2025 Overview
2025 Rules & Regulations
2025 MANITOBA COUNTRY MUSIC AWARDS
On November 8, 2025, the Manitoba Country Music Awards will be held at Club Regent Casino and Event Centre. This is an evening not to be missed as we bring the province’s largest country music community together. Several of Manitoba’s top country acts will entertain guests as the prestigious awards are handed out to the highest-voted artists.
ABOUT MEMBERSHIP VOTING
With the exception of two awards that are voted on and determined by the MCMA Board of Directors, the MCMA Awards will go through a two-stage ballot process. MCMA membership is split in to two factions: Associate (Fan Only) members and Industry members. All MCMA members will be eligible to participate in the First Ballot (Nominate). Only MCMA Industry members in good standing will be eligible to participate in the Second Ballot. Emerging Artist of the Year, Radio Station of the Year, Radio On-Air Personality or Team of the Year, Festival or Event of the Year, Venue of the Year, Cover/Tribute Artist, Duo or Group of the Year Award and Fans’ Choice Entertainer of the Year awards will appear on the Second Ballot for Industry members as well as an Online Public Voting Ballot.
We strongly encourage fans and Industry members to spread the word and vote as we celebrate Manitoba’s country music talent.
All final Nominees are required to be Industry members of the MCMA as of September 1, 2025, in order to be eligible to participate in the Second Ballot. See the 2025 MCMA Awards Rules and Regulations for further details.
The MCMA is looking for sponsors and supporters of the event. If you are interested, or know of any individual, group or businesses that maybe interested, please email the MCMA at manitobacma@gmail.com.
The 2025 MCMA Awards will have three types of awards, each with a unique nomination process:
Type 1 Awards - Artist and Industry Awards
Female Artist of the Year, Male Artist of the Year, Group or Duo of the Year, Emerging Artist of the Year, NCI-FM Indigenous Country Music Award, Roots Artist, Duo or Group of the Year, All Star Band of the Year, Single of the Year, Album of the Year, Interactive Artist, Duo or Group of the Year
These categories will be nominated by MCMA Industry members only in the first round of balloting beginning on July 28. Access to nominations in these categories will be regulated by your membership status as recorded on the MCMA website when you login to vote.
Type 2 Awards - Creative Content Awards
Fay Walker Song of the Year (Songwriters) and Music Video of the Year
These categories will be nominated by a Balloting Committee jury adjudication in the first round of nominations beginning on July 28. Submissions will be accepted by email only to submissions@manitobacma.com.
Submitted entries will be accepted in any viewable or listenable video or audio format including video or audio file attachments, YouTube links, Google Drive link, etc. File or format submissions must be easily accessible and playable for multiple users. Submissions must be accompanied by a completed Submission Form as provided on the MCMA website.
To download the file, right click the link and select save link as
Submission Form, CATEGORY NO. 12 MUSIC VIDEO OF THE YEAR (docx file)
Submission Form, CATEGORY NO. 5 FAY WALKER SONG OF THE YEAR (docx file)
Type 3 Awards - Industry and Fan Member Nominated Awards
Radio Station of the Year, Radio On-Air Personality or Team of the Year, Festival or Event of the Year, Venue of the Year, Cover/Tribute Artist, Duo or Group of the Year, Fans’ Choice Entertainer of the Year
These categories will be nominated by all MCMA members, both Fan and Industry, as has been the process in previous years.
KEY DATES
First Ballot opens – July 28, 2025
First Ballot closes – August 15, 2025
TOP SIX (6) NOMINEES ANNOUNCED – September 12, 2025
Second Ballot opens – September 12, 2025
Second Ballot closes – September 30, 2025
WINNERS ANNOUNCED AT AWARDS SHOW – November 8, 2025, Club Regent Casino and Event Centre
AWARDS CATEGORIES
Voted by Industry Membership
Female Artist of the Year
Male Artist of the Year
Group or Duo of the Year
Emerging Artist of the Year
NCI FM Indigenous Country Music Award
Roots Artist, Duo or Group of the Year
Fay Walker Song of the Year (Songwriters)
