy Lube FanFest Performance Contest” (“National Contest”). 

When all ten provincial Acts from across Canada are chosen for the National Contest, these Acts would be highlighted on a Facebook poll on the CCMA Facebook page and the public would be encouraged to vote on who they want to see perform at the FanFest this year. These ten Acts must abide by the “2013 Jiffy Lube FanFest Performance CCMA Contest – OFFICIAL CONTEST RULES AND REGULATIONS”. This National Contest will open on July 29, 2013 and close on August 5, 2013. The winner will be announced on August 9, 2013.

Current ACMA acts, who are interested in representing their province on this National Contest, please email your submission intent to [email protected] by July 10, 2013 AND ensure the follow requirements are available on your ACMA Profile Page / EPK at www.abcountrymusic.ca

Submission Requirements
·       Two Songs
·       Fifty-word bio
·       One Promotional Photo (JPEG or EPS format)
·       Social Media Platforms (please include links to social media outlets you use (i.e., link to Facebook artist page, twitter account, website etc)
 
Your submissions will be juried by the ACMA and one successful Act will be selected to move on to the National Contest for their chance to win a performance spot at the Jiffy Lube FanFest during Country Music Week in Edmonton, Alberta on September 7.
Non – ACMA members please contact [email protected] for more information.
 
 
 

More Information on the Jiffy Lube FanFest Event:

Avid country music fans will be delighted by the stellar line up boasted at the Jiffy Lube FanFest, a free festival held in honour of our biggest and brightest country music stars and the fans that hoisted them to the top. Come for the music and stay for the party, FanFest itself has something for every level of fan from the die-hard album-wielding devotees to the entry-level music lovers who are looking for something new. Fifteen selected Acts plus the winner of the 2013 Jiffy Lube FanFest Performance Contest will each perform two to three acoustic songs. With merchandise stands, numerous autograph and photo opportunities, and plenty of vendors and activities, this is a must attend event for even the most reserved of country music fans. The CCMA is proud to have Jiffy Lube as the presenting sponsor of the 2013 FanFest on Saturday September 7 at Shaw Conference Centre in Edmonton, Alberta.

What the National Contest winner receives:

There is only one (1) prize awarded, which goes to the Winner. The prize consists of:

• A performance spot at Jiffy Lube FanFest Edmonton, Alberta
• A free one (1) year CCMA membership
• A free one (1) year membership to the association the winner qualified
• One (1) complimentary Full Delegate Registration to Country Music Week in Edmonton, AB (non-transferable)
• One (1) $450.00 honorarium from Radio Starmaker Fund
• One (1) hotel room for three (3) night accommodation (Friday, Saturday and Sunday) at the Courtyard by Marriot in Edmonton
• Transportation (economy class) to and from hometown to Edmonton (to a maximum $1,000 Cdn).

 
Note: In the case that the winner is a duo or band, the CCMA will review the prize package on a case by case basis  

 2013 Jiffy Lube FanFest Performance Contest 
OFFICIAL CONTEST RULES AND REGULATIONS
 

 NO PURCHASE NECESSARY

 
CONTEST OVERVIEW
The Canadian Country Music Association’s (CCMA) 2013 Jiffy Lube FanFest Performance Contest (“National Contest”) gives one Canadian Country Music Artist/Act (“Act”) the chance to perform at Jiffy Lube FanFest (“FanFest”) taking place Saturday September 7, 2013 at the Shaw Conference Centre in Edmonton, Alberta as part of Country Music Week.
 
HOW ACT(S) WERE CHOSEN FOR THE NATIONAL CONTEST
There were nine (9) provincial music associations (ACMA, BCCMA, CMAO, MCMA, Music NB, Music NL, Music NS, Music PEI, SCMA) (“Associations”) who put a call out to artist/act(s) to submit to be considered in the 2013 Jiffy Lube FanFest Performance Contest – Provincial Act Selection (“Provincial Selection”). Each Association put forth one (1) Act to move forward in the National Contest. Each Association had the same qualifying process.
 
HOW TO VOTE IN THE National Contest
Starting Monday, July 29, 2013 at 11:00 am EST there will be a Facebook poll on the CCMA Facebook page with a list of the ten (10) Acts. To vote, the voter needs to “like” the CCMA’s facebook page and simply select which Act on the poll they would like to see to perform on FanFest at Country Music Week in Edmonton, Alberta. The Act who receives the most votes on the Facebook Poll by 5:00 pm EST on Monday, August 5 will win a performance spot at FanFest.  Each voter can only place one (1) vote for who they would like to see perform at FanFest. 
 
CONTEST PERIOD:  Voting opens Monday, July 29, 2013 at 11:00 am EST and closes on Monday, August 5, 2013 at 5:00 pm EST.
 
