Canada Country Aircheck July 21st Issue

IN THIS ISSUE! We had taken a few weeks off to go to refresh ourselves so we are ready for the busy season ahaed of us.

In this issue we spotlight what is happening at CCMA Music Week, we list all the nominees for the 2017 CCMA Awards and we tell you who has been announced so far for the Awards Show. We also spotlight the Songwriter Series and the Discovery Program.

We bring you our Top DMDS Downloads for the past week and we recap the top songs that are on the charts or heading to the charts.

“Tomatogate” is back in the news and all over social media. The fight continues for female artists to get airplay on radio including Miranda Lambert as reported in Rolling Stone Country. It is sad to see that only 12% of the charted top 50 songs in Canada are by female artists and in the US it is worst with only 10% of the Top 60 songs by female artists.

This is a debate that will carry on I am sure.

We’d like to that Lauren Tutty Promotions for sponsoring this special section.

We have lots of new music to spotlight this week and we head to Nashville and bring you the latest from Music City.

Our parent company has developed something new for artists to promote themselves on social media and on their own web sites. It’s cool and fits any budget. Indie artists will love this as it puts you on a level playing field and drives sales for your music. We also produce material for radio station web sites and a way to secure more revenue from your radio stations web site. Check out the article on Cool Video Concepts and see what people are saying.

Radio programmers even though it is just July it is time to plan your Christmas programming and year end special programming.

This is a jam packed issue that you will want to read cover to cover.

If you have any comments you can e-mail us HERE

BLUE EYES PR & MEDIA LAUNCHES Blue Eyes Music Promotions is proud to announce the transition to a full service agency now known as Blue Eyes PR & Media.

Owner Joël Lamoureux, says “the goal is simple; to provide maximum PR & Media Impact making your business visible and generating more revenue”. Access to audiences and opportunity have never been easier with online and on air media and marketing. At the same time, with the volume of businesses and music artists asking for your attention, it has also never been more difficult.

Blue Eyes PR & Media is a one stop destination with a focus on small businesses, If you don’t let the world know you exist you will never get noticed. The focus of Blue Eyes PR & Media is to MAKE YOU VISIBLE in a noisy world. Regardless of what your small business focus consists of or where you are located throughout North America, Blue Eyes PR & Media will succeed in putting you on the radar and help build your revenue.

BLUE EYES PR & MEDIA LAUNCHES PUBLIC RELATIONS MUSIC / EVENTS MEDIA / MARKETING PR is about maximizing exposure of your business, event or music. This is done by activating our relationships in media, digital and publication space to generate interest and tell your story. We build media releases, book interviews with media and ultimately get people talking about your business. (We do much more too!!)

Blue Eyes PR & Media are a team of storytellers creating captivating ways to share your story. Public Relations puts the spotlight on you and your business and will introduce your product to new audiences.

Any business, music artist or event that invests in media & marketing has a significantly higher rate of success over others that do not. Blue Eyes PR & Media has a successful track record for understanding how to purchase media and create successful campaigns.

Creating and producing media and marketing campaigns for radio, television, online, social media, digital design, magazine and video. Blue Eyes also designs marketing & purchases media advertising for you.

Blue Eyes PR & Media knows the business of music. Period.

We have worked alongside some of music’s best and have a track record of success.

There is far more to the business of music than recording a song and releasing it. You need to make money!

Blue Eyes PR & Media will guide you step by step to success in your career. One on one coaching based on YOUR needs. From branding, finding funding, booking gigs you didn’t even know existed, how to actually get your song on radio, promo/tracking & more.

Visit Blue Eyes PR & Media HERE

CCMA SONGWRITERS’ SERIES AND CCMA DISCOVERY SHOWCASE

It’s impossible to ignore what some consider to be the greatest aspect of country music, and what makes it resonate as a genre - the song writing. The CCMA Songwriters’ Series celebrates the crafting of original songs and the stories behind the words, indulging listeners with both new and familiar faces in the process.

