Tenille Townes was the big winner at the 2023 Canadian Country Music Association Awards (CCMAs), where she took home three honours – for Female Artist of the Year (for the fifth year in a row); Country Program of the Year (as the host of Christmas Time with Tenille Townes 2022); and Songwriter of the Year (for “The Thing That Wrecks You,” a duet with Bryan Adams).
SOCAN CEO Jenn Brown and Creative Director Cameron Kennedy presented the songwriter award to Townes – who co-wrote “The Thing That Wrecks You” with Bryan Adams, Daniel Tashian, and Kate York – at the gala ceremonies for the 41st annual edition were held in a broadcast show, televised on CTV, on Sept. 16, 2023, from the FirstOntario Centre in Hamilton. Artists were also honoured the previous night at the Music Industry Gala Dinner & Awards.
Jade Eagleson earned both the Male Artist and Entertainer of the Year Awards, as well as one for Innovative Campaign of the Year, for the “She Don’t Know” Wedding Contest. The Reklaws, who hosted the awards broadcast ceremonies, won Top Selling Canadian Album of the Year, for Good Ol’ Days. Jason McCoy and and Brian Edwards were inducted into Canadian Country Music Hall of Fame, and Big Loud Publishing earned the Music Publishing Company of the Year Award, while Dean Brody received the Gary Slaight Music Humanitarian Award.
Earlier in Country Music Week, leading up to the awards weekend, SOCAN Creative Executive Lord Quest – along with representatives from the other rights organizations CMRRA, ACTRA/RACS, MROC, and Connect Music Licensing – participated in Royalties Round Up: The Big Picture Seminar. The session answered questions, filled in gaps, and provided attending CCMA members with greater knowledge of how to handle their royalties.
Access a full list of the winners here.
SOCAN congratulates all of its members and music industry colleagues who won Canadian Country Music Awards this year!