Canadian Music Week (CMW) tonight celebrated the best in Canada’s music industry with the annual Canadian Music and Broadcast Industry AwardsGala Dinner, hosted by Jessi Cruickshank, at Rebel Entertainment Complex in Toronto.
The Canadian Music and Broadcast Industry Hall of Fame inductees included Michael McCarty, Chief Membership and Business Development Officer at SOCAN, Steve Herman, Senior Vice President, Touring – North America at Live Nation, and the Lifetime Achievement Award recipient Robbie Robertson.
The recipient of the 2019 Allan Slaight Humanitarian Spirit Award was the late Gord Downie, and Patrick Downie was in attendance to receive the award in his honour. Outside of his career as a musician, poet and front-man for The Tragically Hip, Gord committed his time to causes close to his heart. He dedicated the last few years of his life, educating the country about Canada’s past, moving toward reconciliation, and also spent many years working with the Lake Ontario Waterkeepers among other organizations.
The 2019 Broadcast Industry Hall of Fame inductees were Guy Brouillard of CKOI, Gerry Forbes of CJAY 92, and Brother Jake Edwards of TSN 1040 for their decades-long careers in Canadian broadcasting across the country. In memoriam, Leslie Sole and Terri Michael were also inducted in the Broadcast Industry Hall of Fame. The 2019 recipient of the Allan Waters Young Broadcaster of the Year Award, in memory of legendary Radio Programmer Steve Young, was Brad Karp from Country 93.3FM in Fort McMurray, Alberta.
The Canadian Songwriters Hall of Fame (CSHF) and CMW also celebrated musician, songwriter and producer Eddie Schwartz, who was inducted to the Canadian Songwriters Hall of Fame. Music industry legend and CSHF founder Frank Davies presented the award to Eddie Schwartz, best known for writing such classic hit songs as “Hit Me With Your Best Shot” recorded by Pat Benatar, “Don’t Shed A Tear” by Paul Carrack, “The Doctor” by the Doobie Brothers, “When There’s Time for Love” by Lawrence Gowan and “Special Girl” recorded by America. Canadian musician Lawrence Gowan was in attendance to perform “Hit Me With Your Best Shot” and “When There’s Time for Love”.
The Rosalie Award, supported by CBC and Slaight Music, and Direct Media Sales, was presented to Carmela Laurignano is Vice-President and Radio Group Manager at Evanov Radio Group (ERG). The Rosalie Award recipients are women who are successful in the radio industry and are seen as leaders, mentors, and people making a difference in the business.
The evening also featured performances by Indigenous Youth Hand Drum Group, Jonathon Butler, Logan Staats, 54:40, and The McCarty Band featuring Esthero, Jelleestone, and members of Three Days Grace, Alexisonfire, and Billy Talent.
The Canadian Music and Broadcast Industry Awards also recognized the following winners:
MUSIC DIRECTOR OF THE YEAR MAJOR MARKET
Lisa Grossi – CHUM FM – Toronto
MUSIC DIRECTOR OF THE YEAR SECONDARY MARKET
Barry Stewart – Hot Country 103.5/Jewel 105 – Halifax
MUSIC DIRECTOR OF THE YEAR SMALL MARKET
Shilo Bellis – New Country 96.9 – Moncton
ON AIR TALENT OF THE YEAR MAJOR MARKET
Garner Andrews – Sonic 102.9 – Edmonton
ON AIR TALENT SECONDARY MARKET
Jeff & Rachel – 97.5 Virgin – London
PROGRAM DIRECTOR MAJOR MARKET
Sarah Cummings – CHUM FM – Toronto
PROGRAM DIRECTOR SECONDARY MARKET
(A Tie!)
Brad Gibb – FM96/Fresh –London
Jim McCourtie – 89X/93.9 The River – Windsor
PROGRAM DIRECTOR SMALL MARKET
Matt Cleveland – Capital FM 106.9 – Fredericton
PROMOTION OF YEAR
Kiss Your Ashby Goodbye – CHUM FM – Toronto
STATION MEDIUM MARKET
96.3 Cruz-FM – Saskatoon
STATION A/C
98.1 CHFI – Toronto
STATION CHR
The New Hot 899 – Ottawa
STATION CLASSIC GOLD
Boom 97.3 – Toronto
STATION COUNTRY
Country 105 – Calgary
STATION MULTICULTURAL
CHIN – Toronto
STATION NEWS/TALK/SPORTS
680 News – Toronto
STATION ROCK
Indie 88 – Toronto
STATION SMALL
K-Rock 105.7 – Kingston
INDUSTRY AWARDS
TALENT DEVELOPMENT STORY OF THE YEAR
Loud Luxury
BOOKING AGENCY
The Feldman Agency
CASINO/SPECIALTY VENUE
Casino Rama Resort, Orillia
DIGITAL MUSIC STREAMING SERVICE
Spotify
INDEPENDENT DISTRIBUTOR
eOne Music
INDEPENDENT LABEL
Arts and Crafts
INDEPENDENT RECORD STORE
Dine Alone Store/Wax on Wheels, Toronto
MUSIC JOURNALIST
Ben Rayner, Toronto Star
MAJOR FACILITY (OVER 8000)
Budweiser Stage, Toronto
MAJOR FACILITY (UNDER 8000)
Brandt Centre, Regina
MANAGEMENT COMPANY
Bruce Allen Management
MAJOR RETAILER
Sunrise Records
MUSIC PUBLISHER
Universal Music Publishing
MUSIC SCHOOL
(A tie!)
Fanshawe College – London
Metalworks Institute – Mississauga
PERFORMING ARTS CENTRE (over 1500)
The Sony Centre For The Performing Arts, Toronto
PERFORMING ARTS CENTRE (under 1500)
Danforth Music Hall, Toronto
PROMOTER
Live Nation
PUBLICIST
Joanne Setterington, Indoor Recess
RECORDING STUDIO
Revolution Recording, Toronto
MAJOR LABEL
Universal Music
