SiriusXM and the CCMA Launch Top of the Country Competition

Sarah Burke here from SiriusXM Country. Maybe you’ve heard me live from backstage at the CCMA Awards talking to one of your favourite artists after they won an award? Or, maybe you’ve caught an interview I’ve done with one of your favourite bands live-in-studio. Just maybe…you’ve thought to yourself…”How do I get my band on SiriusXM Country?” Or, “I’d love to play MY song in that studio!” Well, we are all about supporting emerging Canadian artists and I’m writing to let you know about an amazing opportunity.

We’re looking for Canada’s next big country star(s) with the launch of our ‘Top of the Country’ competition! The grand prize includes $25,000, featured performances at Country Music Week with the CCMA and a ton more. Registration begins TODAY through March 2^nd.

Our cross-Canada search will give participating acts a chance to play at Canada’s biggest country music festivals, industry mentorship programs, a SOCAN songwriting camp in Nashville, an exclusive mentoring session with Canadian artists and industry professionals in Toronto, hosted by SiriusXM and the CCMA and more! Plus, the grand prize of $25,000 comes with a SOCAN songwriting camp in Pender Island, BC.

Once participants representing Western, Central and Eastern Canada have been selected, the competition will not only offer emerging artists some of the biggest prizes in the country, but showcase them on a national stage through a public online vote open to all Canadians to choose their favourites.

A NOTE FROM THE BOSS:

“Fostering and promoting new Canadian talent has always been incredibly important to SiriusXM and to our partner, the CCMA,” said Jeff Leake, Director of Music Programming. “So as Canada’s premier music provider, we wanted to shine a light on the burgeoning community of up and coming country artists to give them the exposure they deserve and need to help take their music careers to the next level.”

OK, WHERE DO I REGISTER?

SiriusXM invites Canadian country solo artists and groups to register at siriusxm.ca/topcountry until midnight ET on March 2. Following the registration phase, three artists from each of Western, Central and Eastern Canada will be chosen by a jury of industry experts to record in-studio videos for the Canada-wide online vote, taking place later this Spring.

Once voting is complete, three will emerge as the Top Country Finalists, receiving a stage spot at Big Valley Jamboree (Camrose, AB), Cavendish Beach Music Festival (Cavendish, PEI) or a SiriusXM-sponsored major festival in Ontario.

The grand prize winner of Top of the Country will be chosen during the CCMA’s Country Music Week in Hamilton, ON this September. Finalists will battle it out on stage before a headlining artist at the SiriusXM CCMA Top of the Country Finale, airing live on SiriusXM, with music industry professionals and audience votes deciding the winner.

I’m just here to tell you what’s going on. Now, it’s up to you to win the country over.  Good luck!