SELECTION OF WINNER
The ACT with the most votes on the Facebook poll by 5:00 pm EST on Monday, August 5, 2013 will be declared the winner.  The CCMA will contact the winner by phone on Tuesday, August 6, 2013 by 5:00 pm EST.  In the event of a tie, the CCMA will extend the CCMA Facebook Performance Poll for an additional 24 hours with just the tied participants. 

GRAND PRIZE
There is only one (1) prize awarded, which goes to the Winner. The prize consists of:
 

• A performance spot at Jiffy Lube FanFest Edmonton, Alberta
• A free one (1) year CCMA membership
• A free one (1) year membership to the association the winner qualified
• One (1) complimentary Full Delegate Registration to Country Music Week in Edmonton, AB (non-transferable)
• One (1) $450.00 honorarium from Radio Starmaker Fund
• One (1) hotel room for three (3) night accommodation (Friday, Saturday and Sunday) at the Courtyard by Marriot in Edmonton
• Transportation (economy class) to and from hometown to Edmonton (to a maximum $1,000 Cdn).

The Canadian Country Music Association (CCMA) announced today the introduction of the CCMA Discovery Program.  This exciting new initiative was created by the CCMA as part of its current mandate to educate and support Canadian country music artists in pursuit of a career in country music.

This new CCMA Discovery Program will replace the traditional CCMA New Artist Showcase program effective immediately.

The CCMA Discovery Program includes the following opportunities in 2013 for six (6) jury-selected Canadian acts:

1.      Music Industry Discovery Week

2.      Mentorship Program

3.      Country Music Week Discovery Showcase

4.      CCMA Discovery Award Program

Music Industry Discovery Week:  The six (6) selected acts will be flown to Toronto for a week (June 16 to 21) to discover more about the music business and artist development through a wide range of opportunities. Plans for these five intensive days include: industry-led information sessions, branding and media training, media interviews, and the opportunity to perform at a private industry showcase.     

Mentorship Program: The CCMA will be linking each selected act with an established Canadian act for mentorship purposes. This program will officially start following the Music Industry Discovery Week and continue through Country Music Week in Edmonton.

Country Music Week Discovery Showcase: Taking the traditional CCMA New Artist Showcase spot on the Thursday night schedule during Country Music Week, this three hour show will put the spotlight on the six selected acts. With a full concert production, backed by a house band, each act will have the opportunity to perform in front of the music industry and fans alike. 

CCMA Discovery Award Winner:  During Country Music Week, one exceptional CCMA Discovery Program act will be selected by an industry jury to receive the “CCMA Discovery Award” at the CCMA Gala Dinner & Awards. The CCMA Discovery Award winner will also receive music video funding (courtesy of CMT), an Epiphone DR 500MCE guitar (courtesy of Gibson), cash (courtesy of Galaxie), and other industry related prizing.

Further information regarding the CCMA Discovery Program is available online at www.ccma.org/discovery/index.cfm.  The deadline for submissions to the CCMA Discovery Program 2013 is Monday, April 22.  

For more information:

Alannah Cruickshank

Canadian Country Music Association

(p) 416-947-1331 Ext: 214 

(e) [email protected]  

We are pleased to announce the following ACMA artists have be selected to take part in a Songwriter’s Circle that will open the Charlie Major show on Thursday February 21^st, 2013 at Fandango’s in Edmonton, AB.

Joanne Janzen, Sarah Beth Keeley, Wildflower, Greg Wood,Emily Seal, Michaela Clarke, Jimmy Whiffen, Shelley Dubois, Quentin Reddy

Tickets to the show are still available and can be purchased at the door or by calling Fandango’s at:  780-406-1940.  Tickets are $25.00 / each but all ACMA Members receive a 50% discount and can purchase your tickets for only $12.50!!  All you have to do is provide your membership number at the point of sale.  (Membership numbers can be found under your name after you log into your account at www.abcountrymusic.ca)

CCMA FanFest Performance Poll Contenders and Contest Opening Announced!

The CCMA is proud to announce the contenders of the CCMA FanFest Performance Poll Contest - Congratulations goes out to Mark Cameron, Marshall Dane, The Divorcees, Kylee Epp, Georges Hamel, Tonya Kennedy, Jason Kirkness, Johnny Oliver Band, PEAR, and Wyatt!  These ten contenders will be moving on to the CCMA FanFest Performance Poll Contest where one lucky contender who ranks the highest on the poll will be rewarded with the opportunity to perform with Canada's country elite.

CCMA FanFest will entertain fans with an afternoon of fantastic music. Taking place on Saturday, September 8 from 11 AM to 4 PM at Prairieland Park in Saskatoon, SK, as part of PotashCorp Country Music Week, CCMA FanFest is the perfect opportunity to enjoy performances from the best artists that country music has to offer, with opportunities to get up close and personal at a public autograph signing and best of all, it's free of charge.

The CCMA FanFest Performance Poll Contest opens today, August 7, 2012 at 11:00 am EST and closes Tuesday August 14 at 5:00 pm EST.

