Monday, 20 August 2018

British Country Music Association Awards 2018 Nominees revealed

The Wandering Hearts lead with 5 nominations
 Reaction & Comment

BCMA Awards 2018 - Harrogate Convention Centre, Saturday 24th November. 
Tickets on sale at £30 with a 10% discount for members.

Awards Guidelines & Membership Entitlements
ELIGIBILITY PERIOD: The eligibility period for each award is 1st July 2017 to June 30th 2018.

British Country Music Association Awards Nominations Process And Membership Entitlements 
Only members of the British CMA in good standing can take part in the nomination and voting process for our annual awards.

Who could nominate?
BCMA Members. Each member could send up to three nominations per award category.
Artist members were allowed to nominate themselves if they so wish.

NOMINATIONS: Opened on 20 July 2018 and closed on 10 August 2018. (3 weeks)
All the nominations were collated and presented to the British CMA board, who drew up a shortlist for each award.
The shortlist goes forward to the voting process for members to vote.
VOTING: Voting will open on 20th Aug 2018 and close on 17th Sept 2018. (4 weeks). The Voting is controlled and adjudicated by an independent body and the results are released on awards night.

These are the 2018 BCMA Nominations for 14 awards:

UK Horizon Award
For UK emerging/new artists who have had an exemplary year based on overall recognition and activity whether through album, song, radio airplay, publicity, touring, or other criteria within the eligibility period (cannot be nominated twice for this award). Artist will not have previously won an award in any category other than writer or video.

Kezia Gill, Izzie Walsh, Danny McMahon, Steve O’Connor, Emily Faye

UK Duo of the Year
For a UK act made up of 2 members who have had an exemplary year based on overall recognition and activity whether through album, song, radio airplay, publicity, touring, or other criteria within the eligibility period.

Gasoline & Matches, The Shires, Holloway Road, Foreign Affairs, Ward Thomas

UK Album of the Year
For Country albums released by UK artists within the eligibility period (1 July 2017 - June 30, 2018) (5 tracks or more will constitute an Album)

The Wandering Hearts – WILD SILENCE (12 tracks; released: 9 Feb 2018 / 2018 Decca UK iTunes)
Jade Helliwell – INFATUATION (5 tracks; released: 21 May 2018 / 2018 Jade Helliwell UK iTunes)
The Shires – ACCIDENTALLY ON PURPOSE 12 tracks; released: 20 Apr 2018/ Decca Records UK iTunes)
Kezia Gill – KEZIA (11 Tracks; released: 23 March 2017 / 2017 Smoky Records UK iTunes)
Catherine McGrath – TALK OF THIS TOWN (13 tracks; released 27 July 2018 / Warner Bros Records UK iTunes)

UK Musician of the Year
For UK Country musicians who have had an exemplary year based on overall recognition and activity whether through performing on an album or song, touring, or other criteria within the eligibility period.

Tom Wright, Steven Marks, Luke Thomas, Oliver Hopkins, Yannick Van Riet

UK Video of the Year
For Country videos released by UK artists within the eligibility period.

Backwoods Creek – ‘When I Grow Up’
Darcy – ‘If I Were You’
The Wandering Hearts – ‘Devil’
Hannah Paris – ‘Just You Wait’
The Shires – ‘Guilty’

UK Male Vocalist
For a UK male artist (s) who have had an exemplary year based on overall singing performance whether through album, song, radio airplay, publicity, touring, or other criteria within the eligibility period.

Darcy, Gary Quinn, Danny McMahon, Kevin McGuire, Ags Connolly

UK Group of the Year
For a UK act made up of 3 (or more) members who have had an exemplary year based on overall recognition and activity whether through album, song, radio airplay, publicity, touring, or other criteria within the eligibility period.

Jess and the Bandits, Darcy Band, The Wandering Hearts, Backwoods Creek, Morganway

UK Song of the Year
For Country songs released by UK artists (either separately or on an album or EP) within the eligibility period.