This three-day, acoustic performance event – a marque series as part of PotashCorp Country Music Week – is sure to inspire and evoke strong emotions in all who attend.

Session 1: Thursday, September 7, 1:00 – 3:30 p.m.

1:00 p.m. set Hosted by Kenny Hess 2:15 p.m. set Tenille Arts Livy Jeanne David Leask The Washboard Union Madeline Merlo

Beamer Wigley Dan Swinimer Session 2: Friday, September 8, 4:30 – 7:00 p.m.

4:30 p.m. set Hosted by Jason Blaine 5:45 p.m. set Buck Twenty Clayton Bellamy of The Road Hammers Chris Henderson Raquel Cole Gavin Slate The Lovelocks Travis Wood

Session 3: Saturday, September 9, 1:30 – 4:00 p.m.

1:30 p.m. set Hosted by Carolyn Dawn Johnson 2:45 p.m. set Aaron Goodvin Patrick Ballantyne Jessica Mitchell James Barker of James Barker Band JJ Shiplett Leaving Thomas Sykamore

CCMA DISCOVERY SHOWCASE This is a not-to-be-missed event for anyone looking to discover the “next big thing” in Canadian country music. The six finalists of the 2017 CCMA Discovery Program – a national initiative to support emerging Canadian country artists – will come together one last time during PotashCorp Country Music Week for the CCMA Discovery Showcase. In preparation for this exclusive performance, finalists travelled from across Canada to partake in Music Industry Discovery Week in Toronto this past spring; receiving unparalleled educational, mentorship, networking and exposure opportunities unlike any other program offered in the country genre. With the intense week behind them, these future stars are ready to take the stage and show the music industry and fans alike how they can command a performance. Come join in the excitement as each finalist performs separately, vying for the attention of a secret panel of judges who are onsite to decide who will be 2017’s CCMA Discovery Award winner.

Thursday, September 7, 8:00 p.m.

Showcase Host & Performer: Beverley Mahood 2017 CCMA Discovery Program Finalists: Danielle Bourjeaurd (Tiny, ON) Jesse Gold (Toronto, ON) Kalsey Kulyk (Beaumont, AB) Steph La Rochelle (Ottawa, ON) Shylo Sharity (Vancouver, BC) Sons Of Daughters (North Vancouver, BC) Special Guest & 2016 CCMA Discovery Award Winner: Eric Ethridge

2017 CCMA AWARD NOMINEES

APPLE MUSIC FANS’ CHOICE AWARD

MALE ARTIST OF THE YEAR

Gord Bamford

Gord Bamford

Dean Brody

Chad Brownlee

Chad Brownlee

Tim Hicks

High Valley

Brett Kissel

Dallas Smith

Aaron Pritchett

ALBUM OF THE YEAR

Dallas Smith

Beautiful Freakshow - Dean Brody

***TIE in this category

Dear Life - High Valley Game On - James Barker Band Grace & Grit - Meghan Patrick Side Effects - Dallas Smith FEMALE ARTIST OF THE YEAR Alee Lindsay Ell Madeline Merlo Jess Moskaluke Meghan Patrick

GROUP OR DUO OF THE YEAR Cold Creek County High Valley James Barker Band The Road Hammers The Washboard Union

ROOTS ARTIST OR GROUP OF THE YEAR The Lovelocks Jessica Mitchell

Time - Dean Brody When A Momma’s Boy Meets A Daddy’s Girl - Aaron Pritchett

Lindi Ortega JJ Shiplett

SONGWRITER(S) OF THE YEAR presented by ole

The Washboard Union

James Barker, Gavin Slate, Travis Wood, Donovan Woods

RISING STAR Dan Davidson Aaron Goodvin James Barker Band JoJo Mason Meghan Patrick

SINGLE OF THE YEAR Autograph - Dallas Smith Cool With That - Brett Kissel Lawn Chair Lazy - James Barker Band Take Me Home - Jess Moskaluke Time - Dean Brody

