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.
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.
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 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 :)