All Star Band of the Year – Guitar
All Star Band of the Year – Bass
All Star Band of the Year – Drums
All Star Band of the Year – Specialty (Banjo, Fiddle, Mandolin, Keys, Pedal Steel)
Music Video of the Year
Single of the Year
Album of the Year
Interactive Artist, Duo or Group of the Year
Voted by Membership and Online Public Voting
Radio Station of the Year
Radio On-Air Personality or Team of the Year
Festival or Event of the Year
Venue of the Year
Cover/Tribute Artist, Duo or Group of the Year
Fans’ Choice Entertainer of the Year Award
Selected by the MCMA Board
Janice Starodub Impact Award
Hall of Fame Inductee
2025 Manitoba Country Music Awards Nominees
FEMALE ARTIST OF THE YEAR
Brandi Vezina
Catie St. Germain
Desiree Dorion
Jade Turner
Kendra Kay
Kimberley Dawn
MALE ARTIST OF THE YEAR
Jason Kirkness
Jerry Sereda
JR Charron
Mitchell Makoons
Quinton Blair
Ryan Keown
GROUP OR DUO OF THE YEAR
Banned & Outlawed
Club Wagon Creek
Kates Outlaw
Petric
Prairieline
The Sean Taylor Band
NCI FM INDIGENOUS COUNTRY MUSIC AWARD
Catie St. Germain
Desiree Dorion
Jade Turner
Jerry Sereda
Kimberley Dawn
Mitchell Makoons
FAY WALKER SONG OF THE YEAR (SONGWRITERS)
Dry – Desiree Dorion – Writers: Desiree Dorion, Jay Allan, Olivia Mae Graham
Good Girl Gone Bad Mom – Catie St. Germain – Writers: Catie St. Germain, Quinton Blair
Land of the Free – JR Charron – Writers: Dan Poperechny, JR Charron, Maximilian Dupas
Longrider Religion – Kates Outlaw – Writers: Kyle Neault, Levi Winters
Old Fashioned Kind of Love – Kendra Kay – Writers: Kendra Kay, Trent Willmon
Paper Town – Brandi Vezina – Writers: Brandi Vezina, Scott Nolan
ROOTS ARTIST, DUO OR GROUP OF THE YEAR
Club Wagon Creek
Kates Outlaw
Mitchell Makoons
Nelson Little
Orvis & His Higher Guns
Prairieline
EMERGING ARTIST OF THE YEAR
Austin Ryder
Club Wagon Creek
Irvin Miller
Kates Outlaw
Matt Zimmerman
Prairieline
ALL STAR BAND OF THE YEAR – GUITAR
Clinton Giesbrecht
Lachlan McLean
Levi Winters
Rylan Knaggs
Sean Borton
Troy Flamand
ALL STAR BAND OF THE YEAR – BASS
Dan Poperechny
Greg Dunstan
Josh Gareau
Leroy Constant
Meg Dolovich
Paul Kelly
ALL STAR BAND OF THE YEAR – DRUMS
Doug Yuel
Jeff Kula
Jonathan Peters
Josh Ayers
Stephen Broadhurst
Tyler Martens
ALL STAR BAND OF THE YEAR – SPECIALTY (BANJO, FIDDLE, MANDOLIN, KEYS, STEEL)
Blaine Badiuk
Brad Moggie
James Klassen
Michael Audette
Morgan Grace
Real Comeault
MUSIC VIDEO OF THE YEAR
Spin – Austin Ryder
Backyard Bar – Banned & Outlawed
What Got Me Here – Jason Kirkness
Different Goods – JR Charron
I Know You Like That – Ryan Keown
SINGLE OF THE YEAR
Spin – Austin Ryder
Good Girl Gone Bad Mom – Catie St. Germain
What Got Me Here – Jason Kirkness
Long Way To Go – Prairieline
Same Ole Shift – Quinton Blair
Cowboys Don't Line Dance – The Sean Taylor Band
INTERACTIVE ARTIST, DUO OR GROUP OF THE YEAR
Brandi Vezina
Catie St. Germain
Club Wagon Creek
Desiree Dorion
JR Charron
The Sean Taylor Band
ALBUM OF THE YEAR
Brandi Vezina – Grit & Glamour
Club Wagon Creek – High Noon
Desiree Dorion – Remember Your Name
Jason Kirkness – What Got Me Here
Jerry Sereda – Backroad Billionaire
Kates Outlaw – Longrider Religion
RADIO STATION OF THE YEAR
730 CKDM AM (Dauphin)
Country 107.7 FM (Steinbach)
Country 99.1 FM (Winnipeg)
NCI FM 105.5 (Manitoba)
Now Country 104.7 FM (Winnipeg)
QX 104.1 FM (Winnipeg)
RADIO ON–AIR PERSONALITY OR TEAM OF THE YEAR
Brian Cook (Now Country)
Brody & Karly (QX 104)
Cowboy Carl Thomas (NCI FM)
Jordan Knight & Davey Gott (NCI FM)
Tom McGouran (Now Country)
Zap & Katie (QX 104)
DAUPHIN'S COUNTRYFEST FESTIVAL OR EVENT OF THE YEAR
Hanover Ag Fair
Manitoba Stampede & Exhibition
Manitoba Threshermen’s Reunion & Stampede
Niverville Fair
Summer In The City
The Morden Corn & Apple Festival
VENUE OF THE YEAR
Belle's Kitchen + Music Hall
Silver Spike Saloon
South Beach Casino & Resort
The Park Theatre
The Royal George Hotel
Times Change(d) High & Lonesome Club
COVER/TRIBUTE ARTIST, DUO OR GROUP OF THE YEAR
Club Wagon Creek
Hearts on Fire
Lost In A Small Town
Prairieline
The InClines – Sweet Dreams of Patsy Cline
Waylon, Willie & Cash – A Tribute to the Highwaymen
FANS' CHOICE ENTERTAINER OF THE YEAR
Banned & Outlawed
Catie St. Germain
Club Wagon Creek
JR Charron
Kates Outlaw
The Sean Taylor Band
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