Today, SiriusXM Canada and the Canadian Country Music Association® (CCMA) opened public voting for this year’s SiriusXM Top of the Country competition. With eight of Canada’s top burgeoning country music stars vying for the title, music fans have a tough choice to make! To help, each artist has released an exclusive video of their studio recording available on topcountry.siriusxm.ca, where fans can also cast their votes after 10am ET today.
With once-in-a-lifetime opportunities awaiting the three finalists, including cash prizes, live performances at Canadian country music events, a SOCAN songwriting trip, and a coveted performance spot at CMA Fest in Nashville, the contestants are calling on Canadians to help them push to the finish line.
This year the talented semi-finalists represent five Canadian provinces:
· Robert Adam – Bonnyville, Alberta
· Alexa Goldie – Kingston, Ontario
· Parker Graye – Orillia, Ontario
· Zach McPhee – Vernon, British Columbia
· Tony Stevens – Surrey, British Columbia
· Trudy – Montreal, Quebec
· Mariya Stokes – Stavely, Alberta
· Jade Turner – Misipawistik Cree Nation, Manitoba
“The Top of the Country competition is a true celebration of Canadian talent, and we are delighted to invite music fans across Canada to be a part of it,” said, Michelle Mearns, VP of Programming and Operations, SiriusXM Canada. “The voting phase is a crucial moment where the public can show their support for these rising stars who embody the spirit of Canadian country music. Together, we can elevate these artists and showcase the talent that our country has to offer.”
Following the closing of the public vote, the three finalists will travel to Nashville for industry mentorship opportunities, perform at 2024 CMA Fest, and hit the stage at Lasso Montréal in August. The SiriusXM Top of the Country competition will conclude during the CCMA’s Country Music Week in September at the Finale Concert in Edmonton, Alberta, where the winner will be crowned and awarded a $25,000 grand prize. The Finale promises a lineup of electrifying live performances by the three finalists and a highly anticipated headliner. Fans can tune in to the live broadcast on SiriusXM Top of the Country Radio (ch. 171) to cheer on their favourite contestant.
“The public vote provides a special opportunity for fans to participate in shaping the future of Canada’s country music scene,” said, Amy Jeninga, President, CCMA. “Each year we are amazed by the talent that emerges from this competition and this year is no exception. Fans are going to have a tough time deciding who will get their vote!”
SiriusXM’s Top of the Country in partnership with the CCMA is part of SiriusXM’s ongoing tradition of promoting and elevating the best emerging Canadian music. SiriusXM continues to offer a leading platform for Canadian artists through its significant financial contributions and North American-wide reach.
Today at SiriusXM’s Next Generation Industry & Press Preview, the Company unveiled the new SiriusXM Streaming app, rolling out to subscribers across North America beginning on December 14, 2023. Accompanying the app is a refreshed brand platform and the newly-priced Streaming All Access Plan for $9.99 a month*, aimed at welcoming in a new generation of SiriusXM listeners.
“The introduction of the new SiriusXM streaming experience marks a pivotal moment in our history, one that kicks off a new era of innovation at our Company,” said Jennifer Witz, CEO, SiriusXM. “And this launch is just the beginning; we will continue to iterate and develop our product offerings throughout the next year and beyond as we strive to deliver our subscribers the best listening experience on the go, in the car, and wherever they choose to tune in. From can’t miss live moments to the perfect soundtrack for any occasion, with the new SiriusXM, we are putting our differentiators at the forefront and welcoming in a new generation of listeners, bringing them closer to what they love.”
The event also included a first-look at the Company’s new logo and brand platform, embracing the stars and bringing to life SiriusXM’s promise to bring listeners CLOSER. Additionally, SiriusXM unveiled its new mascot, a fresh take on its iconic dog, now playfully named Stella.
THE NEW SIRIUSXM APP
The new SiriusXM app, which will begin rolling out in the App Store, Google Play, and on Amazon Fire devices on December 14 with additional platforms and features to come in early 2024, will offer listeners a more personalized, easy-to-use, lean-back streaming experience that puts discovery at the forefront.