VIDEO OF THE YEAR Chills - James Barker Band I Didn’t Fall In Love With Your Hair - Brett Kissel That’s When You Know - Chris Buck Band feat. Kira Isabella

Song: Chills (Performed By: James Barker Band) Ted Hewitt, Brett Kissel, Phil O’Donnell Song: Cool With That (Performed By: Brett Kissel) Clayton Bellamy, Dan Davidson Song: Found (Performed By: Dan Davidson) Dean Brody Song: Time (Performed By: Dean Brody) Patricia Conroy, Jessica Mitchell, David Thomson Song: Workin’ On Whiskey (Performed By: Jessica Mitchell) INTERACTIVE ARTIST OR GROUP OF THE YEAR Shae Dupuy Tim Hicks Hunter Brothers Brett Kissel Wes Mack

Award nominees continued!

RADIO AWARDS MUSIC DIRECTOR OF THE YEAR- LARGE MARKET Larry Donohue - CFCW - Edmonton, AB Steph Hansen - CKRY-FM/CISN-FM - Calgary, AB/ Edmonton, AB

Rich DaSilva Chad Melchert FIDDLE PLAYER OF THE YEAR Denis Dufresne Shane Guse

Amanda Kingsland - CKBY-FM - Ottawa, ON

Julie Kennedy

Brittany Thompson - CKKL-FM - Ottawa, ON

Mike Sanyshyn

Peter Walker - CJKX-FM - Oshawa, ON

Tyler Vollrath

MUSIC DIRECTOR OF THE YEAR- MEDIUM OR SMALL MARKET Shilo Bellis - CJXL-FM - Moncton, NB

GUITAR PLAYER OF THE YEAR presented by Cithara Guitars

Paul Ferguson - CHCQ-FM - Belleville, ON Cal Gratton - CJVR-FM - Melfort, SK Roo Phelps - CIGV-FM, Kelowna, BC Brendan Seeley - CKGY-FM - Red Deer, AB MUSICIAN AWARDS BASS PLAYER OF THE YEAR Chris Byrne Lisa Dodd Justin Kudding James Murdoch

Derek Caven Ryan Davidson Matt McKay Darren Savard Brennan Wall KEYBOARD PLAYER OF THE YEAR Scott Galloway Mike Little Bart McKay Carly McKillip

Travis Switzer

SPECIALTY INSTRUMENT PLAYER OF THE YEAR

DRUMMER OF THE YEAR

Denis Dufresne - Banjo

Jimmy Boudreau

Shane Guse - Mandolin

Ben Bradley

Tyler Vollrath - Mandolin

Jayson Brinkworth

**Less than 5 nominees

STEEL GUITAR PLAYER OF THE YEAR John Ellis Smokey Fennell Mitch Jay Doug Johnson Scott Smith INDUSTRY AWARDS BOOKING AGENCY OF THE YEAR The Feldman Agency Invictus Entertainment Group Paquin Artists Agency Sakamoto Agency United Talent Agency COUNTRY CLUB OF THE YEAR Boots & Bourbon Saloon - Toronto, ON Cook County Saloon - Edmonton, AB Cowboys Dance Hall - Calgary, AB Knoxville’s Tavern - Edmonton, AB Ranchman’s Cookhouse and Dancehall - Calgary, AB COUNTRY FESTIVAL, FAIR, OR EXHIBITION OF THE YEAR

COUNTRY MUSIC PROGRAM OR SPECIAL OF THE YEAR Brett Kissel - Home Movie - Corus Entertainment Canadian Coast To Coast - Fabmar Communications Chevy Top 20 Countdown - Corus Entertainment Coors Banquet One Horse Town - Corus Entertainment The Casey Clarke Show With Roo Phelps - Casey Clarke Productions MANAGEMENT COMPANY OF THE YEAR Chief Music Management Gold & Gold Productions Ltd. Invictus Entertainment Group MDM Recordings Inc. RGK Entertainment Group Inc. MUSIC PUBLISHING COMPANY OF THE YEAR ole Royalty Music Publishing Inc. Sony/ATV Music Publishing Canada Universal Music Publishing Canada Warner/Chappell Music Canada RECORD COMPANY OF THE YEAR

Boots And Hearts Music Festival - Oro-Medonte, ON

MDM Recordings Inc.

