While most people were watching the Grammy Awards Wednesday night, the Canadian Music Week kicked off with their 2nd
Annual Canadian Independent Music Awards. Ron Sexsmith won the award for “Major Indie Album of the Year” for his album, “Blue Boy.”

“Independent artists are the lifeblood of Canadian music,”
said Neill Dixon, head of Canadian Music Week, in a press release. “There are five major multi-natiaonal record companies, and between them they may sign as many as four or even five Canadian artists in any given year. That leaves hundreds of artists who must, in effect, release their music on an independent basis, and prove that it has significant appeal.”

A complete list of winners follows:

MAJOR INDIE ALBUM OF THE YEAR
Ron Sexsmith – Blue Boy

BLUES ALBUM OF THE YEAR
Harry Manx – Dog My Cat

CHILDRENS ALBUM OF THE YEAR
Dini Petty – The Queen Bear and the Bumblebee

CLASSICAL ALBUM OF THE YEAR
James Ehnes – Bruch Concertos

COUNTRY ALBUM OF THE YEAR
The Cruzeros – El Nino

DANCE ALBUM OF THE YEAR
Elissa – The Light

ELECTRONICA ALBUM OF THE YEAR
Manitoba – Start Breaking My Heart-Leaf

FOLK/ROOTS ALBUM OF THE YEAR
Fred Eaglesmith & The Flying Squirrels – Live In Santa Cruz; Ralph’s Last Show

FRANCOPHONE ALBUM OF THE YEAR
Melanie Renaud – ma liberte

JAZZ ALBUM OF THE YEAR
Chris Tarry – Of Battles Unknown Mysteries

METAL ALBUM OF THE YEAR
The End – Transfer Trachea Reverberations From Point

POP ALBUM OF THE YEAR
Garrity – A Day Away

ROCK ALBUM OF THE YEAR
Ron Hawkins & The Rusty Nails – Crackstatic

URBAN ALBUM OF THE YEAR
2 Rude – 2 Rude Rudimental 2;222 Mark of the Beats

CHIN WORLD ALBUM OF THE YEAR
Alpha Yaya Diallo – The Journey






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