Key features coming to the new SiriusXM app include:
● Always-On Personalization & Curation: Listeners will now be welcomed in with four curated sections: Music, Talk & Podcasts, Sports, and For You, a customized landing page for each listener. Personalized touch points will greet users across the app experience – even during playback, where listeners who reach their skip limits will be presented with alternative recommendations, allowing them to pivot to content better suited to their mood.
● Greater Content Discovery: New pages dedicated to teams, shows, channels, artists and more bring fans closer, allowing them to go deeper into what they love.
● Revamped Playback: The new and improved media player will be optimized for each type of content, with new audio segments allowing listeners to jump to key moments; transcription and speed control for podcasts and on-demand talk content; live listening updates for sports and beyond; enhanced airplay and casting; and more.
● Enhanced Search: Upgraded search capabilities will make it easier for users to quickly find who or what they are looking for, while the addition of a new search home page will provide curated recommendations for listeners who are looking to discover more.
● Improved Podcast Listening: Podcasting holds a place of honor in the new SiriusXM app, with an expanded library and new features such as key moment markers.
● Central Audio Library: A revamped library will allow fans to save the content they love – from live channels to on-demand and podcasts, from artists and bands to teams and leagues – in one centralized location, with new offline listening and download capabilities.
● Interactive Onboarding: New subscribers will be invited to tailor their SiriusXM experience at sign-on by selecting artists, genres, personalities, leagues, and topics that they love, then browse through and sample tailored channel recommendations with a simple swipe.
NEW ORIGINAL CHANNELS & SHOWS COMING TO SIRIUSXM
SiriusXM announced a variety of new channels and show details, offering something for every listener and bringing fans closer to the artists, personalities, and music they love. These include:
● Kelly Clarkson Connection: The new year-round channel launched today and welcomes listeners into Kelly’s world. Listeners are presented with the music she loves and is inspired by, along with the stories behind the music from Kelly’s two-decade long catalog of award-winning hits.
● New audiochuck channel curated by Ashley Flowers:Expected early next year, the channel will be curated by audiochuck and its Founder and Chief Creative Officer, Ashley Flowers, the host behind chart-topping podcasts including Crime Junkie.
● Life with John Mayer channel to debut November 22:The exclusive new year-round channel hosted by the seven-time GRAMMY® Award winning singer-songwriter will feature a slate of shows hosted by Mayer, renowned DJ Diplo and legendary producer Don Was.
● This Life of Mine with James Corden: Marking his entrance into audio, Corden’s new weekly show will explore the people, places, moments, and memories that helped shape today’s biggest stars, and will launch exclusively for SiriusXM subscribers early next year.
● Dolly Parton’s Rockstar Radio: The new channel launching November 15 and available for a limited time will feature songs from Dolly’s upcoming album Rockstar as well as familiar hits and hand-picked favorites that inspired the making of the new album.
● Smokey’s Soul Town: The new year-round channel available now and curated by legendary singer, songwriter and producer Smokey Robinson will play the best of Classic Soul, R&B and Motown from the 60s and 70s.
● Shaggy’s Boombastic Radio: A new year-round channel available now, curated by the GRAMMY® Award winning reggae icon, immerses listeners in the sounds of reggae, dancehall and vibrant afrobeats.
● Three new channels are dedicated to different genres of music from the 2000s:
○ The Flow features the R&B hits after the turn of the millennium from artists including Alicia Keys, Ciara, H.E.R., John Legend, Khalid, Ne-Yo, Usher and more.
○ Flex2K is dedicated to Hip-Hop fromthe 2000s, a special time that saw the debut of classic albums like 50 Cent’s “Get Rich or Die Tryin’,” and the rise of superstars Drake, Nicki Minaj, J. Cole, Kendrick Lamar and others.
