Manitoba Music Industry Wins 10 Awards at 10th Anniversary Western Canadian Music Awards

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Manitoba’s music industry continued its winning streak at the Western Canadian Music Awards this year, picking up 10 awards at the 10th anniversary event, including honours for several first-time nominees. The hardware was handed out at a gala celebration on September 30 in Regina, hosted by CBC Radio 3’s Grant Lawrence, and at an invite-only industry brunch on September 29. Local artists and music companies landed 33 nominations in 19 categories for the annual celebration of music from the western provinces and territories.

Pop singer/songwriter Daniel ROA picked up his second Francophone Recording of the Year award, this time for his sophomore effort, Hyperbole. ROA won in 2009 for his debut, Le nombril du monde.

Indian City continued its banner year, winning Aboriginal Recording of the Year for its debut release, Supernation. The album has already landed a dozen nominations, including six Aboriginal Peoples Choice Music Awards (which will be handed out November 1-2 in Winnipeg), and won two Indian Summer Music Awards earlier this month. The band also performed during the gala ceremonies.

Other new faces picking up trophies this year: upbeat duo Keith & Renée landed Country Recording of the Year for its latest, Best Day; rapper Bubba B won Children’s Recording of the year for his album, Wish My Teacher Was Bubba B; Urban Recording of the Year went to R&B/soul chanteuse Flo for her second album, Pieces of Me; Brazilian-born guitarist Marco Castillo won World Recording of the Year for his album, Trip To Brazil.

Manitoba’s live music scene took centre stage at the industry awards, with The Park Theatre’s Erick Casselman winning for Talent Buyer of the Year and The Lo Pub picking up the award Live Music Venue of the Year. For the 9th year in a row, Paquin Entertainment was named Booking Agency of the Year. Manager of the Year went to Empirical Artist Services’ Stephen Carroll, whose roster includes The Weakerthans, Imaginary Cities, and Paper Lions.

Many of this year’s award winners have leveraged Manitoba Music’s market and business development programs to help grow their careers and companies and strengthen their national and international positions.  

Empirical Artist Services, The Lo Pub, and Paquin Entertainment have been participants in Manitoba Music’s Music Industry Internship program, which is funded by the Government of Canada and Province of Manitoba through the Western Economic Partnership Agreement. The Internship Program supports paid internships at established and recognized music companies in Manitoba in order to facilitate the creation of sustainable jobs and mentor new workers in the music industry, as well as provide human resource assistance to local companies with a shortage of skilled labour.

The awards gala is the pinnacle event of BreakOut West, which ran September 27-30. The event included an industry conference and music festival with showcases by over 50 acts. Eleven Manitoba acts, including several of this year’s WCMA nominees and winners, hit the stages, including Flo, Daniel ROA, Don Amero, Indian City, Federal Lights, Keith & Renee, JP Hoe, Marco Castillo, Oh My Darling, Jerry Sereda, and Imaginary Cities. BreakOut West presents an incredible opportunity for emerging and established artists to be a part of the western Canadian music community. Participating artists and other music professionals have the chance to meet key industry stakeholders creating the opportunity for a new wave of exciting industry developments from record deals to international tours.

For a complete list of 2012 WCMA winners, please visit breakoutwest.ca.

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