Showing posts with label CMA Global Artist. Show all posts
Showing posts with label CMA Global Artist. Show all posts

Saturday, 16 March 2019

CMA Visits C2C2019 Country To Country Festival: Ward Thomas & Baylen Leonard presented with CMA Awards


The Country Music Association visited Europe and the U.K. last week with stops in Berlin, Amsterdam and London as part of C2C: Country to Country festival, bringing CMA’s new international artist-focused touring series, Introducing Nashville, to fans in Berlin and Amsterdam, followed by a return CMA Songwriters Series performance in London.

As part of CMA’s international expansion initiatives, Introducing Nashville provides a platform to introduce artists to new audiences around the globe. The touring series brought Lindsay Ell, Lauren Jenkins and Logan Mize to European fans for the first time, opening the mainstage at C2C Berlin at the Verti Arena Berlin on Saturday, March 2 in addition to performing as part of C2C Amsterdam at AFAS Amsterdam on Monday, March 4. Introducing Nashville brings the unique Nashville-style songwriter’s round to each city, with artists appearing on stage together in an acoustic lineup, introducing their songs and sharing highlights of their careers and personal stories.

 (L-R) Jimmie Allen, Travis Denning, Cam, Laura Veltz and Ross Copperman perform at the sold-out CMA Songwriters Series show Thursday, March 7 at London’s indigo at The O2. Photo Credit: Luke Dyson/CMA

Fans in Berlin were captivated with this songwriter’s round type of experience, completely engaged and clapping along, getting to know the artists through their stories.

Following stops in Berlin and Amsterdam, CMA’s critically acclaimed CMA Songwriters Series returned to London’s indigo at The O2 Thursday, March 7, kicking off C2C London with a sold-out performance. Hosted by Cam, the lineup included hit Nashville songwriters and artists including Jimmie Allen, Ross Copperman, Travis Denning and Laura Veltz. Cam hosted what became a spirited, humorous and at times moving songwriters round, with each artist openly sharing their songs’ meanings and inspirations. Both Denning and Veltz made their first-ever international appearances. The performance marked the sixth London appearance and third consecutive sold-out CMA Songwriters Series during C2C.

JEFF WALKER GLOBAL COUNTRY ARTIST AWARD
While in London, CMA presented two awards in recognition of individuals for their efforts in spreading the Country genre internationally. 

 British Country duo Ward Thomas received the CMA Jeff Walker Global Country Artist Award during the CMA Songwriters Series show, as Cam surprised both artists with the award before the other songwriters on stage urged them to perform their song “Cartwheels.”

CLICK to ENLARGE: British Country duo Ward Thomas is presented with the CMA Jeff Walker Global Country Artist Award during the sold-out CMA Songwriters Series show Thursday, March 7 at London’s indigo at The O2. (L-R): Damon Whiteside, CMA Chief Marketing Officer, Roland Hill, WTW Music, co-manager of Ward Thomas, Catherine Ward Thomas and Lizzy Ward Thomas of Ward Thomas, and Milly Olykan, CMA Vice President, International Relations and Development. 

Jeff Walker Global Country Artist Award Nominees

 Travis Collins, Australia
Ilse DeLange, The Netherlands
James Barker Band, Canada
Jill Johnson, Sweden
Ward Thomas, U.K.  * WINNER *
This award recognizes outstanding achievements by a Country Music artist originally signed outside of the United States.


This huge honour makes the Hampshire native duo only the second ever UK act to be given the award following in the footsteps of fellow Brit Country frontrunners; The Shires who picked up the award back in 2017 at the same event making them the first ever British act to do so.

RESTLESS MINDS, the third album by Ward Thomas (twins Catherine and Lizzy Ward Thomas, non-identical 24-year-old twins from Hampshire) made a debut at No.8 on the Official UK Top 100 Albums Chart (Week Ending 21 Feb 2019)
sales of 7,095 copies.
The contemporary country duo logged the fifth biggest sales debut for an album tagged country.
In its second week it fell 8-86 (1,345 sales; down 81%) and by chart dated 7 March 2019) it had fallen off the Top 100 (estimated sales 800; 3-week estimated total 9,240). 
Its first four weeks at retail (including pre-orders) gave it a #6 position in the listing of The UK’s biggest country albums of the last 12 months.

The album is currently #29 on the UK Country iTunes Chart (#671 UK all -genres) and on Amazon Bestsellers Rank: #2,456 (#76 in Digital Music Country).