○ Alt2K relives the energy, emotion and exploration of 2000s alternative rock from the breakthrough artists that defined the generation including Cage The Elephant, Coldplay, Fall Out Boy, MUSE, The Killers and much more.
With the launch of the new SiriusXM app on December 14, the company will be introducing new guest DJ channel takeovers from over 160 of the world’s top artists and bands, ranging from Olivia Rodrigo and Cardi B to Alice Cooper and Luke Combs. These new takeovers bring listeners even closer to the artists they love with music hand-curated by the stars
Canadian country music fans are one step closer to learning who will be the next big country music star as SiriusXM Canada and the Canadian Country Music Association ® (CCMA) reveal the three finalists in the 2023 SiriusXM Top of the Country competition. The announcement follows the voting phase where a panel of industry experts and the Canadian public narrowed down the contenders, who will now participate in priceless mentorship opportunities and performances at some of Canada’s most notable country music events. With a grand prize of $25,000 and the coveted title of SiriusXM Top of the Country Champion on the line, the competition is about to get even more fierce.
The three finalists are:
· Hailey Benedict – St. Albert, Alberta
· Noah Derksen – Winnipeg, Manitoba
· Teigen Gayse – Kelowna, B.C.
“Every year we are blown away by the talent discovered in the SiriusXM Top of the Country competition, and this year’s semi-finalists have raised the bar even higher,” says Michelle Mearns, Vice President of Programming and Operations at SiriusXM Canada. “The team at SiriusXM is excited to announce this year’s finalists and although we’re looking forward to seeing who will be crowned the winner, the best part of the competition is being able to champion Canadian talent and propel careers in the country music industry. We’re wishing our finalists the best of luck!”
The finalists have a busy summer ahead, starting with a trip to Nashville this June where they will perform at CMA Fest and make new, valuable industry connections. This will be followed by stage performances at Montreal’s Lasso country music festival in August and then they will head to Hamilton, ON for CCMA’s Country Music Week.
The competition culminates in a thrilling finale at County Music Week in September, broadcast live on SiriusXM’s Top of the Country Radio (Ch. 171), which plays the best new and established Canadian country artists and is available to subscribers across North America in their car and on the SXM App. Following an epic yet-to-be-announced headlining act, the three finalists will give performances of a lifetime, hoping to be named Canada’s best new country artist, and to win the $25,000 grand prize. The two runners-up will be awarded $10,000 each and all winners will attend a SOCAN songwriting camp in Nashville.
“The incredible talent of this year’s finalists is a testament to the strength and vibrancy of the Canadian country music scene,” says Amy Jeninga, President, CCMA. “It is an honour for us to spotlight and elevate Canadian country music artists in partnership with SiriusXM, and watch their craft evolve during the final stage of the competition.”
SiriusXM’s Top of the Country in partnership with the CCMA is part of SiriusXM’s ongoing tradition of promoting and elevating the best emerging Canadian music talent. SiriusXM continues to offer a leading platform for Canadian artists through its significant financial contributions and North American-wide reach.
Today, SiriusXM Canada announced the long-awaited return of Canadian R&B singer, songwriter and producer, PARTYNEXTDOOR, performing his first live show in Toronto in seven years on Thursday, May 25 in celebration of the launch of Mixtape: North, the first 24/7 Canadian Hip-Hop and R&B channel.
Fans can register to get free tickets to PARTYNEXTDOOR and Friends happening at Live Nation Canada’s newest entertainment venue HISTORY, starting today at 9:00am ET. Curated by PARTYNEXTDOOR and SiriusXM’s Mixtape: North, the show will also feature a lineup of soon-to-be-announced artists representing some of the best emerging and established Canadian artists on the scene. While the channel debuted in late 2022, the event will mark the official launch of Mixtape: North (ch. 164), available to subscribers across North America. The concert will be recorded and will broadcast on Mixtape: North as part of SiriusXM’s comprehensive lineup of Black Music Month programming in June. Mixtape: North will also feature an exclusive in-studio takeover with PARTYNEXTDOOR who will be playing his favourite selects from across the channel’s catalogue.
