Countdown to the CMAOntario Festival & Awards – Q & A with Jason McCoy

Photo supplied by Jason McCoy

The Country Music Association of Ontario (CMAOntario) Festival & Awards are fast approaching and we have had the opportunity to catch up with some of Ontario’s best country music artists in advance of the festivities.  Today we are pleased to introduce you to Minesing-based Jason McCoy!  He is a 25-year veteran in the Canadian Music Industry, two-time CCMA Male Vocalist of the Year and creator/front man of The Road Hammers.  Jason will also be the host of Awards show on Sunday.

How important is it to you that Ontario have its very own country music awards show? 

When I was starting out, we didn’t have one single focused association for our Ontario performers…so we didn’t have the networking opportunities that the CMAO’s offer.  People need to know that the CMAO is active province wide, 365 days a year offering information, seminars and education to artists of all levels…it’s invaluable to all country performers.

The CMAOntario Awards are possible because of the generous assistance of Slaight Music.  Have you been directly supported by any of their initiatives? 

We’ve all benefited from Slaight music, and may not even know it.  They support everything from the Juno Awards and Polaris prize to Canada’s Walk of Fame…beyond that, they also directly support some of Canada’s top talent such as Ontario’s own Jessica Mitchell….They make our music scene bigger and better with all they do

The 2018 Fresh Faces Showcase & Concert will take place on Saturday, June 2 in Market Square (London, ON) as part of the weekend’s festivities.  It will feature performances from Meghan Patrick, The Reklaws, Brad Battle, Johnson Crook, The Redhill Valleys, Joshua Davie and Kelsi Mayne.  We have so many amazing up and coming country artists in Ontario. Who is someone else you think is someone that country music fans should be checking out?  Give them a shout out!  

There are so many…Genevieve Fisher is definitely one to watch, along with Andrew Hyatt, Eric Ethridge, …the list goes on and on….Ontario country has never been stronger!

If you were asked to give a rising country artist some advice, what would it be?

….be yourself…be authentic…ain’t nobody can do YOU better than YOU!

What is your opinion on the value of social media to help you succeed as an artist in today’s society?  Do you have a favourite social media platform? 

Social media is an amazing tool that just keeps evolving in incredible ways…instant contact with your fans…it’s invaluable to what we do as artists!

Is there anything you would like to say to your fans?

…thank you for supporting not just my music, but Ontario and Canadian Country music in general….we’ve got a very special thing going on here, and the CMAO is an awesome pace to showcase it!!

Connect with Jason McCoy:
Website
Facebook
Twitter
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Connect with The Country Music Association of Ontario:
Website
Facebook
Twitter
Instagram