Country Music Association of Ontario

What Country Music Association of Ontario does

The Country Music Association of Ontario (CMAOntario) is a not-for-profit industry association founded in 2007 by Rob MacArthur and founding patron Linda Wright, governed by a volunteer unpaid Board of Directors currently chaired by Patrick Duffy, with Verle Mobbs serving as Executive Director. The organization is mandated to foster the growth and development of Ontario's country music industry at provincial, national, and international levels, serving three core constituencies: Ontario country music artists and songwriters, country music industry professionals (managers, promoters, labels, radio stations, producers), and country music fans, plus a Corporate Membership tier for music-adjacent businesses. Headquartered in Algonquin Highlands, Ontario (16484 Hwy 35, K0M 1J1), the organization operates across Ontario with its flagship event, the annual Festival & Awards Weekend, held in Mississauga's Port Credit community.

CMAOntario's core offerings comprise three membership tiers (Fan at $20/year, Regular at $50/year, Corporate at $125/year covering 3 members), the 14th annual CMAOntario Awards Show recognizing talent across 17 categories plus special awards, and a multi-day Festival & Awards Weekend featuring the Awards Show, Songs & Stories songwriter showcase, The Trail waterfront concert series (new in 2026), the Bonfire emerging artist showcase, and the R2i industry conference. Ongoing programming includes monthly Artist of the Month and Video of the Month features, the "In The Country with Dave Woods" podcast and blog series, and the Ontario Pioneers historical editorial archive. Founding sponsors include Rogers Communications, Slaight Music, Universal Music Canada, Sony Music Canada, EMI Music Canada, MDM Recordings, Amplus, Cerberus, Heather Ostertag Associates, Tillsonburg Broadcasting, Durhas Radio Inc., and multiple Ontario country radio stations.

The revenue model combines recurring annual membership dues, one-time event ticket sales (Awards Show tickets priced from $35 to $199 CAD, R2i Conference tickets from $35, Songs & Stories at $20, with The Trail waterfront series free), sponsorship from a granular network of founding and category sponsors, and ancillary e-commerce via a WooCommerce-powered online store. The organization has no proprietary technology platform beyond its WooCommerce website and accepts Card, Affirm, and Afterpay payments at checkout. No external investors, parent company, or subsidiaries are indicated; the entity is an independent Ontario-incorporated non-profit with no disclosed revenue figures and operates as a member-supported industry body rather than a venture-backed commercial enterprise.

Name

Country Music Association of Ontario

Legal name

Country Music Association of Ontario

Website

https://cmaontario.ca

Company type

Private

Founded year

2007

Operating status

Operating

Short description

CMAOntario is a not-for-profit industry association founded in 2007 that advances Ontario's country music industry through three membership tiers, the annual 14-year CMAOntario Awards, a multi-day Festival & Awards Weekend in Mississauga, monthly artist features, and the R2i industry conference, serving artists, industry professionals, fans, and corporate members.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Music Industry Association

NAICS

Other Performing Arts Companies (71119), Convention and Trade Show Organizers (56192)

SIC

Services-Membership Organizations (8600), Services-Miscellaneous Amusement & Recreation (7990)

akta.pro primary industry

Music Festival Organizers & Promoters (MPAGAAAB)

akta.pro secondary industry

Cultural Festivals & Events Organizations (BPAGAHAG)

Keywords

• Country music association
• Music industry membership
• Country music awards
• Live music events
• Music industry advocacy

Headquarters

HQ city

Toronto

HQ country

Canada

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D

Revenue model

1. Membership Dues: Annual membership fees charged at three tiers: Fan ($20/year), Regular ($50/year), and Corporate ($125/year, includes 3 members). Memberships expire after 1 year and Canadian members are charged 13% HST tax.
2. Event Tickets and Registrations: Revenue from ticket sales for CMAOntario Awards Show (General Admission $35, Silver Reserved $79, Gold Reserved $140, Diamond VIP $199) and R2i Conference (tickets from $35). Some events are free (The Trail waterfront series). Songs & Stories tickets priced at $20.
3. E-commerce / Shop Sales: WooCommerce-powered online store processing membership purchases and event registrations. Service fees apply at checkout (e.g., $5.50 per transaction).

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels9 records

Core offering

Country Music Association of Ontario is a not-for-profit industry association that operates tiered annual memberships (Fan, Regular, Corporate), an annual CMAOntario Awards Show, a multi-day Festival & Awards Weekend in Mississauga, and supporting content features (Artist of the Month, Video of the Month, In The Country with Dave Woods, Ontario Pioneers) to foster Ontario's country music industry. It also runs the R2i industry conference and emerging-artist showcases (Bonfire, Songs & Stories, The Trail) for community building.