UK country music duo performed to a huge crowd during their slot at the CMC Rocks Festival in Australia in early 2017 and as far as we can tell that was their last performance outside of the UK in the last 3 years.

Lives Dates
(2nd Leg RESTLESS MINDS TOUR)
Mon 1 April 2019 - O2 Institute Birmingham, Birmingham (16-18 Horsefair, Bristol Street, B1 1DB | Capacity: 3,000)
Tue 2 April 2019 - O2 Guildhall Southampton, Southampton (Civic Centre, Southampton, SO14 7LP)
Wed 3 April 2019 - O2 Shepherds Bush Empire, London (Shepherds Bush Green, W12 8TT)
Tickets available from Ticketmaster UK
  
“Thank you for supporting country music in the UK as well” – Catherine 
“HOLY Shit!” - Lizzy



INTERNATIONAL COUNTRY BROADCASTER AWARD
BBC Radio 2 Radio Host Baylen Leonard was presented with the CMA International Country Broadcaster Award by Bob Shennan, BBC Director, Radio & Music and CMA Board member, during CMA’s U.K. Task Force meeting in London on Friday, March 8.
This award recognises outstanding achievement by a radio broadcaster or syndicated radio reporter outside the United States who has made important contributions for the development of Country Music in his/her country.  

Stuart Banford, Downtown Radio, Northern Ireland
Casey Clarke, Casey Clarke Productions, Canada
Paul Jackson, NOVA Entertainment, Australia
Baylen Leonard, BBC Radio 2, U.K.  * WINNER *
Trevor Smith, Aloha Media, Australia

CLICK to Enlarge: BBC Radio 2’s Baylen Leonard receives the CMA International Country Broadcaster Award during CMA’s U.K. Task Force meeting in London on Friday, March 8. (L-R): Damon Whiteside, CMA Chief Marketing Officer, Bob Shennan, BBC Director, Radio & Music and CMA Board member, Baylen Leonard, BBC Radio 2 Radio Host, and Milly Olykan, CMA Vice President, International Relations and Development. Photo Credit: Luke Dyson/CMA



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Tuesday, 27 March 2018

The Country Music Association Presents International Awards in the U.K. and Australia


Jeff Walker Global Country Artist Award - Dean Brody

The Country Music Association presented International Awards during C2C: Country to Country festival in London as well as CMC Rocks QLD festival in Australia.
Award recipients included Canadian singer/songwriter Dean Brody, BBC Radio 2's Mark Hagen, six-time reigning CMA Awards Vocal Group of the Year Little Big Town, Spotify's John Marks, AEG Presents' Milly Olykan and Chris Country's Chris Stevens.

Jeff Walker Global Country Artist Award - Dean Brody

The Jeff Walker Global Country Artist Award recognizes outstanding achievements by a Country Music artist signed outside of the United States. The artist must have furthered the popularity of Country Music as well as brought attention to the Country Music format in their foreign-based territory.
Dean Brody was surprised with the recognition backstage during CMC Rocks QLD festival on Saturday, March 17 in Queensland, Australia.
In 2016, Brody won his second JUNO Award for his album Gypsy Road, which featured the single "Bring the House Down." The song was certified double Platinum in Canada and became the highest-selling digital single ever for a Canadian artist. His most recent album, Beautiful Freakshow, features the chart-topping single "Time," which was the No. 1 selling Country track in Canada for 13 weeks straight in 2017. Brody has won 16 Canadian Country Music Association (CCMA) Awards and last year won CCMA Songwriter of the Year, Top Selling Canadian Single of the Year for "Time" and the coveted Fans' Choice Award.
Dean Broady (C) with CMA Chieh Sarah Trahern second from right
CLICK to ENLARGE | Credit CMA World

Wesley Rose International Media Achievement Award - Mark Hagen
The Wesley Rose International Media Achievement Award recognizes outstanding achievements in the media as they relate to Country Music outside of the United States. Mark Hagen was surprised with the award by Little Big Town backstage at C2C in London following a BBC Radio 2 interview with Bob Harris (OBE) on Sunday, March 11.
Hagen, a 40-year television and radio veteran producer, currently works for BBC Radio 2 where he produces "Bob Harris Country," the U.K.'s only national Country Music radio program, as well as BBC Radio 2's coverage of the CMA Awards, "CMA Fest" and "CMA Country Christmas." He also produces BBC Four's television coverage of the CMA Awards.
A former CMA Board member, Hagen has worked closely with successive generations of Country stars, playing a key role in breaking the likes of Faith Hill, Kacey Musgraves, Shania Twain and The Mavericks throughout the U.K. and Europe.
Pictured (L-R): Little Big Town’s Jimi Westbrook and Kimberly Schlapman, Hagen, Little Big Town’s Karen Fairchild and Phillip Sweet. Photo: Reid Long