The Wandering Hearts – ‘Fire and Water’
Backwoods Creek – ‘When I Grow Up’
Catherine McGrath – ‘Talk Of This Town’
Jade Helliwell – ‘Boom Tick’
Hannah Paris – ‘LA’

UK Female Vocalist
For a UK female artist(s) who have had an exemplary year based on overall singing performance whether through album, song, radio airplay, publicity, touring, or other criteria within the eligibility period.

Laura Oakes, Kezia Gill, Philippa Hanna, Jade Helliwell, Demi Marriner

UK Entertainer of the Year
For UK artists who have had an exemplary year based on overall recognition and activity whether through album, song, radio airplay, publicity, touring, or other criteria within the eligibility period.

Laura Oakes, Darcy, Morganway, Jade Helliwell, The Wandering Hearts

Best Original UK Festival
For UK festivals that predominantly showcase and promote original UK Country artists.

Nashville Meets London, FSA Fest, Buckle & Boots, Black Deer, Millport

International Song of the Year
For Country songs released in the UK by international artists (either separately or on an album or EP) within the eligibility period – award given primarily to the artist with writers also acknowledged.
Old Dominion – Written In The Sand
Brothers Osborne – Shoot Me Straight
Filmore – Slower
Jenn Bostic – Revival
Luke Combs – When It Rains It Pours

International Album of the Year
For Country albums released in the UK by international artists within the eligibility period.

Brothers Osborne - PORT SAINT JOE
Ashley McBryde - GIRL GOING NOWHERE
Jenn Bostic - REVIVAL
Kacey Musgraves - GOLDEN HOUR
Luke Combs - THIS ONE'S FOR YOU

International Touring Act
For international artists who have had an exemplary year based on overall recognition for their performances and touring activity in the UK within the eligibility period.

Jenn Bostic, American Young, Kip Moore, Filmore, Brothers Osborne

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The first four artists set to perform at our BCMA Showcase event on the afternoon of November 24th were announced: Peter Donegan, Jennifer Atkin, Square One and Emily Faye
FREE for members and £20 for non-members: http://britishcma.co.uk/bcmaawards/


This years’ British Country Music Association Awards (BCMA Awards 2018) will take place at the Harrogate Convention Centre (Website | Facebook King's Road HG1 5LA Harrogate, North Yorkshire) on Saturday 24th November and it will be a 1-day event.
Tickets on sale at £30 with a 10% discount for members. Sponsorship packages available from £250
BUY HERE: £30 or £27 BCMA Awards 2018 Member Ticket or BCMA Awards VIP Ticket £60.00 Includes All Day Pass, VIP Reception with Wine, Canapés etc & Priority Seating

BCMA Directors are: BJ Thomas (CEO), Jeanne Jordan (Secretary Director), Lara Goodfellow, Karl Hancock (Buckle and Boots Country Music Festival CEO), Rob Davis (Founding member, owner Puddleduck Publshing Ltd, publishers of Cross Country and Up Country magazine), Wayne Hadlow (Founder FSA Festival)

Not now appearing on the BCMA Directors list is Dan Wharton who is the BCMA Press Officer/ Sonnet Music/ founder and editor of yourlifeinasong.com, one of the UK’s leading country music websites.

MISSION
The British Country Music Association (BCMA) is committed to supporting the very best in UK and International Country music artists.
Working closely with our friends, industry partners and the Country music community in the UK, we are here to heighten the awareness of Country Music and support its on-going growth by recognizing excellence in the genre. The BCMA will be a place to have fun and celebrate success.

CONNECT with British Country Music Association:
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Our Reaction & Comment

2018 marks the first year that the British Country Music Association Awards nominations were selected by the BCMA members and not by a select panel who chose them for members to vote on.
Nominations for the 2018 BCMA Awards opened on July 22nd via the website. Members could cast votes for their favourite homegrown country acts by being or becoming a member for £20 per year. To vote they had to submit their membership member which was verified.