“There is no better way to celebrate the launch of Mixtape: North than with local talent turned global superstar, PARTYNEXTDOOR,” says Michelle Mearns, Vice President of Programming and Operations, SiriusXM Canada. “This channel showcases our incredible homegrown Hip-Hop and R&B artists, giving listeners the opportunity to discover new and emerging music, and enjoy current and classic hits from artists across Canada. Mixtape: North is the home for Canadian Hip-Hop and R&B.”
To ensure all tickets get into the hands of fans, SiriusXM and Live Nation Canada are using Ticketmaster’s Verified Fan technology for this event. Verified Fan uses a registration system to help filter out buyers looking to resell tickets. Registration opens on Monday, May 8 at 9:00am ET and closes on Tuesday, May 9 at 11:59pm ET. Fans can register HERE. The Verified Fan redemption is set to begin on Friday, May 12 at 10:00am ET. Tickets are completely free for all Verified Fans. No taxes. No fees. This is a 19+ event.
Mixtape: North is available to subscribers across North America in their car and on the SXM App. The SXM App is available to subscribers on mobile devices and a wide variety of connected platforms in the home including smart speakers, smart TVs and streaming media players. Streaming access is included with all of SiriusXM’s audio trials and most popular plans.
Today, SiriusXM Canada, in partnership with the Canadian Country Music Association ® (CCMA), is inviting Canadians to help choose the 2023 SiriusXM Top of the Country champion. The voting phase is now open, featuring eight semi-finalists racing toward the finish line to secure a spot in the finale. Exciting opportunities await the finalists, including a performance spot at the CMA Fest in Nashville, performances at exclusive Canadian events including Montreal’s Lasso, and cash prizes.
Last year’s Top of the Country champion, SACHA, seized the spotlight and triumphed over the competition to win the coveted title. “Performing is my calling. I love connecting with audiences and sharing my story through music,” said SACHA. “Winning SiriusXM Top of the Country has changed the trajectory of my career, and I will always cherish the life-changing experience as I continue to share my art with the world.”
This year’s semi-finalists represent the finest country music talent from across Canada:
·Hailey Benedict – St. Albert, Alberta
·Noah Derksen – Winnipeg, Manitoba
·Teigen Gayse – Kelowna, B.C.
·Amanda Jordan – Smith Falls, Ontario
·Mark Ledlin – Vancouver, B.C.
·The Prairie States – Edmonton, Alberta
·Dayna Reid – Elmvale, Ontario
·Lydia Sutherland – Montréal, Québec
The voting phase will take place starting today at 10am ET through May10 and will be open to all Canadians. Fans can watch exclusive studio sessions of each semi-finalist at topcountry.siriusxm.ca,
where votes can be cast daily.
“The voting phase is an exciting time for the competition as it allows music fans from coast to coast to have their say,” said Michelle Mearns, Vice President
of Programming and Operations, SiriusXM Canada. “We’re thrilled to see the incredible talent that has made it to this stage of the competition, proving yet again how many gifted musicians Canada has to offer.”
“This year’s Top of the Country semi-finalists are a remarkable group of powerhouse artists, and we’re so excited to share their studio sessions with the rest
of the country,” said Amy Jeninga, President, CCMA. “We can’t wait to see who will land in our top 3 and earn the opportunity to embark on the incredible journey to the finale.”
The competition will culminate in the
SiriusXM Top of the Country Finale during the CCMA’s Country Music Week 2023, where the finalists will be able to showcase their talents. The event will be broadcast live on SiriusXM’s
Top of the Country Radio (ch. 171) and will feature a highly anticipated headlining act, making it an unforgettable night in Canadian country music.
SiriusXM’s Top of the Country in partnership with the CCMA is part of SiriusXM’s ongoing tradition of promoting and elevating the best emerging Canadian
music. SiriusXM continues to offer a leading platform for Canadian artists through its significant financial contributions and North American-wide reach.