  
International Artist Achievement Award - Little Big Town
The International Artist Achievement Award recognizes outstanding achievement by a U.S.-based artist who has demonstrated the most significant growth, development and promotion of the Country Music industry outside of the United States during the eligibility period. Little Big Town was surprised with the award by BBC presenter Steve Wright during a Radio 2 interview Thursday, March 8 in London.
Since their first appearance at the inaugural C2C festival in 2013, Little Big Town is the only act to perform at C2C three times, returning just last week as festival headliners. In 2017, the group completed a seven-day U.K. tour which included a sold-out performance at London's iconic Royal Albert Hall. BBC Radio 2 has playlisted three Little Big Town singles to date. In 2017, Little Big Town performed at CMC Rocks QLD Festival in Australia and added additional shows in Canada. 
 
Little Big Town’s Phillip Sweet, Kimberly Schlapman, Karen Fairchild and Jimi Westbrook receive the CMA International Artist Achievement Award while in London Thursday, March 8 ahead of their performance at C2C: Country to Country festival. Photo: Reid Long
  
Jo Walker-Meador International Award - John Marks and Milly Olykan
The Jo Walker-Meador International Award recognizes outstanding achievement by an individual in advocating and supporting Country Music's marketing development in territories outside the United States.
The award was presented to both John Marks and Milly Olykan during CMA's U.K. Advisory Group meeting Friday, March 9 in London.
Marks is the Global Editor for Country Music at Spotify where he curates over 25 Country playlists, including his primary playlist, Hot Country, which is currently the fourth most-consumed worldwide.
Marks, a CMA Board member, opens doors for Country artists internationally and is the driving force behind Spotify's initiative to increase consumption of Country Music worldwide.
As VP of Live Music and Major Arena Events for AEG Presents, Olykan is the Festival Director and co-promoter of C2C, the U.K. and Ireland's largest Country Music festival. C2C has changed the landscape for Country artists touring the U.K. and Europe. Her role in establishing the Pop-Up Stages, Country Music Week, presenting the Bluebird Café in the U.K., and co-promoting and touring the CMA Songwriters Series has provided significant platforms for new artists and songwriters.
Since 2014, Milly has served on the CMA Board of Directors.
 
Milly Olykan and John Marks (left and center) each receive a CMA Jo Walker-Meador International Award and Chris Stevens (right) receives the CMA International Country Broadcaster Award in London Friday, March 9 during CMA’s U.K. Advisory Group meeting. Photo: Brian Loschiavo
  
International Country Broadcaster Award - Chris Stevens 

The International Country Broadcaster Award recognizes outstanding achievement by a radio broadcaster or syndicated radio reporter outside the United States who has made important contributions for the development of Country Music in their country. The award was presented to Chris Stevens during CMA's U.K. Advisory Group meeting Friday, March 9 in London.










































Stevens launched Chris Country Radio simply because he wanted to hear more Country Music on U.K. radio.
Chris Country can now be heard in many parts of the U.K. on DAB Digital Radio including London and Manchester.
A respected broadcaster, Stevens supports Country festivals and shows including coverage of CMA Songwriters Series, CMA Awards, CMA Fest and C2C.
He interviews top Nashville artists as well as local U.K. artists and presents the "Breakfast" show on the station.



BLOG FEATURE: Radio Waves: Radio Presenter Spotlight – Chris Country
Following popular demand at Country 2 Country, the Chris Country snapback caps (image) are now available to be purchased online!
The price is just £15.00 plus £1.99 P&P, and you can have one of the limited edition caps in no time! Well, in a couple of weeks :)

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Friday, 17 March 2017

THE SHIRES become first ever UK country act to win CMA AWARD: ‘Jeff Walker Global Artist Award’

The Shires Shine at C2C
UK’s most successful Country act 
- 2 GOLD ALBUMS IN 12 MONTHS –
Hit second album ‘My Universe’ certified Gold alongside debut ‘Brave’

















“The duets between The Shires’ Ben Earle and Crissie Rhodes were an upbeat treat, particularly on party tune Friday Night"
Evening Standard on C2C 2017
 “Two genius singer-songwriters” - Metro
“A fantastic second album” - Sunday Express
 “Their place in the vanguard of homegrown country is assured” - Daily Mail

UK Country superstar duo, The Shires, announced they have become the first ever UK Country artist to win a CMA award **. Winning the prestigious CMA Jeff Walker Global Artist Award, which recognizes outstanding achievements by a Country Music artist originally signed outside of the United States. The Shires were very happy to receive a surprise presentation of the award during the CMA Songwriters series show featuring artists including Maren Morris and Drake White.