Big Valley Jamboree - Camrose, AB

ole red dot

Calgary Stampede - Calgary, AB

Open Road Recordings Inc.

Cavendish Beach Music Festival - Cavendish, PE

Sony Music Entertainment (Canada) Inc.

Rockin’ River Country MusicFest - Merritt, BC

Warner Music Canada

RECORD COMPANY PERSON OF THE YEAR Steve Coady - Warner Music Canada Warren Copnick - Sony Music Entertainment (Canada) Inc. Mike Denney - MDM Recordings Inc. Ron Kitchener - Open Road Recordings Inc. Louis O’Reilly - Big Star Recordings Inc. RECORDING PACKAGE OF THE YEAR Design Team: Mitchell Nevins Photography: Phil Crozier Album: Beautiful Freakshow (Artist: Dean Brody) Design Team: Mitchell Nevins Album: Echo Road: The Best of Doc Walker (Artist: Doc Walker) Design Team: Mitchell Nevins Photography: Phil Crozier

Chris Baseford, Vince Gill, Jeff Johnson, Chad Kroeger, Carly McKillip, Justin Niebank Album: Grace & Grit (Artist: Meghan Patrick) Scott Cooke Album: The Score (Artist: Aaron Pritchett) Scott Cooke, Ben Glover, Mitch Merrett Album: Hearts On Fire (Artist: Chad Brownlee) Joey Moi Album: Side Effects (Artist: Dallas Smith) Phil O’Donnell Album: Tin Roof (Artist: Gord Bamford) RETAILER OF THE YEAR Apple Canada

Album: Shake These Walls (Artist: Tim Hicks)

Spotify Canada Inc.

Design Team: Janelle Shiplett Photography: Brent Mykytyshyn, Ari Heinikainen, Mike Peleshok

Sunrise Records

Album: Something To Believe In (Artist: JJ Shiplett) Design Team: Mitchell Nevins, Madeline Merlo

Walmart Canada **Less than 5 nominees

Single: War Paint (Artist: Madeline Merlo)

RON SAKAMOTO TALENT BUYER OR PROMOTER OF THE YEAR

RECORDING STUDIO OF THE YEAR

Kelly Berehulka - Casinos Of Winnipeg

Barrytone Studios - St. Clements, ON

Paul Biro - Sakamoto Agency

Bart McKay Productions - Saskatoon, SK

Jim Cressman - Invictus Entertainment Group

MCC Recording Studio - Calgary, AB

Adam Oppenheim - Stampede Entertainment Inc.

OCL Studios - Chestermere, AB

Emmanuel Patterson - Live Nation Entertainment

Revolution Recording - Toronto, ON RECORD PRODUCER(S) OF THE YEAR

VIDEO DIRECTOR OF THE YEAR Stephano Barberis Video: I Hate You For It (Artist: Chad Brownlee), Video: One Little Kiss (Artist: Dallas Smith), Video: Red Dress, (Artist: JoJo Mason), Video: Somethin’ We Shouldn’t Do (Artist: Chad Brownlee), Video: Summer Girl (Artist: Bucko & Toad), Video: Time (Artist: Dean Brody) Emma Higgins Video: Still Loving You (Artist: Meghan Patrick) Ben Knechtel Video: Chills (Artist: James Barker Band), Video: Cool With That (Artist: Brett Kissel), Video: Drive Me Away (Artist: Jess Moskaluke), Video: Elevator (Artist: Jess

Moskaluke), Video: Every Week’s Got A Friday (Artist: High Valley), Video: Starts With A Girl (Artist: David James) Travis Nesbitt Video: Found (Artist: Dan Davidson) Joel Stewart Video: I Didn’t Fall In Love With Your Hair (Artist: Brett Kissel) We wish all the nominees the best of luck. We are lucky in Canada to have so much great talent. Our only comment is maybe there should be a couple of categories for Indie artists.