Today, SiriusXM Canada in partnership with the Canadian Country Music Association® (CCMA), announced the eight semi-finalists vying to be named the 2023 winner of SiriusXM’s Top of the Country competition. The stakes are high as each of the semi-finalists begin recording original tracks in-studio, which will later be shared with Canadian country fans to vote for their favourites. The field will be narrowed down to the top three, but only one will eventually be crowned the winner, receiving $25,000 and the title of the SiriusXM Top of the Country champion.
From across Canada, the 2023 semi-finalists are:
· Hailey Benedict – St. Albert, Alberta
· Noah Derksen – Winnipeg, Manitoba
· Teigen Gayse – Kelowna, B.C.
· Amanda Jordan – Smith Falls, Ontario
· Mark Ledlin – Vancouver, B.C.
· The Prairie States – Edmonton, Alberta
· Dayna Reid – Elmvale, Ontario
· Lydia Sutherland – Montréal, Québec
To learn more about the artists, please visit www.siriusxm.ca/topcountry. For high resolution images of the eight semi-finalists, please click HERE.
“As a champion of Canadian artists, the Top of the Country competition is a highlight for us at SiriusXM Canada, as it helps spotlight new talent and provides unparalleled support and development opportunities,” said Michelle Mearns, VP, Programming & Operations, SiriusXM Canada. “Now in our fifth year, we’ve seen how the program helps to propel careers and it’s exciting to watch previous winners like SACHA and Tyler Joe Miller achieve such success.”
After the public shows their support by voting for their favourites, the finalists will head to Nashville for industry mentorship opportunities and a performance spot at the 2023 CMA Fest. They’ll close out the summer with a festival performance at Lasso Montréal in August, followed by the Top of the Country Finale at Country Music Week in September where the winner will be crowned. In addition to the $25,000 grand prize, SiriusXM is awarding both runners-up $10,000 and all will receive a SOCAN song writing camp experience in Nashville following the competition. The Finale will air live on SiriusXM’s new Top of the Country Radio (ch. 171).
“The Canadian Country Music Association is proud to continue cultivating the immense talent the SiriusXM Top of the Country competition brings forward each year,” shares Amy Jeninga, President, CCMA. “This program is one of the many ways that the CCMA champions and elevates Canadian artists and we’re thrilled to see this new batch of semi-finalists shine and embrace this exciting opportunity.”
SiriusXM’s Top of the Country in partnership with the CCMA is part of SiriusXM’s ongoing tradition of promoting and elevating the best emerging Canadian music. SiriusXM continues to offer a leading platform for Canadian artists through its significant financial contributions and North American-wide reach.
Canada’s Allison Pill stars in new scripted Dark Comedy Series THE RUBBER ROOM, available now on SiriusXM. The Series stars some of the biggest names in Comedy!
Synopsis:
The Rubber Room begins with Lindsey reporting to a detention centre housed in a rundown, vacant elementary school that contains teachers removed for mere incompetence, as well as hardened criminals, frauds who relish getting paid for doing nothing, and Lindsey, an innocent victim of school politics. It’s a school with no students, and the “inmates” must report every day until their cases are resolved. Teachers sleep on the floor, establish dominance, mount their defenses, and while away the time, much like in a real prison.
Throughout her time in the rubber room, Lindsey encounters a wild cast of characters:
● Patton Oswalt plays Coach K, a drill sergeant-like high school gym teacher, who whips the inmates into shape.
● Natasha Leggero plays Stella Marconi, a seasoned scam artist serving time for stealing classroom globes from the Department of Education and selling them on the black market.
● Bobby Lee plays Trevor Wade, a handsome charmer who may or may not be a serial killer, sent away for serving alcohol to students while directing an all-nude grade school production of HAIR.
● Andy Daly plays Michael ‘Blue’ Balls, a wise, grizzled rubber room lifer doing his best Shawshank Redemption, all while sniffing copier toner.
