Music News Digest: Maggie Andrew Wins Searchlight, Canadian Artists Go Indie

Awards News

This week, Halifax alt-pop singer-songwriter Maggie Andrewwas announced as the CBC Music Searchlight 2024 winner. As part of her prize, she receives a five-day residency to explore and record in the National Music Centre's facilities in Calgary. Andrew's song, ”About Us,” was chosen by a jury of Canadian music industry leaders, out of hundreds of submissions from across Canada. Her music has earned over 6 million global streams, and she won the 2024 ECMA African Canadian Artist of the Year and the SOCAN x Sirius XM Young Canadian Songwriters Award in 2021. Andrew will also join the Allan Slaight JUNO Master Class talent development program.

Tess Roby was announced as the first NMC Artist in Residence earlier this year. Earlier CBC Music Searchlight winners include Shawnee Kish, Mattmac, Chad Price, Jhyve, Shopé and Aquakultre.

Festival news

The SandPines Campfire Concert Series in Port Rowan, Norfolk County, ON, kicked off with a sold-out Tim Hicks show on Aug. 3, and continues on Aug. 31 with The Trews, as an acoustic trio, with The Wild High in support. A headline act to close out the series on Sept. 28 is TBA. Tix here.

Industry news

– Call it the Seven Year Itch perhaps? After that long on Sony Nashville, critically-acclaimed award-winning Canadian country star Tenille Townes has left her label in favour of forging ahead as an independent artist. As reported earlier in Billboard, Townes broke the news via an Instagram post on Monday (Aug. 26). It reads, in part: “My Nashville record label and I have parted ways. This is not a sob story, but a story of opportunity. We had a really good run and this is a big shift for me. We haven’t been seeing eye to eye on my music and my path and it’s creatively been a struggle waiting on green lights inside a corporate system that doesn’t make a lot of sense anymore,” she said. “I want the freedom to write and record a song and be able to get it to you guys, and making this decision means I can do that as I take back ownership of what I create. And that feels liberating and if I’m honest it also feels terrifying.”

The Alberta native's biggest hit in the U.S., the 2018 single “Somebody’s Daughter,” peaked at No. 26 on the Country Airplay chart in the U.S. after reaching No. 1 in Canada. The sole full-length she released Stateside, 2020’s The Lemonade Stand, reached No. 41 on the Top Country Albums chart. She also put out four EPs, the most recent being 2023’s Train Track Worktapes. Hopes were high for her U.S. career when she won the ACM (Academy of Country Music) Award for new female artist of the year in 2020, but were never commercially fulfilled. She has long been established as one of Canada’s elite country artists, winning 17 Canadian Country Music Association (CCMA) Awards and two Juno Awards for Best Country Album. Townes has Canadian tour dates in Atlantic Canada and Ontario, Oct. 9-26 and will perform at Rogers Place in Edmonton for the 42nd annual CCMA Awards 2024 CCMA Awards on Sept. 14.

Townes is the second prominent Canadian act to take the leap from major label to independent status in as many weeks. As we recently reported, hit Saskatoon rockers The Sheepdogs have split from Warner Music Canada to create their own imprint, Right On Records.

– Honey Jam, an important showcase of emerging Canadian female talent, returns for its 29th annual concert on Aug. 29 at Toronto’s TD Music Hall (178 Victoria Street). Organizers promise a diverse range of genres that include pop, hip hop, R&B, soul, blues, opera and rock. This year, from over 100 auditions, 17 artists were selected to be part of the Honey Jam program, which provides mentorship, industry workshops, and networking opportunities to women artists. See a list of artists https://honeyjam.com/artists/here. Resident DJ for the evening is MelBoogie, with radio personality Angeline Tetteh-Wayoe hosting. Tickets are on sale now.

– The Canadian Country Music Association (CCMA) has named the lineup for the 2024 CCMA Songwriters Unplugged Series, presented by SOCAN with Apple Music. It takes place at MacEwan University’s Triffo Theatre over three sessions, and features both established and emerging artists. That list includes Jason Blaine, Andrew Hyatt, Shantaia, The Washboard Union, Jason McCoy, Lowell, Brad Rempel (High Valley), Ben Chase, SACHA, Hailey Benedict, Nate Haller, Noeline Hofmann, Dax, Noah Derksen, Dasha and David Fanning. Ticket Link here.

– Canadian songwriter series Blue Jay Sessions has announced a three-day pop-up in Edmonton leading up to the 2024 CCMA Awards. Hosted at OTTO Food & Drink, Sept. 12-14, the event series will feature over 30 Canadian singer-songwriters as well as special guests. Performers include 2024 CCMA Award-nominated songwriter David Borys, 2023 CCMA Award-winning fiddle player Julie Kennedy (Twin Kennedy), Edmonton's drag superstar Pheromone Killz, R&B singer Tea G, and country crooner Tommy Charles. More info here. The Sessions also host a pop-up event in Calgary, Sept. 5-6, as part of its 5th anniversary celebrations.

– MDM Recordings Inc. recently announced the signing of rising Québec country artist Savannah Jade, formerly known as one half of Canadian country duo Five Roses. Her solo career launches with the release of her debut single, "He's The One,” now out on MDM and distributed globally by ADA Canada through Warner Music Canada. The song was recently named the Stingray Radio “Trending Track” for September/October.

– Nearly 20,000 persons have signed the change.org petition requesting that the Ontario government rename Highway 400 to the Gordon Lightfoot Memorial Highway 400 in honour of the late folk music legend. change.org is now asking people to sign House of Commons Petition e-5079 for the same cause. Sign here.

– Located in Toronto's east end, Beaches Sandbox is a new charitable organization and community centre that, in its own words, "combats loneliness and isolation through programs, events and workshops for people of all ages, abilities and backgrounds to create, connect and have fun." One of its studios works as a high-production 75-cap live room, and on Sept. 12, it presents its second concert, featuring blues/soul legend Harrison Kennedy and rising star Trombone Charlotte, with blues diva Shakura S'Aida hosting. Recommended. Tickets here.

– To provide critical support and raise awareness for communities devastated by the recent Alberta wildfires, alt-country artist Kyle McKearney has launched his new single, "Alberta, Save My Soul." Working in partnership with the Canadian Red Cross 2024 Alberta Wildfires Appeal, McKearney is spearheading a fundraising initiative that will run from Aug. 26 through Sept. 1, culminating on Alberta Day. With fellow artists across Alberta rallying together to drive donations, this campaign will see donations matched dollar-for-dollar during this period.

– The Toronto Blues Society's next Town Hall Meeting will be held on Wed. Sept. 11 on Zoom. The theme of the meeting (open to everyone) is Revisiting The Maple Blues Awards, plus other key topics. For any questions and concerns, E-mail tbstownhall@gmail.com by Sept. 8.

Artists news

– Virginie B has released "Autoportrait," the fourth single from Astral 2000, her sophomore album due out September 20. The singer-songwriter, producer and multi-instrumentalist will present her new tracks at album launch shows in Montreal (September 26) and Quebec City (October 12) before heading off to France for a series of dates.

– Canadian rockers Sierra Pilot will join Pop Evil and Bad Wolves as direct support on their “Animal Instinct” tour this Fall. The extensive U.S. trek kicks off on October 30 in Jacksonville, NC, and runs through Nov. 30, wrapping up in Lexington, Kentucky. Also on the bill is Canadian progressive metal band ONI. Sierra Pilot will feature material from its 2023 album Phantom Pains and recent EP KARMA.