Also this week: The SOCAN Polaris Song Prize long list is revealed, the Supercrawl lineup is announced and Calgary hosts the Music Cities Convention in the fall.
The Canadian Country Music Association (CCMA) recently announced thefirst wave of performers for the 2026 CCMA Awards, taking place at Sasktel Centre in Saskatoon on Sept. 19. Heading the lineup are triple platinum-certified, 19x CCMA Award winner Dean Brody, 6x CCMA Award winners James Barker Band, double-platinum, 10x CCMA Award winning duo The Reklaws, triple CCMA Award winner (including for album of the year in 2025) Owen Riegling, and homegrown Saskatchewan stars Tenille Arts, Hunter Brothers, Kalsey Kulyk and Juno-winner Jess Moskaluke.
Amy Jeninga, president of CCMA, states that ''unveiling the first wave of performers for the CCMA Awards is always a special moment, offering an exciting glimpse into what promises to be an incredibly memorable night for country music in Canada.'' This is the third time for Saskatoon as the host city and the first time in nine years. The awards night caps off Country Music Week 2026, running Sept. 16-19. The awards will air on CTV and Crave.
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Awards News
The Polaris Music Prize recently revealed the 20 nominee long list for the second edition of the SOCAN Polaris Song Prize. At stake is $10,000 for one winning song, split between the song's Canadian performers and the song’s credited Canadian songwriter(s). Similar to the Polaris Album Prize, the SOCAN Polaris Song Prize honours the Canadian song of the year, based on artistic merit, without regard to musical genre or commercial popularity. The inaugural prize went to Mustafa for “Gaza is Calling.'' This year's winner will be named at the Polaris concert & award ceremony at Toronto’s Massey Hall on Sept. 22.
2026 SOCAN Polaris Song Prize Long List:
Angine de Poitrine - Fabienk
Angine de Poitrine - Yor Zarad
Aquakultre - Gallows
Aquakultre - Holy
Begonia - My Fantasy Life
Blue Moon Marquee & Northern Cree - PUT YOUR FEATHERS ON
Mariel Buckley - Vending Machines
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Cadence Weapon, Junia-T & DijahSB - Step Out
Charlotte Cornfield - Hurts Like Hell
Rochelle Jordan - The Boy
Les Louanges - Correct
Les Louanges - La journée va être chaude
No Joy, Fire-Toolz - Jelly Meadow Bright
Ouri - Paris (Ft. Oli XL)
PUP - Hunger For Death
Julianna Riolino - Seed
Sloan - No Damn Fears
Arielle Soucy - Varieties of Quiet
Patrick Watson & Martha Wainwright - House on Fire
Charlotte Day Wilson - Lean (feat. Saya Gray)
Festivals News
Hamilton’s Supercrawl returns to James St. North, Sept. 11-13. The lineup for the free event was announced last evening (June 29) via a launch event at the new James St. offices of Sonic Unyon, producers of the festival. The typically eclectic list of headliners comprises Aysanabee, Mariel Buckley, The Grapes of Wrath, Murda Beatz, William Prince and Protest the Hero.
Other notables in the lineup include Bells Larsen, Capitol, Chore, Carrie Clark, Bernadette Connors, The Anti-Queens, Marshall Dane, Ariana Fig, Gizmo, Golden Feather, Samantha Martin & Delta Sugar, Mauvey, John Muirhead, Preston Pablo, The Penske File, Population II, William Prince, Reuben & The Bullhorn Singers, Chelsea Reynolds, The Sarandons, Status/Non-Status, Steve Strongman, Superstar Crush, Julian Taylor and YASSiN & Sean Terrio. Supercrawl will also feature art installations, a fashion zone, dance and theatre events and family-oriented activities at a Family Zone. More info here.
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The launch also included the official announcement that Supercrawl founding programmer Tim Potocic (president of independent label, concert promotion and artist management company Sonic Unyon) is handing off the Supercrawl reins to new festival director, Lisa La Rocca. “Supercrawl has reinvented itself constantly over the years, and that has helped keep things vital and vibrant, for us as well as artists and audiences. This is just another face of that creative evolution,” said Potocic of this transition.
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Industry News
U.S.-based music company Planetary Group is opening up a Canadian office, with the addition of Megan Curry to the Planetary Group team as a radio promoter based in Montreal. Curry’s previous role was as a music director at Met Radio CJTM 1280 AM in Toronto. That post involved live session booking for emerging Canadian artists and hosting the station’s weekly emo radio show.
2026 marks the 30th anniversary of the company, still headed by founder Adam Lewis. The company has promoted many Canadian albums, featured Canadian and Quebec artists at SXSW and New Colossus, hosted Pop Montreal showcases in L.A. and showcases at Canadian Music Week (now rebranded as Departure).
Focused on bringing independent artists to radio, Planetary has recently enjoyed No. 1 college radio successes with Arlo Parks and Quebec sensations Angine de Poitrine and has also worked with global stars artists like Chappell Roan, Soccer Mommy, Portugal. The Man, Passion Pit, Courtney Barnett, Bon Iver and many more.
– West Anthem has announced it will present the Alberta edition of the global Music Cities Convention, Sept. 29 to Oct. 1, at Studio Bell, home of the National Music Centre in Calgary. The convention brings together city leaders, policymakers, music industry innovators, and creative economy thinkers from around the world to explore how music can drive economic growth, job creation, tourism, urban planning, and community impact.
The first wave of speakers span from Canada, the United States and Australia, and includes non-profit leaders, policy influencers, music promoters and more. Check the list of speakers here. More info here.
– Applications for South Asian Music Accelerator 2026 (SAMA) are now open, with a July 31 deadline. This program is designed to support emerging South Asian music creators through mentorship, professional development, industry connections, and community-building. Founded by ArtHaus, SAMA is open to emerging South Asian music creators (singers, songwriters, producers, composers, DJs and multidisciplinary artists). Apply now here.
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– CIMA has issued a call for interest for a business mission to the Amsterdam Dance Event (ADE 2026), held in Amsterdam, Oct. 21-25. Celebrating its 30th edition in 2026, ADE is one of the world’s leading electronic music conferences and festivals, bringing together artists, labels, publishers, agents, tech companies, and music professionals from across the globe. CIMA will help run curated Canadian activities including tailored B2B meetings, networking receptions, a market overview and other targeted opportunities. The deadline to register here is July 24.
– For over a decade, the annual Radio and Records Party has been a favourite gathering for Toronto veterans of the music industry. This year, the event moved from the Roy Thomson Hall patio to a Legion events space in Port Credit that proved a welcoming venue. Those seen talking about the old days as well as current projects included past and present record label heads and execs Steve Kane, Allan Reid, Bob Roper, Gary Muth and Steve Coady, music writers like Jonathan Gross and Liz Braun, artist manager Jeff Rogers, musicians Paul Hoffert (Lighthouse), Eddie Bullen and Fergus Hambleton (The Sattalites), Rush and Blue Rodeo producer Terry Brown, radio stars Dave Charles, Liz Janik and Gene Valaitis, publicists Jane Harbury and Joanne Smale, promoter Joey Cee and scenesters Patti Habib and Yvonne Matsell.