● David Cross plays David Rockwell, Lindsey’s corrupt union rep who is more interested in milking the system than proving her innocence.
● Erik Griffin plays Principal Phineas Towers, a strict disciplinarian who runs the rubber room with a warden-like demeanor.
● Al Madrigal plays Will Turner, a legit slacker with zero backbone, who got into teaching for the summers off and is 100% guilty of going to work high.
● Tony Hale plays Merton Woods, an incompetent chemistry teacher enlisted by Blue to make meth in the rubber room.
● Becky Drysdale plays Mad Dog, the violent jailhouse bully with a penchant for wedgies.
● Melle Powers plays Priscilla Denton, a book-burning librarian, and Ms. Brownlow, who runs the rubber room’s shirtwaist-making sweatshop.
● Alex English plays Assistant Principal Warburg, Principal Towers’ loyal enforcer.
All half-hour episodes of The Rubber Room are available now on the SXM App, and they’ll also air Mondays on SiriusXM Raw Dog Comedy Channel 99 at 10:00 am, 2:00 pm and 10:00 pm ET.
All eight episodes of the new show are available now on the SXM App, and starting today SiriusXM Raw Dog Comedy channel 99 will air one episode a week every Monday morning at 10:00 am ET.
Multi-Grammy-winning Country Superstar Brandi Carlile has a new show coming to SiriusXM! The monthly show will showcase LGBTQIA+ Artists and their Allies! ‘Brandi Carlile’s Somewhere Over the Radio,’ is a monthly show available on The Spectrum (ch. 28). The show premieres Wednesday, August 10, 2022 at 2 p.m. ET.
On the show, Carlile will curate the music, focusing on artists who are part of the LGBTQIA+ community and their allies. In the premiere episode, Carlile is joined by her wife Catherine Carlile to share music from artists like Tracy Chapman, Elton John, Antony and The Johnsons, Arlo Parks, The Indigo Girls, Sister Rosetta Tharpe, Dolly Parton, and more. Carlile will also share personal anecdotes between songs and engage in candid conversations with her guests.
“This show is about the impact that LGBTQIA + artists have made on the world, the spiritual realm, and certainly our family through the transcendence of music,” says Carlile. “Queer artists and pioneers have given my wife and I everything that we have including each other. Let’s shine a little light on queer excellence today.”
Brandi Carlile’s Somewhere Over the Radio premieres August 10 with new episodes airing the first Wednesday of every month at 2 p.m. ET on The Spectrum. Carlile also appears in upcoming TIFF ’22 selection THE RETURN OF TANYA TUCKER: FEATURING BRANDI CARLILE!
SiriusXM and Just for Laughs are teaming-up again for a third year! While the in-person Festival is celebrating its 40th edition in Montreal July 13-31, 2022, an audio-only Festival just days before the in-person events, can be heard only on SiriusXM. Listeners will hear jokes from the biggest names in Comedy from over the history of the Festival.
From Monday July 11 to Sunday July 17, 2022 inclusive, SiriusXM listeners can enjoy the best moments from the past four decades of the Just For Laughs festival, including both rising news stars and world-class comedy talent, broadcast live on Raw Dog Comedy, SiriusXM Channel 99. Monday through Saturday, two hour-long specials will air each day at 10am and 5pm EST. Then on Sunday the 17th, the virtual festival will conclude with an audio marathon of the best of Just For Laughs starting at 8am EST. Just For Laughs Canada (SiriusXM Channel 168) will also be playing the virtual festival daily at 11am EST.
Learn more here about the Festival!
The fourth annual SiriusXM Top of the Country competition is set to take to Calgary as part of the CCMA’S COUNTRY MUSIC WEEK 2022, airing live on SiriusXM! A huge headliner also is set to be announced. The top three finalists have been selected based on public vote!
Meet your Top Three:
(Photo credit: SiriusXM)
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