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BILLBOARD CANADA FYI
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Courtesy Photo
Photo L to R: Edwin Camacho (BMG), Josh Snider (yung kai manager), yung kai, Dan Gill (BMG), Bryan Columbus (BMG Canada), Shane Cosme (BMG)
FYI
Music News Digest: Chinese-Canadian Singer yung kai Reaches One Billion Streams, Owen Riegling Triumphs at CMAOntario Awards
Also this week: Blue Rodeo announce 40th anniversary tour, Lisa Brokop and Joe Wood to enter the Canadian Country Hall of Fame and SOCAN announces its new Board of Directors.
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– BMG in Los Angeles recently presented Chinese-Canadian pop artist yung kai with two plaques, the first for reaching one billion global streams on his song "blue," and a second for the single reaching Gold certification in Canada. The label also released a remix version of the track featuring MINNIE from the K-Pop group I-dle (formerly (G)I-dle).
BMG re-released "blue," which has been a viral hit for the young artist. The song hit No. 92 on the Billboard Canadian Hot 100, No. 39 on the Billboard Global 200 and No. 26 on the Billboard Hot Rock & Alternative Song chart.
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– To mark their milestone 40th anniversary as a band, popular Toronto roots-rockers Blue Rodeo have just announced a 27-date Canadian tour. The cross-country trek begins with two shows in Calgary, Oct. 1 and 2, culminating in two nights at Massey Hall in Toronto on Jan. 23 and 24, 2026. The support act on all shows is Halifax singer-songwriter Adam Baldwin. See the full itinerary here. Tickets go on sale to the general public on June 6. Blue Rodeo also play select shows over the summer, including a free concert at Montreal Jazz Festival on June 27, multiple Canada Day weekend gigs and their annual summer hometown show at Toronto's Budweiser Stage.
Awards News
Singer-songwriter Owen Riegling reaffirmed his status as one of the hottest young stars of country at the 13th Annual CMAOntario Awards, held at The Music Hall in Hamilton on June 1. He entered the evening as the most nominated artist there, and took home five of a possible six trophies. Last year, Riegling won two awards. Sharing the spotlight with him was the show's longtime host and fellow platinum-selling and Juno-winning country star, Jason McCoy (The Road Hammers). McCoy has performed the hosting duties since 2014, but is now stepping down. In appreciation of his work, the Country Music Association of Ontario presented McCoy with the inaugural Real McCoy Award, a new award created to recognize an individual who truly represents the spirit of Ontario’s country music community. In a further tribute to McCoy’s legacy, the Slaight Family Foundation will donate $5,000 to a charity of his choosing,
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Performers on the show included Andrew Hyatt, Sacha, Nate Haller, Robyn Ottolini, Mackenzie Leigh Meyer, Amanda & James, Alexa Goldie, Mitch Jean and the CMAOntario house band, The Western Swing Authority.
The Winners of the 13th Annual CMAOntario Awards:
SINGLE OF THE YEAR
Moonshines by Owen Riegling
ALBUM/EP OF THE YEAR
Bruce County - From the Beginning by Owen Riegling
SONGWRITER(S) OF THE YEAR
Owen Riegling, Daryl Scott, Jesse Slack (Moonshines)
FEMALE ARTIST OF THE YEAR
Robyn Ottolini
MALE ARTIST OF THE YEAR
Owen Riegling
GROUP OR DUO OF THE YEAR
The Redhill Valleys
RECORD PRODUCER OF THE YEAR
Adam Newcomb (Sacha, Elyse Saunders, Riley Taylor)
ROOTS ARTIST OR GROUP OF THE YEAR
Mackenzie Leigh Meyer
BREAKTHROUGH ARTIST OF THE YEAR
Sully Burrows
MUSIC VIDEO OF THE YEAR
Never Have I Ever by Elyse Saunders
INDUSTRY PERSON OF THE YEAR
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Samantha Pickard, Strut Entertainment
MUSICIAN OF THE YEAR
Jeff Brown (Kelsi Mayne, Washboard Union, Jason Blaine)
ARTISTE OU GROUPE FRANCOPHONE DE L’ANNÉE/FRANCOPHONE ARTIST OR GROUP OF THE YEAR
Kristine St-Pierre
FANS’ CHOICE
Owen Riegling
COMPASS AWARD
Josh Ross
HOLLY & STEVE KASSAY GENEROUS SPIRIT AWARD
Laurie Tiggelman
THE REAL MCCOY AWARD
Jason McCoy
RADIO STATION OF THE YEAR (LARGE MARKET)
KX94.7 (CHKX-FM, Hamilton)
RADIO STATION OF THE YEAR (MEDIUM MARKET)
Hot Country 93.9 (CFWC-FM, Brantford)
RADIO STATION OF THE YEAR (SMALL MARKET)
Pure Country 106 (CICX-FM, Orillia)
– The Canadian Country Music Association (CCMA) has announced Lisa Brokop (Artist) and Joe Wood (Stan Klees Builder) as the 2025 inductees into the Canadian Country Music Hall of Fame. Both will be formally inducted during a ceremony taking place as part of Country Music Week 2025, scheduled for September 10–13 in Kelowna, British Columbia.