DALLAS SMITH, JAMES BARKER BAND AND INTERNATIONAL GUEST BLAKE SHELTON TO PERFORM ON THE 2017 CCMA AWARDS SHOW The Canadian Country Music Association® (CCMA®) announced this morning that Dallas Smith, James Barker Band and international guest Blake Shelton will all take to the stage to perform at the 2017 CCMA Awards Show. Taking place at the SaskTel Centre in Saskatoon, Saskatchewan on Sunday, September 10, the show will broadcast at 8 p.m. (8:30 p.m. NT) that night on CBC. Already announced to perform are Dean Brody, Brett Kissel and Jess Moskaluke.

JUNO Award winning, platinum-selling Country star and multiple 2017 CCMA Award nominee Dallas Smith “has blazed a path across genres in Canadian music” (CBC Music) for nearly two decades. Flourishing on the edge of global superstardom, Smith celebrated his third career #1 and second consecutive chart topper at Country radio this year. Appealing to audiences far beyond the boundaries with a stadium sized voice, Smith not only claimed his third #1 single at Country radio in Canada, but became the first Canadi-

an male Country artist in the BDS era (post 1995), to have three #1 songs and only Canadian male Country artist to have two consecutive #1 singles. Smith is also the first Canadian Country artist to have back to back #1 singles since Shania Twain in 1998.

Formed in 2013, the James Barker Band consists of James Barker, Taylor Abram, Bobby Martin and Connor Stephen. The band has had a busy year, their singles, “Lawn Chair Lazy”, “Just Saying”, and “Chills” all debuted in the top 10 at Canadian Country radio, with “Chills” securing them a #1 spot at radio – giving the guys the title of the first ever Canadian country act to achieve a #1 off their debut album. The videos for their three singles also went to #1 on the CMT Canada’s “Chevy Top 20 Countdown”. Their EP, Game On (via Universal Music Canada), was released in April, and debuted at #2 at iTunes during release week.

The Country Music Association’s 2012 Entertainer of the Year and five-time Male Vocalist of the Year winner Blake Shelton continues to add to his superstar status. His most recent album, If I’m Honest, debuted at #1 on the Billboard Top Album Sales Chart and the Billboard Country Album Chart, and was the best-selling country album release of 2016. He just notched his 24th #1 single with “Every Time I Hear That Song”, which followed chart-topping smash hits “Came Here To Forget” and “A Guy With A Girl”. A member of the Grand Ole Opry, he has earned a host of awards throughout his career, which most recently include Top Country Artist at the Billboard Music Awards. In 2017 he became the first country artist to win Favorite Album at the People’s Choice Awards in addition to his win for Favorite Male Country Artist. He also took home the trophy for Favorite Country Male Artist at the American Music Awards as well as the first-ever Male Artist of the Year. As a coach for the Emmy Award-winning television show, The Voice, Shelton is a five-time champion, most recently with his contestant Sundance Head.

The 2017 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. Additional CCMA Award Show performers and presenters will be announced in the coming weeks.

