CMA Songwriters Series Expands to Toronto and will be Taped for a CMT Canada Special
NASHVILLE – Leading into the Ultimate Country Music Fan Experience – 2015 CMA Music Festival – CMA presented international trophies to two industry standouts: Morgan Evans, the recipient of the CMA Global Country Artist Award, and CMA Board member and CEO of Big Machine Label Group Scott Borchetta, who received the Jo Walker-Meador International Award. The trophies were presented Tuesday by CMA Board leaders on the stage of CMA World GlobaLive!, which was hosted by Evans.
“We announced our International Award recipients earlier this year, but this was the perfect opportunity to present Morgan and Scott with their trophies with so many international fans, press, and artists in Nashville for CMA Music Festival,” said Sarah Trahern, CMA Chief Executive Officer. “Advancing Country Music around the world is an important part of CMA’s mission, so being able to celebrate two of our most deserving honorees at GlobaLive! was very meaningful.”
Presenting the trophies were CMA Board Chairman Frank Bumstead; with Jeff Walker, executive producer of CMA World GlobaLive!;Rob Potts, Vice Chairman of the CMA International Committee; and CMA Board member David Ross.
Evans received the Global Country Artist Award, which recognizes outstanding achievements by a Country Music artist originally signed outside of the United States – in both furthering the popularity of Country Music and bringing attention to the format in their foreign-based territory.
An Australian, Evans is the winner of a record three Country Music Channel Music Awards this year. He was recently signed as a presenter, host, and ambassador for the Country Music Channel in Australia. He has toured with Country superstars including Alan Jackson and Taylor Swift, as well as headlining his own tours in Australia and New Zealand. Evans was recently signed to William Morris Endeavor.
“Country Music has exploded in Australia over the last few years as more and more U.S. superstar acts are coming to play our CMC Rocks Festival and tour,” said Evans. “To be involved in Country Music during this time, both through my own music and through my work with the Country Music Channel, has been a great privilege. This award and the general welcoming of what I do here in Nashville is an incredible honor and I accept it with the intention to work harder, play louder, and enjoy it all as much as ever! Sincerest thanks to CMA for this acknowledgement, and to the Country Music fans around the world for making our genre what it is today!”
Named for the Country Music Hall of Fame member and longtime Executive Director of CMA, the Jo Walker-Meador International Award recognizes outstanding achievement by an individual or company in advocating and supporting Country Music’s marketing development in territories outside the United States.
As the founder and CEO of Big Machine Label Group, Scott Borchetta has supported artist development internationally early in artists’ careers. His philosophy has been a major force in changing the perception of Country Music internationally. Borchetta, who is member of the CMA Board of Directors, previously won the Jo Walker-Meador International Award in 2012.
“From very early on in the life of Big Machine Records, I had a huge desire for our artists to take their music around the world. Ten years and so many world tours later in the life of the Big Machine Label Group, I am so proud of our artists for embracing a global vision and so grateful for the fans of our music the world over,” said Borchetta. “This award belongs to all of the artists and executives that call the Big Machine Label Group ‘home.’”
CMA World GlobaLive!, which began in 2004 as the Global Artist Party, serves as a showcase for overseas talent leading up to the Festival. Each year, the concert attracted standing-room-only crowds of enthusiastic fans, which prompted CMA to move the event from a club setting to a larger outdoor stage in Walk of Fame Park with its largest crowds to date.
This year, CMA Music Festival will play host to fans, media, and artists from 20 countries including: Australia, Brazil, Canada, China, Cuba, Denmark, France, Germany, India, Ireland, Israel, Japan, South Korea, Luxembourg, Mexico, Norway, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, and the U.K.
CMA also used the GlobaLive! event to announce the expansion of the popular CMA Songwriters Series into Canada. CMA announced it will partner CMT Canada to film a CMA Songwriters Series to be aired on CMT Canada.
The taping will take place in Toronto at The Great Hall, a historic venue located in the thriving music and arts district of Toronto’s Queen Street West. This will be the first time CMA and CMT Canada have partnered to present a television event.
“This is an exciting opportunity to partner with CMT Canada and present Country Music’s finest songwriting talent in a beautiful setting to an international TV audience,” said Trahern. “The reaction to the Songwriters Series in the U.K. and Europe has been really outstanding and we are sure that Canada will be another homerun for the Series internationally.”
Currently scheduled artists and songwriters appearing at the taping include Kristian Bush, Ashley Monroe, Deric Ruttan, with other songwriters to be announced soon. This evening of songs and songwriters, which will be filmed in front of an exclusive invite-only audience of industry movers and Country Music super fans, will presented as a one-hour broadcast on CMT Canada in October 2015 as well as a syndicated radio special.
The CMA Songwriters Series has been presenting the very best of Country Music’s songwriters, whose hits are known worldwide, since 2005. CMA Songwriters Series shows are intimate presentations where songwriters can exhibit their craft and share many of the stories behind the songs they have penned.
Through international honors and events including CMA World GlobaLive! and the expansion of the CMA Songwriters Series in Canada, Dublin, London, and Paris, CMA seeks to recognize and empower its international membership and Country Music fans globally.
For upcoming talent announcements and all other info stay connected with CMA on CMAfest.com, Facebook.com/CMA,Twitter.com/CountryMusic, Instagram.com/CMA, and sign up for CMA Exclusive, CMA’s email newsletter. Fans can also download the 2015 CMA Music Festival mobile app for iPhone or Android to view the latest artist lineups and to plan their Festival experience.
