Off-Screen CCMA Award Recognitions

By FYI Staff

A weekend of celebrating Canada’s best in country music in Hamilton included the first 18 awards being handed out Friday at a ticketed luncheon presented by Nielsen Music and hosted by Durham Radio VP, Steve Kassay. Recognizing key industry players, one of the highlights of the event was Travis Switzer’s induction into the Musician Hall of Honour by taking home his 5th win for Bass Player of the Year. 

2018 CCMA INDUSTRY LUNCH & AWARDS WINNERS

Bass Player of the Year
Travis Switzer 

Drummer of the Year
Ben Bradley 

Fiddle Player of the Year
Tyler Vollrath

Steel Guitar Player of the Year
Mitch Jay

Music Director of the Year (Large Market)
Amanda Kingsland - CKBY-FM - Ottawa, ON

Music Director of the Year (Medium or Small Market)
Paul Ferguson - CHCQ-FM - Belleville, ON

On-Air Personality(ies) of the Year (Large Market)
“KX Morning Ride with Ellis & Archer” - CJKX-FM - Oshawa, ON

On-Air Personality(ies) of the Year (Medium or Small Market)
“Jason, Jack & Carey Morning Show” - CICX-FM - Orillia, ON

Booking Agency of the Year
The Feldman Agency

Country Club of the Year
Ranchman's Cookhouse and Dancehall - Calgary, AB

Country Festival, Fair or Exhibition of the Year
Cavendish Beach Music Festival - Cavendish, PE

Country Music Program or Special of the Year
Jess Moskaluke - Home Movie - Corus Entertainment

Management Company of the Year
Invictus Entertainment Group

Creative Director(s) of the Year
Design Team: Antoine Moonen, Mediavandals, Photography: Delaney Royer
Album: Past The Past (Artist: Jess Moskaluke)

Recording Studio of the Year 
Bart McKay Productions - Saskatoon, SK

Record Producer(s) of the Year
Jeff Dalziel - Album: What We’re Made Of (Artist: The Washboard Union)

Retailer of the Year
Spotify Canada Inc.

Video Director of the Year
Stephano Barberis
Video: The Bad Guy (Artist: Meghan Patrick), Video: Coming Clean (Artist: Shirley Gnome),  Video: Dirt Covered Rhinestone (Artist: Jade Mya), Video: Heart Of A Woman (Artist: Johnny Reid), Video: Hold The Line (Artist: Jesse Mast), Video: Might As Well Be Me (Artist: Chad Brownlee), Video: Neon Smoke (Artist: Gord Bamford), Video: Out Of The Blue (Artist: Chad Brownlee), Video: Sky Stays This Blue (Artist: Dallas Smith), Video: Something To Wrap My Heart Around (Artist: JoJo Mason), Video: What We’re Made Of (Artist: The Washboard Union)

2018 CCMA GALA AWARD WINNERS: 

Saturday evening’s gala awards were brought to life with Terri Clark and broadcaster Jackie Rae Greening being officially inducted into the Canadian Country Music Hall of Fame, and the presentation of two CCMA Awards of Achievement (Slaight Music Humanitarian Award and the Leonard T. Rambeau International Award. The former to the organizers and participants in the Country Thunder Humboldt Broncos Tribute Concert, and the latter to the late Steven Goldmann, a noted Canadian video and film director.

It was also a night of repeat wins in a handful of artist award categories. Brett Kissel took home the CCMA Award for Interactive Artist of the Year for the fifth consecutive year, while The Washboard Union celebrated a third win in the Roots Artist or Group of the Year category. Four-time 2018 CCMA Award nominee James Barker Band took home its first CCMA Awards win for Top Selling Canadian Single of the Year (“Chills”).

And The Winners Are:

Interactive Artist or Group of the Year
Brett Kissel

Roots Artist or Group of the Year (presented by CCS Rights Management)

The Washboard Union

Songwriter(s) of the Year (presented by ole) 
Skip Black, Aaron Goodvin, Catt Gravitt
Song: "Lonely Drum" (Performed by Aaron Goodvin) 

Top Selling Canadian Single of the Year (presented by ACTRA RACS)
"Chills" - James Barker Band 

Guitar Player of the Year (presented by Yamaha) 
Matt McKay 

Keyboard Player of the Year (presented by Yamaha)
Bart McKay 

Specialty Instrument Player of the Year (presented by Judy Marsales Real Estate)
Shane Guse - Mandolin 

Radio Station of the Year (Large Market)
CISN-FM (Edmonton, AB)

Radio Station of the Year (Medium or Small Market)
CHCQ-FM (Belleville, ON)

Music Publishing Company of the Year
ole

Record Company of the Year (presented by Music Canada)

Warner Music Canada

Industry Person of the Year
Steve Coady - Vice President, Radio Promotions - Warner Music Canada

Ron Sakamoto Talent Buyer or Promoter of the Year
Jim Cressman - Invictus Entertainment Group 

Stingray Video of the Year
Sky Stays This Blue - Dallas Smith