July 17th 1. Chris Stapleton “Broken Halos” (Mercury/Universal) 2. High Valley “Dear Life” (Warner) 3. Dean Brody f. Alan Doyle “Soggy Bottom Summers” (Open Road) 4. Andrea Nixon “Song Without A Name” (Indie/L. Tutty Promo) 5. Lindsay Ell “Waiting On You” (Sony) July 18th 1. High Valley “Dear Life” (Warner) 2. Andrea Nixon “Song Without A Name” (Indie/L. Tutty Promo) 3. Chris Stapleton “Broken Halos” (Mercury/Universal) 4. Jessie T “Meet My Crazy” (Indie/D. Wood Promo) 5. Dean Brody f. Alan Doyle “Soggy Bottom Summers” (Open Road) Promo) July 19th 1. Chad Brownlee “Out Of The Blue” (MDM/Dale Speaking Promo) 2. Dean Brody f. Alan Doyle “Soggy Bottom Summers” (Open Road) 3. High Valley “Dear Life” (Warner) 4. Brad Darrid “Take Me There” (Indie/L.Tutty Promo) 5. Luke Combs “When It Rains It Pours” (Sony) July 20th 1. Chad Brownlee “Out Of The Blue” (MDM/Dale Speaking Promo) 2. Dean Brody f. Alan Doyle “Soggy Bottom Summers” (Open Road) 3. High Valley “Dear Life” (Warner) 4. Brad Darrid “Take Me There” (Indie/L. Tutty Promo) 5. Chris Stapleton “Broken Halos” (Mercury Records/Universal)

July 21st 1. Chad Brownlee “Out Of The Blue” (MDM/Dale Speaking Promo) 2. Dean Brody f. Alan Doyle “Soggy Bottom Summers” (Open Road) 3. High Valley “Dear Life” (Warner) 4. Luke Combs “When It Rains It Pours” (Sony) 5. Lindsay Ell “Waiting On You” (Sony)

NUMBER 1 SONG THIS WEEK THOMAS RHETT FEAT. MAREN MORRIS Craving You 4 weeks at number 1

Top Can Con Songs DALLAS SMITH Sky Stays This Blue # 5 MEGHAN PATRICK Be Country With Me # 13 GORD BAMFORD Livin' On Summertime #14 JOJO MASON Something To Wrap My Heart Around #15

New On The Charts WASHBOARD UNION Shine #45

Top Canadians to Watch DAN DAVIDSON Say We Did (SHARP 9) JESS MOSKALUKE Kill Your Love (MDM) JOJO MASON Something To Wrap My Heart Around (604/MANICDOWN)

FEMALE ARTISTS & COUNTRY RADIO This subject keeps coming up. It was over two years ago when “Tomotogate” was raging on. When we did our Special Issue “The State Of Country Music it seemed at that point that female artists were getting a better break. Rolling Stone Country wrote an article that has been all over Facebook and other social media pointing out that Miranda Lambert’s singles are not reaching the top of the charts but her album has gone Platinum. I took a look today at the Canadian charts to see what is going on in Canada and out of the top 50 songs only 6 are female artists. That only represents 12% of the top 50 songs. In the USA only six of the Top 60 songs are female artists which equals 10%. I have seen posts by PD’s that suggest that their audience don’t want to hear women artists. I find that kind of hard to believe. The country audience is made up of 52% women and 48% men. So they are saying that 52% of their listeners don’t want to hear songs from a women’s perspective they only want to hear songs by male artists. I don’t think so. The other mis-statement I saw online was that the target group for country radio today is 18 - 25.

Research has actually shown that the younger demo has already moved on from country music. Sure there is some that are still tuned in but the main target group is still the core audience of 25 - 49.

The article in Rolling Stone Country says “No one expected an overnight transformation but now, two years on from the original firestorm, the situation is worse and speaks to just how deeply embedded the problem is in the culture.” They go on to say “So what is country radio playing right now? The Number One song for this new week is Dylan Scott’s “My Girl,” a composite of virtually every Luke Bryan song from the last five years (the titular “girl” raps to Eminem, wears a ball cap, sips Crown and Sprite, holds babies, thanks Jesus, etc.). Sam Hunt’s silly but catchy as hell “Body Like

