Media Centre > News Releases > 2002 > March 2,2002

Canada’s hottest new music talent honoured at 5^th Annual Canadian Radio Music Awards

Toronto, March 2, 2002 – Canada’s private radio broadcasters and the Canadian Association of Broadcasters (CAB) celebrated eleven of Canada’s hottest up-and-coming music artists today at the 5^th annual Canadian Radio Music Awards (CRMAs) held during Canadian Music Week.

"Today’s winners represent some of the best new musical talent Canada has to offer," said Gary Slaight, President and CEO, Standard Broadcasting Corporation and one of the founders of the CRMAs. "The CRMAs acknowledge the incredible new music stars who are building their careers, in large part thanks to the support and encouragement of private radio broadcasters."

"It was a great pleasure to see these rising stars realize a dream," said Glenn O’Farrell, President and CEO, the Canadian Association of Broadcasters. "The CRMAs are a great national success story and the CAB congratulates this year’s winners and nominees. We also tip our hats to private radio broadcasters across Canada. They are true champions of Canadian music and the CRMAs exemplify their commitment to cultivate and promote up-and-coming artists in this country."

Created and funded by Canada’s private radio broadcasters, the CRMAs are the only national industry awards that profile and recognize Canada's emerging English-language music stars. The winners are determined by votes from radio station program and music directors and on-air personalities from across Canada. Nominees are selected based on radio "spins" in different radio formats as recorded by Broadcast Data Systems (BDS) for one year, from Jan. 1 until December 31.

Three non-voting awards were also presented during the 2002 CRMAs: the FACTOR "Breakthrough" Award for most airplay for a new artist, the Songwriter Award sponsored by FACTOR for most airplay for a songwriter, and the Chart Topper Award for most airplay overall. See below for the complete list of the 2002 winners.

The 2002 CRMAs were hosted by Rick Mercer, and included performances by the Ennis Sisters, Staggered Crossing, Jimmy Rankin, Tom Wilson, Jelleestone, and Sugar Jones.

The CAB is the national voice of Canada’s private broadcasters, representing the vast majority of Canadian programming services, including private radio and television stations, networks, specialty and pay, and pay-per-view services.

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The winners of the 2002 Canadian Radio Music Awards are…

Best New Solo Artist (Rock)
Tom Wilson - Dig It

Best New Group (Rock)
Sum 41- Fat Lip

Best New Solo Artist (Adult Contemporary)
Jimmy Rankin - Followed Her Around

Best New Group (Adult Contemporary)
Wave – California

Best New Solo Artist (Contemporary Hit Radio)
Maren Ord – Sarah

Best New Group (Contemporary Hit Radio)
Joydrop – Sometimes Wanna Die

Best New Group or Solo Artist (Country)
Ennis Sisters – It’s Not About You

Best New Group or Solo Artist (Dance/Hip Hop/Rhythmic)
Sugar Jones - Days Like That

Factor "Breakthrough" Award (Most Airplay for a New Artist)
Swollen Members – Fuel Injected

Songwriter Award sponsored by Factor (Most Airplay for a Songwriter)
Robert Lyle Heath –What Do They Know

"Chart Topper" Award (Most Airplay overall)
Nelly Furtado