The Country Music Association of Ontario Announces Winners of the 2023 CMAOntario Awards
The Country Music Association of Ontario (CMAOntario) is proud to announce the winners for the 11th Annual CMAOntario Awards, which took place June 4 at Theatre Aquarius in Hamilton, Ontario. Presented by Slaight Music, the CMAOntario Awards acknowledged the talent and achievements of Ontario’s country music industry across 19 categories with presentations and performances.
Robyn Ottolini took home Single of the Year and Female Artist of the Year, while The Reklaws scored Group or Duo of the Year and The Compass Award.
Hosted by Jason McCoy and Shannon Ella, the 11th Annual CMAOntario Awards Show featured performances by Jade Eagleson, Robyn Ottolini, Nate Haller, Karli June, Graham Scott Fleming, Sacha, Elyse Saunders, Vincent Bishop, Jason Blaine, Genevieve Fisher, Andrew Hyatt, Ryan Langdon, Owen Riegling, Julian Taylor, and The Western Swing Authority.
The CMAOntario Awards also included a special performance by Jason McCoy and Nicole Rayy in honour of 2023 Impact Award recipients The Family Brown, and a tribute performance to Gordon Lightfoot featuring The Good Brothers.
THE 2023 CMAONTARIO AWARD WINNERS ARE:
SINGLE OF THE YEAR – sponsored by Pure Country 93
“Say It” - Robyn Ottolini
ALBUM OF THE YEAR – sponsored by Country 106.7
Party in the Back - Nate Haller
SONGWRITER(S) OF THE YEAR – sponsored by SOCAN
Steven Lee Olsen, Brandon Day - Nashville or Nothing (recorded by Steven Lee Olsen)
FEMALE ARTIST OF THE YEAR – sponsored by VEC Entertainment Group
Robyn Ottolini
MALE ARTIST OF THE YEAR – sponsored by IBEW Local 353
Tim Hicks
GROUP OR DUO OF THE YEAR – sponsored by Country 103
The Reklaws
RECORD PRODUCER(S) OF THE YEAR
Karen Kosowski - Karli June
RADIO STATION OF THE YEAR (LARGE MARKET) - sponsored by Fielding Estate Winery
KX-947, Hamilton
RADIO STATION OF THE YEAR (MEDIUM MARKET) – sponsored by Lucknow’s Music in the Fields
Pure Country 105, Peterborough
RADIO STATION OF THE YEAR (SMALL MARKET)
100.1 FM The Ranch, Listowel
ROOTS ARTIST OR GROUP OF THE YEAR
Mackenzie Leigh Meyer
RISING STAR – sponsored by Slaight Music
Josh Ross
MUSIC VIDEO OF THE YEAR – sponsored by Jim Dunlop Productions
“Genes” - Elyse Saunders
MUSIC INDUSTRY PERSON OF THE YEAR – sponsored by Manrkē
Dave Woods
FRANCOPHONE ARTIST OR GROUP OF THE YEAR
Reney Ray
FANS’ CHOICE – sponsored by Tourism Hamilton
Jade Eagleson
COMPASS AWARD – sponsored by Luminate
The Reklaws
HOLLY & STEVE KASSAY GENEROUS SPIRIT AWARD
Kayla Wilging
IMPACT AWARD
Family Brown
The CMAOntario Award Show was preceded by a weekend of activities as part of the CMAOntario Festival & Awards Weekend, June 2-4, 2023. The CMAOntario Festival & Awards Weekend included Songs & Stories: Songwriters in the Round, R2i TuneUp Conference, Bonfire and Tailgate Party.