a Backroad” is at Number Four, but it’s been Number One atop the more inclusive Hot Country Songs chart – which factors in streaming and digital sales, as well as radio play – for more than 20 weeks now. Cole Swindell’s abysmal “Flatliner” is also in the Country Airplay hunt at Number Eight, because the format evidently needed one more song about a nameless woman who looked really good doing something. The two female voices in the Top 10 come from Carrie Underwood, serving as a foil to Keith Urban on “The Fighter,” and Lady Antebellum’s Hillary Scott on “You Look Good.” It’s as if the powers in radio have all silently agreed: women are fine to put on the air, but only as crude sketches in a song performed by a man.” Ouch Syndicated morning personality in the USA Bobby Bones has positioned himself as part of the solution by creating “Download a Female Friday,” encouraging listeners to go buy tracks from female singers. Bones was likely spurred to launch this campaign after seeing his girlfriend Lindsay Ell have a radio station visit to an iHeart rival awkwardly canceled in June because of her “personal life.”

Breakthrough performer Margo Price was skeptical of Bones’ approach, saying it effectively ghettoized women and reaffirmed the idea that they belong in some separate space from the men. “I don’t want to be called a ‘female musician,’ I want to be called a musician,” she tweeted.

So the battle continues! The battleground is female artists, labels, tracking companies radio consultants and radio programming departments.

Heidi Raye “Worth A Shot” Heidi Raye is a force to be reckoned with, proving herself to be Nashville’s charmingly quirky “go-getter.” A natural entertainer from an early age, the Dawson Creek, BC native has written and toured with some of country music’s elite. From her first deal with George Strait’s manager, Erv Woolsey, to her current deal with legendary Hall-ofFamer Harlan Howard’s label, Harlan Howard Records, Raye has continued to kick open doors.

She has written over 200 songs with Music Row’s most acclaimed veterans in the past year alone, and has shared the stage with country legends, Kenny Chesney, Randy Travis, Jason Aldean and Terri Clark.

Grabbing the reins as a recording artist, Heidi teamed up with Grammy award-winning producer Chuck Ainlay to create her new EP, “Worth A Shot,” released July 7th.

Topher Mils “Right Place Right Time” 2017 SCMA Guitarist of the year, Topher Mils is no stranger to the stage. For more than a decade he has all performed over Western Canada in many different projects, as either a guitarist or singer. (Most recently Topher can be seen been playing with Saskatchewan Brock Andrews and Brody Siebert, and has had the privilege of sharing the stage with Chad Brownlee, and hockey legend, now country singer Theo Fleury.

Currently Topher is putting the finishing touches on his debut EP “Cold One”, due out later this year. Teaming up with Ryan Andersen from Red Door studios, the plan has been to create a product that is true to Topher and his love of the music. “Right Place Right Time” is the first single from the new CD and was penned by Codie Prevost and Doug Sylvester.

Andrea Nixon “Song Without a Name” Andrea Nixon is ready to loose her apron strings and hit the road running. Her debut album,”Diary of a Housewife”, leaves no stone unturned, exploring the landscape of heartache, angst, joy and humour with eyes wide open, and heart in hand.

With a distinct style, layering croon, twang and quiver atop real stories, Andrea has been called the lovechild of Florence Welsh (Florence and the Machine) and the Rankin sisters though her sound is simply her own.

Her latest foray into the world of radio takes the form of her third single, “Song Without a Name.” It is a toe-tapping country ditty sung with a wink. It doesn’t seem to take itself too seriously until you lean in and uncover the hidden rallying call to find the courage to be exactly who you are.

Currently a Finalist in Project Wild, Andrea is on the road supporting her release

Jessie T “Meet My Crazy” Jessie T is a singer/songwriter whose captivating vocals and unique songwriting perspective is undeniable.

Teamed with award-winning Canadian producer, J.Richard Hutt, her debut FACTOR funded album ‘Reckless Heart’ was released September 2016.

A Kingston native, she moved to Kitchener in 2012 to pursue her passion for music. Since then, she’s been playing venues throughout Southern Ontario expanding her fanbase. Jessie’s talent has won her many vocal/songwriting competitions, most notably placing first in the KIX 106.7FM songwriting competition in Waterloo. She’s also set to be a judge on critically acclaimed vocal competition The Shot for Season 5