The Wandering Hearts led the pack with 5 nominations (Album, Video, Song, Group, UK Entertainer of the Year). On the Official UK Top 100 Albums Chart (Week Ending 22 February 2018) their album WILD SILENCE made a debut at No.85 and #1 on Official UK Country Album Top 20 with estimated sales of 1,000 copies.
At the third annual UK Americana Awards (Feb 1, 2018) they received the Bob Harris Emerging Artist Award.
In a Life In You Song (Dan Wharton BCMA Press Officer) Buckle & Boots Country Festival Interview: The UKs The Wandering Hearts talked about CMA Festival during their trip to Tennessee, including their Opry debut, Ryman debut and their performance at Graceland!

INTERVIEW: THE WANDERING HEARTS (BUCKLE & BOOTS 2018)
Buckle & Boots Country Festival Interview: The Wandering Hearts tell us all about their trip to Tennessee, including their Opry debut, Ryman debut and their performance at Graceland!
Posted by Your Life In A Song on Thursday, 28 June 2018


Darcy (Darcy Crawford) who originally hails from Brisbane, Australia and was based at Compstall, Manchester has received 4 nominations (Video, Group, Male Vocalist, UK Entertainer of the Year). 
Last year he won UK Song of the Year (“Too Country For You” and Video of the Year (Hooked).

It is something of a surprise that Darcy is nominated for both Male Vocalist and Group of the Year. The BCMA need to add a caveat and bring into line with the CMAs regarding GROUP OF THE YEAR. It should read: This Award goes to the group. A group is defined as an act, composed of three (3) or more people, all of whom normally perform together and none of whom is known primarily as an individual performing artist. Think of it as say Florida Georgia Line or the Eric Church Band nominated for CMA Group of the Year.

Wayne Hadlow (CEO FSA Fest; BCMA Director) speaking about Darcy’s HOOKED EP last year said: “My good friend Darcy, he performs wonderfully, the album is fantastic, an amazing album. Nothing out of Nashville is better than it, the writing and material is just great, the songs are great. Anyone that wants a good country album go out and buy it” 

Two of the nominations for ALBUM of the Year fall outside the eligibility period (1 July 2017 - June 30, 2018)

Kezia Gill with her 11 track self-titled set KEZIA (Smoky Records UK iTunes) was released: 23 March 2017 before the 1 July 2017 window.
The album has a current Amazon UK Bestsellers Rank: #15,117 in Albums and #452 in Digital Music (Country Albums).
A frequent Live performer Kezia is also nominated for UK Female Vocalist.

Catherine McGrath with her recent 13 track album TALK OF THIS TOWN (Warner Bros Records UK iTunes) was officially released on July 27, 2018 which is outside the eligibility period (June 30, 2018). 
Her EP Starting From Now was released on 9 June 2017 and includes just one of the album tracks “Just In Case”.
13 LUCKY FOR SOME: The Northern Irish country singer scored her Official UK Top 100 Albums Chart debut at No.13 with her debut album TALK OF THIS TOWN with 3,839 sales (Week Ending 9 August 2018), falling 13-61 in her second frame (estimated sales 1,300, 2-week total 5,140). It was Album of the Week on BBC Radio 2.
Catherine also gets a nod for Song of the Year for “Talk of This Town”. An acoustic version was released on Oct 13, 2017.

Jade Helliwell has received 4 nominations (Album, Song, Female Artist, UK Entertainer of the Year) after being crowned Female Vocalist of the Year in 2017 following the buzz surrounding an impromptu “Hallelujah” duet with busker Dawid Osial which went VIRAL with over 18 million views! BLOG Post: Batley country singer Jade Helliwell's spontaneous duet with a busker goes viral
Helliwell’s Oct 2016 FORGET THE NIGHT (EP) climbed to #1 on the UK Country Album iTunes Chart and #8 on the overall UK iTunes chart.