July 26, 2012, Canada - The Association of Country Music in Alberta (ACMA) is proud to officially announce that Calgary, Alberta based recording artists PEAR is the winner of the provincial segment of the CCMA FanFest Performance Poll Contest 2012.
 
PEAR will move on to represent AB in the national competition against the other provinces in Canada, for a chance to perform at CCMA Country Music Week (CMW) FanFest 2012 on Saturday, September 8^th, 2012 from 11am-2pm in Prairieland Park in Saskatoon, SK.
 
PEAR rolled out a Social Media campaign using Twitter and Facebook which resulted in 1215 VOTES on their behalf.
 
PEAR will move forward to compete nationally in the CCMA FanFest Performance Poll Contest 2012 which will launch on August 7, 2012 and will be presented and officiated by the Canadian Country Music Association.

The ACMA  is running a contest in tandem with the Canadian Country Music Association for 1 Alberta artist/group to have the chance to win a once in a lifetime opportunity to play along side Canada's Country greats at CCMA FanFest in Saskatoon, SK as part of PotashCorp Country Music Week!

CCMA FanFest 2012 includes performances by the best and brightest Canadian country music has to offer.  FanFest attracts 5,000-10,000 fans each year and with the event being held in a country music loving market like Saskatoon, the CCMA hopes exceed attendance expectations!
 
We have 9 talented artists/groups who have made it into the Alberta qualifying round. 

Our Facebook Poll opens at 3:00 pm today and will run until 3:00 pm Tuesday July 24th.  The artist/group with the most votes will move onto the CCMA Facebook Poll which will open August 7th, 2012. 

Please visit our Facebook page at http://www.facebook.com/pages/Association-of-Country-Music-in-Alberta/105149899568943   and cast your vote for your favorite of these 9 Alberta artists:  

Bobby Wills
The Orchard
Danielle Lowe
Katie Mission
Sarah Beth Keeley
Drew Gregory
Chris LeBlanc
Domino
PEAR

The CCMA and participating
Provincial Music Associations across Canada
are working together to fill 1 of the 16 coveted spots at this year’s
CCMA FanFest 2012!

The Association of Country Music in Alberta (ACMA) contest will run in tandem with the Canadian Country Music Association and will see an Alberta artist/group become 1 of the 9 qualifiers that will take part in a Facebook Poll Contest for the chance to win a once in a lifetime opportunity to play alongside Canada’s Country greats at CCMA FanFest in Saskatoon, SK as part of PotashCorp Country Music Week!

How It Works:

·         From Tuesday July 10th, to midnight Friday July 13th the ACMA will accept applications from Alberta Artists wishing to take part in the CCMA FanFest Performance Poll Contest. 

·         From those applicants the Board of Directors of the ACMA will choose up to 9 pre-qualified artists to battle it out on the ACMA’s own Facebook poll to make it to the qualifying round.

·         The Alberta artist who garners the most votes in our Facebook Poll will then move onto the CCMA’s FanFest Performance Poll Contest. 

·         The selected contestant will compete again 9 other artists from across Canada and the artists who receives the most votes through the CCMA Facebook Page will win the CCMA’s FanFest Performance Poll Contest Prize which includes:

o   A performance spot on CCMA FanFest in Saskatoon, SK

o   A free one year CCMA membership

o   A free one year ACMA membership

o   A complimentary Full Delegate Registration to PotashCorp Country Music Week in Saskatoon, SK (non-transferable)

o   A $450 honorarium from Radio Starmaker Fund

o   $1000.00 from the CCMA to cover travel costs for PotashCorp Country Music Week

To Qualify:

·         Artist/Group must have their permanent address within the province of Alberta, proof of Alberta citizen may be asked for;

·         Artist/Group must be actively playing shows and should submit a calendar of performance dates for the past three (3) months;

·         Artist/Group must have an existing Facebook account with a strong fan base and should submit their Facebook link along with their application;

·         Artist/Group must currently have a song in play rotation at an Alberta Radio station and should submit the stations name and program manager in their application. 

To Apply:

·         Send your name along with all other information to [email protected] by midnight Friday July 13^th, 2012.  

Tickets are now on sale for our Concert Fundraiser April 19th, 2012 at Billy Bob's in Red Deer.  

$10.00 for ACMA Members & $20.00 Non-members.  Get yours today by emailing [email protected] or the night of at the Door!  Doors open at 7pm and entertainment is scheduled to begin at 8pm.

Performances By:

2011 ACMA Male Artist of the Year – Shane Chisholm

2011 ACMA Group of the Year – The Travelling Mabels

Mark Lorenz

Domino

The Orchard

Chard Morrison

Part Time Eagle

• ACMA concerts made available 1st for ACMA fans
• A directory filled with country fun covering all of Alberta

• Access to see the performance opportunities hosted or arranged for by the ACMA;
• Access seminars and/or information events hosted or arranged for by the ACMA