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) acruickshank@ccma.org  

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 Marcie@abcountrymusic.ca 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 Marcie@abcountrymusic.ca 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