Canadian Country Music Association Adds Francophone Artist of the Year Category for 2025
"The addition of the Francophone Artist of the Year category is a significant step forward in celebrating the diversity within Canadian country music," says Amy Jeninga, CCMA President.
The Canadian Country Music Association is adding a new category for Francophone Artist of the Year.
The inaugural award will be presented during Country Music Week in Kelowna, B.C. this September. It marks a milestone addition for the CCMA Awards, recognizing both the increasing impact of Francophone artists in Canadian country and the popularity of country music in Quebec.
“The addition of the Francophone Artist of the Year category is a significant step forward in celebrating the diversity within Canadian country music,” says Amy Jeninga, CCMA President. "We are thrilled to provide a dedicated platform that recognizes and supports Francophone country artists, ensuring their contributions receive the attention they deserve.”
The eligibility period runs from March 1, 2024, through April 30, 2025, and 70% of the act's released repertoire during that period must be in French.
The new award joins the 15 established artist awards at the CCMAs and will shine a light on Francophone artists who might not be getting a national spotlight.
Quebec has a robust Francophone country scene. The province's ADISQ Gala presents an annual award for Country Album, with recent winners and nominees including Acadian group Salebarbes, singer-songwriter Alex Burger, and multi-instrumentalist duo Hauterive.
Francophone country artists are also spread across the country beyond Quebec. The Ontario equivalent of the CCMAs, the Country Music Association of Ontario, already features a similar award dedicated to Francophone artists. Reney Ray of Kapuskasing, Ontario took home the 2024 CMAOntario Award for Francophone artist of the year.
The new award at the CCMAs is the latest example of major Canadian music associations adapting to account for the country's musical and cultural diversity.
The 2025 Junos are introducing a new award for South Asian Music Recording, recognizing the massive burst of South Asian music in the Canadian industry, as Punjabi becomes the fastest-growing music language in Canada.
Quebec's ADISQ awards added a new category for Best R&B/Soul Album last year, following the advocacy of ADVANCE, Canada's Black Music Business Coalition and record label Maison Kanda.
The 2025 CCMA Awards will take place during Country Music Week in Kelowna, B.C., from September 10-13. Find a description of the award selection process below.
The Francophone Artist of the Year will be determined through a four-step process:
Step One:
The top 10 contenders will be identified using a formula based on radio spins and sales data, compiled by Luminate Data.
20% – Spins of new content (March 1, 2024 – April 30, 2025)
20% – Spins of content from the previous eligibility period (March 1, 2023 – February 28, 2024)
40% – Sales of new content (March 1, 2024 – April 30, 2025)
20% – Sales of content from the previous eligibility period (March 1, 2023 – February 28, 2024)
Step Two:
A panel of industry professionals will evaluate the top 10 contenders and select the final five nominees, based on a weighted assessment:
40% – Sales and spins data
60% – Artist activity during the eligibility period, including media presence, touring, fan engagement, artistic merit, vocal performances, and contributions to the Canadian country music industry.
Step Three:
Eligible CCMA Members will vote for their top choice among the final five nominees.
Step Four:
The winner will be determined through a combined breakdown:
25% – Sales and spins data
50% – Jury vote
25% – CCMA Member vote
The winner of the Francophone Artist of the Year award will be announced during Country Music Week 2025 in Kelowna, BC (September 10-13), with one award presented to the act courtesy of the CCMA. In the case of a group or duo, each core member will receive an award.