Jade’s “‘Boom Tick’” is recognized with a BCMA nomination for Song of the Year taken from her 21 May 2018 self-released 5 track EP INFATUATION (Amazon UK - UK iTunes). The EP debuted and peaked at #3 UK iTunes Country Albums (#146 UK iTunes all-genre) quickly falling to #5 (#304 all-genres). 

The following day is was at #10 (#578 UK all-genres), then #21 (#942 all-genres) and by Weds May 23rd it had fallen off the top 200 UK iTunes Country Albums. Despite several high profile 2018 festival appearances (Buckle & Boots, Nashville Meets London, FSA Fest, Black Thorn) the EP has not reappeared on the iTunes chart but her performances have drawn a nod for Entertainer of the Year.
“You played quite a lot of your new material that went down really well” – Dan Wharton (BCMA Press Officer)
Your Life In A Song INTERVIEW: Jade Helliwell (Nashville Meets London 2018)
Yorkshire Evening Post (28 June 2018) Music interview – Jade Helliwell:Nashville has helped get younger audiences into country music’ “All of the songs on the record in the end related to different aspects of infatuation,” shared the Leeds-based country singer.


Last year’s Duo of the Year winners The Shires receive 3 nominations defending their title against Gasoline & Matches, Holloway Road, Foreign Affairs and Ward Thomas. They also get nods for UK Album of the Year (ACCIDENTALLY ON PURPOSE UK iTunes) and UK Video of the Year for ‘Guilty’.

The Shires’ third album topped the first two sales flashes of the debut week but their chances of becoming the second home-grown country act to have a No.1 album (following Ward Thomas in 2016) evaporated as the week progressed.

It debuted at No.3 (14,319 copies) matching the debut/peak of 2016 predecessor, My Universe, which sold 14,913 copies when it opened at No.3 in 2016. In the weeks that followed Accidentally On Purpose so far has not sold or charted anything like as successfully as My Universe. In their 10th week at retail Accidentally fell off the top 100 (estimated 10-week total 34,500) and placed at No.2 on UK Country iTunes chart (#331 UK iTunes all-genres).  By comparison My Universe after 10 frames was at No.48 (total sales 48,500)
Despite their massive 22-date UK tour in May and June, including headlining London’s Royal Albert Hall (Fri 18 May 2018; Capacity: 5272) they have not strangly registered with BCMA members thoughts regarding an Entertainer nomination!

Gary Quinn who is part of the Buckle & Boots Festival team, will hope to win Male Vocalist for a third successive year adding to his five BCMA Awards.
Gary is again up against last years Male nominees Darcy, Kevin McGuire, Ags Connolly with Danny McMahon the only newbie to the category.

New on the scene Danny McMahon receives 2 nominations (Horizon and Male Vocalist)
"You absolutely smashed it on The Paddock Stage"  - Dan Wharton (Press Officer BCMA and head of website Your Life In Song) Interview with Danny McMahon (BUCKLE & BOOTS 2018)
Thanks to online voting Danny has also been acknowledged with 2 nominations for The UK Country Music Awards 2018 (sponsored by UK 24/7 Internet Station UKCountryRadio.com) .
Voted by BCMA members, Danny is up against Kezia Gill, Izzie Walsh, Stevie O'Connor and Emily Faye for Horizon Act Of The Year.

Unsigned Horizon nominee Stevie O'Connor is a fairly new name who hails from Gloucester and currently resides in Merseyside. During 2018 he has performed at the VAMOS 2018 Festival in Perth, Jade Helliwell’s ‘Infatuation’ EP Launch, Towerfest Country Music Festival, Welshpool Country Music Festival 2018 and FSA Country Music Festival. He is set to play Wolverhampton Country Songwriters Night (Aug 25) and looking forward to playing at Ashton Lane’s Album Launch on 29th November.
Stevie O'Connor performing at FSA Festival 2018:


Find Stevie O’Connor on Facebook (1,300 Likes)

Kevin McGuire




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