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– Toronto-basedMusicworkshas announced that Lyon-based composer Rocío Cano Valiño has won first prize and $500 in the 2024 Musicworks Electronic Music Composition Contest for her stereo electroacoustic composition Intortus. The winner of the 2024 Marcelle Deschênes Prize in Electronic Music and $300 is Leah Reid (U.S.) for Jouer. The fourteenth edition of the annual contest received 148 entries from 24 countries, including Canada, the U.S. and U.K., as well as Finland, Japan, Italy, Brazil, and others. More information about the contest winners and their compositions will be posted on musicworks.ca.
Festivals news
The Country Thunder Alberta festival, running August 15-17 in Calgary, has announced the lineup for the Country 105 stage presented by Craig Senyk Initiatives. Focusing on up and coming Cancountry acts, the lineup features Hayley Isabel, Abygale Durie, Dirt Road Opera, Hillside Outlaws, The Wild Palominos, Julia Vos, Berlyn, Beamer Wigley, Miles Canyon, Kendra Kay, Brad Sims and Nolan Compton. Festival headliners include Cody Johnson, Bailey Zimmerman, Old Dominion, Riley Green, Ashley McBryde and many more. Info here.
Industry news
SOCAN has announced the results of its 2025 Board of Directors election. Votes were cast by eligible SOCAN songwriter, composer, and music publisher members to elect directors for the 2025-2028 term.
The following people were elected for three-year terms.
Representing SOCAN Music Writer Members
- Darren Fung (west) (audiovisual) *
- Greg Johnston (east)
- Marc Ouellette (Québec) (Francophone) *
Representing SOCAN Music Publisher Members
- Cheryl Link (east) peermusic Canada Inc. *
- David Quilico (east) Sony Music Publishing Canada
- Jean-François Denis (Québec) (Francophone) YMX Media *
* Incumbent
Representing SOCAN Music Writer Members:
- Lesley Barber (east) (audiovisual)
- David Bussières (Québec) (Francophone)
- Troy Kokol (west)
- Laurence Lafond-Beaulne (Québec) (Francophone)
- Stan Meissner (east)
- Sarah Slean (east)
Representing SOCAN Music Publisher Members:
- Jennifer Beavis (east) BMG Rights Management Canada
- Mark Jowett (west) Nettwerk Music Group
- Jason Klein (east) Anthem Entertainment
- Daniel Lafrance (Québec) (Francophone) Éditorial Avenue
- Jennifer Mitchell (east) Casablanca Media Publishing
- Diane Pinet (Québec) (Francophone) Bloc-Notes Music Publishing
Held both online and in Toronto, this year’s AGM marked SOCAN’s 100th anniversary. Chair of the Board Marc Ouellette and CEO Jennifer Brown shared updates on SOCAN’s record-breaking financial results and highlighted strategic priorities for the year ahead. As part of the reception, SOCAN was honoured by Music Publishers Canada with the Industry Builder Award, presented annually as a custom-designed paddle painted by songwriter/author/rocker Tom Wilson.
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– The deadline to apply for an official showcase spot at the 2026 Folk Alliance International (FAI) conference is June 6. Submit here.
– A2IM Indie Week runs in New York City, June 9-12. CIMA Members can apply for a discounted rate here.
– Now in its 13th year, the Canada’s Walk of Fame RBC Emerging Musician Program is once again inviting emerging Canadian artists to apply for music mentorship opportunities. Submissions for the 2025 edition are now open through to Sunday, July 13. Five solo artists or groups between the ages of 15 and 35 will be selected to receive career-defining prizes and development experiences valued at over $100K, including industry mentorship, studio time, national media opportunities, and more. For details and to apply, visit EmergingMusician.ca. Canada’s Walk of Fame has also announced the launch of a national media partnership with Stingray, including the debut of a dedicated Canada’s Walk of Fame music channel across Stingray’s platforms launching in Oct. 2025.
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Artists News
Toronto/NYC-based chamber music cellist and composer George Crotty releases his new album, Heart Music, on June 6, and will support it with a seven-date North American tour. The trek begins in Washington DC on June 13 and closes out at the Something Else! Festival 2025 in Hamilton on June 22. More info here.
– To celebrate the recent 80th birthday of Bruce Cockburn, a genuine Canadian music legend, an A-list cast of musicians and singer-songwriters performed a tribute concert at Hugh's Room Live in Toronto on May 31. That grouping included Ron Sexsmith, Amanda Rheaume, Dala, Dan Hill, Elizabeth Shepherd, Lester MacLean and Jason Fowler, with Michael Occhipinti serving as Musical Director.
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