** Note ** Olivia Newton John was British born, born in Cambridgeshire, UK on Sept 26, 1948 who at aged 6 then emigrated to Melbourne, Australia with her family. She was voted Best British Female Vocalist two years in a row by the magazine Record Mirror. Newton-John's country success sparked a debate among purists, who took issue with a foreigner singing country-flavoured pop music being equated with native Nashville artists. Olivia was also named the Country Music Association Female Vocalist of the Year in 1974, defeating more established Nashville-based nominees Loretta Lynn, Dolly Parton and Tanya Tucker, as well as Canadian artist Anne Murray.
BLOG Post: The Shires hit America! Big Machine Label Group President/Ceo Scott Borchetta signs The Shires

Check out a video of The Shires receiving the award here:

Commenting on this incredible achievement The Shires stated: “We are completely thrilled to win the CMA Jeff Walker Global Artist Award. To win a CMA Award this early in our career and to be the first band from the UK to be acknowledged by the CMAs in this way is huge for us – thank you to everyone who voted for us and thank you to our fans who support our music and the UK country movement.”

Last week The Shires were presented with their second GOLD disc in just 12 months as they officially announced their hit album ‘My Universe’ had sold more than 100K copies in the UK. This unprecedented achievement further cements the band’s position as the UK’s most successful Country act. The Shires are the fastest selling UK country act ever – going Gold with two albums within a year of release as well as reaching this level of sales with ‘My Universe’ a mere 20 weeks after its release. The new album has not left the Top 60 since release in October last year, and has been back up in the Top 20 numerous times.

The Shires also recently announced the release of their next single ‘Drive’. The country-rock tinged single, with its delayed guitars and stadium sized drums is the latest single from the UK Country superstars who landed three consecutive A-list on BBC Radio 2 for previous singles releases including; ‘Beats To Your Rhythm‘, ‘My Universe‘ and 'A Thousand Hallelujahs’. Co-written with USA Country music star Kip Moore, the song has potential to break across the pound as well as the UK. Discussing the tracks potential Decca’s Managing Director, Rebecca Allen stated: “Drive is one of those tracks that has potential to break not just the UK, but it will no doubt resonate with USA Country Radio too. Kip and the band have written a modern country pop classic and I’m sure when the time is right the USA label Big Machine, will launch it into the stratosphere.”

On Oct 28, 2016 The Shires made music history by signing a ground-breaking record deal with the Nashville-based Big Machine Label Group under the historic Dot Records imprint.
Breaking News: On March 13, 2017, Big Machine Records announced a restructuring of its promotion staff. Former Dot Records artists Tucker Beathard and Carly Pearce are now Big Machine Records artists, whilst former Dot artist Drake White moves to BMLG Records. Dot Records, a joint venture between Big Machine Label Group (BMLG) and Republic Records, will now not continue.
The future label home status is not known for DOT artists Maddie & Tae, Aaron Lewis, or Steven Tyler or The Shires.
Maddie & Tae were the first signees announced to the reactivated imprint in June 2014. BMLG also went through a recent label makeover when Republic Nashville became the BMLG imprint.
(Update March 18) The Shires premiered their hotly anticipated BBC documentary The Shires: New Country on BBC Four (Fri March 17, 2017 at 10.30pm) which followed their rise, the first British country group to have a Top 10 album in the UK pop charts, and how they have spearheaded today's interest in country music. The programme followed Crissie Rhodes and Ben Earle as they launched their second album, MY UNIVERSE, in the UK, as well as on a working trip to Nashville where they were signed by the leading country label in town, Big Machine. The duo play The Bluebird Cafe (pictured below with The Shires co-writer award winning Canadian songwriter Victoria Banks), the intimate club where the performances from the TV series Nashville are filmed, and meet with Scott Borchetta, who discovered Taylor Swift and signed the band to Big Machine records.


















Ben and Crissie of The Shires said: “We’re so excited to be part of this documentary which explores the rise of country music in the UK - it’s a truly fascinating story.”
Watch it back (UK Residents) on the BBC iPlayer

 Suggested Tweet: @TheShiresUK New Country @BBCFour Docu #CountryAtTheBBC http://bbc.in/2mD8xt0

CONNECT with The Shires:
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