Product overview

The Country Music Association of Ontario (CMAOntario) operates a membership-based organization supporting Ontario's country music industry. The core product portfolio includes three-tier membership programs (Fan at $20/year, Regular at $50/year, and Corporate at $125/year), along with signature events including the annual CMAOntario Festival & Awards Weekend featuring the Awards Show, Songs & Stories showcase, The Trail waterfront concert series, Bonfire emerging artist event, and R2i Conference. Supporting content features include Artist of the Month, Video of the Month, In The Country with Dave Woods column/podcast, Ontario Pioneers historical series, and an Awards & Events Gallery. The organization also manages media accreditation and a volunteer program for event operations.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Fan Membership Entry-level annual membership for country music fans in Ontario, priced at $20/year, providing access to news, features, community engagement, and member-discounted pricing.
• Regular Membership Standard annual membership for music industry professionals and artists in Ontario, priced at $50/year, offering enhanced access and benefits including awards eligibility and industry participation.
• Corporate Membership Premium annual membership for businesses in the country music industry, priced at $125/year, including benefits for 3 named members and corporate-level recognition at CMAOntario events.
• CMAOntario Awards Show Annual awards ceremony celebrating Ontario's country music talent and industry professionals across 17 award categories plus special awards. Tickets range from $35 General Admission to $199 Diamond VIP. The 14th annual ceremony is held May 31, 2026 at Port Credit Memorial Arena in Mississauga.
• CMAOntario Festival & Awards Weekend Multi-day annual festival in Mississauga featuring Songs & Stories intimate songwriter showcase ($20), The Trail waterfront concert series (FREE), Bonfire emerging artist showcase, R2i Conference (tickets from $35), and the CMAOntario Awards Show. Combines free and ticketed events for artists, industry, and fans.

Named customers8 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration1 record

Partnerships

30 partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Visit MississaugacoreGTM or Marketing PartnerOfficial destination marketing organization (DMO) for Mississauga. Provides marketing support, sponsorship, and city backing for the CMAOntario Festival & Awards Weekend. Key partner for hosting the annual event in Port Credit, Mississauga.
• Port Credit BIA (Business Improvement Area)coreGTM or Marketing PartnerBusiness Improvement Area for Port Credit, Mississauga. Co-sponsor and supporter of the CMAOntario Festival & Awards Weekend in Port Credit. Helps promote and facilitate waterfront venue activations.
• Ontario CreatesminorGTM or Marketing PartnerProvincial cultural agency supporting Ontario's creative industries. Provides funding and institutional support for the CMAOntario Awards Show as part of the Festival & Awards Weekend.
• Misty City Music FestivalminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPresenting sponsor of the Bonfire emerging artist showcase at the CMAOntario Festival & Awards Weekend. Represents a strategic alignment between two Ontario country music event organizations.
• Rogers CommunicationsminorGTM or Marketing PartnerFounding Sponsor of CMAOntario. Major Canadian telecommunications and media company with country music radio stations across Ontario.
• Slaight MusicminorGTM or Marketing PartnerFounding Sponsor of CMAOntario. Canadian music fund supporting Canadian artists, established by the Slaight Family Foundation.
• Universal Music CanadaminorGTM or Marketing PartnerFounding Sponsor of CMAOntario. Canada's leading music label and part of Universal Music Group.
• Sony Music CanadaminorGTM or Marketing PartnerFounding Sponsor of CMAOntario. Major international music label operating in Canada.
• EMI Music CanadaminorGTM or Marketing PartnerFounding Sponsor of CMAOntario. Historic music label, now part of Universal Music Group.
• MDM RecordingsminorGTM or Marketing PartnerFounding Sponsor of CMAOntario. Canadian independent record label.
• AmplusminorGTM or Marketing PartnerFounding Sponsor of CMAOntario. Canadian music industry company.
• CerberusminorGTM or Marketing PartnerFounding Sponsor of CMAOntario.
• Heather Ostertag AssociatesminorGTM or Marketing PartnerFounding Sponsor of CMAOntario. Canadian music industry consulting/management firm.
• Tillsonburg Broadcasting Company LimitedminorGTM or Marketing PartnerFounding Sponsor of CMAOntario. Ontario-based radio broadcasting company.
• Durhas Radio IncminorGTM or Marketing PartnerFounding Sponsor of CMAOntario. Ontario radio broadcaster.
• 101.1 CountryminorGTM or Marketing PartnerFounding Sponsor of CMAOntario. Ontario country radio station.
• 600 CKAT CountryminorGTM or Marketing PartnerFounding Sponsor of CMAOntario. Northern Ontario country radio station (North Bay).
• 104.3 CountryminorGTM or Marketing PartnerFounding Sponsor of CMAOntario. Ontario country radio station.
• 93.5 CountryminorGTM or Marketing PartnerFounding Sponsor of CMAOntario. Ontario country radio station.
• 107.3 CountryminorGTM or Marketing PartnerFounding Sponsor of CMAOntario. Ontario country radio station.
• KX CountryminorGTM or Marketing PartnerFounding Sponsor of CMAOntario. Canadian country radio network.
• Pure Country (sponsor)minorGTM or Marketing PartnerCategory sponsor for Single of the Year at the 14th annual CMAOntario Awards.
• Country 106.7minorGTM or Marketing PartnerCategory sponsor for Album/EP of the Year at the 14th annual CMAOntario Awards. Ontario country radio station.
• IBEW Local 353minorGTM or Marketing PartnerCategory sponsor for Male Artist of the Year and Female Artist of the Year at the 14th annual CMAOntario Awards.
• CHAW Country 103minorGTM or Marketing PartnerCategory sponsor for Group or Duo of the Year at the 14th annual CMAOntario Awards. Ontario country radio station.
• Fielding Estate WineryminorGTM or Marketing PartnerCategory sponsor for Radio Station of the Year (Large Market) at the 14th annual CMAOntario Awards.
• C to C Music InsiderminorGTM or Marketing PartnerCategory sponsor for Breakthrough Artist of the Year and Industry Person of the Year at the 14th annual CMAOntario Awards.
• Cithara GuitarsminorGTM or Marketing PartnerCategory sponsor for Musician of the Year at the 14th annual CMAOntario Awards.
• Lucknow's Music in the FieldsminorGTM or Marketing PartnerCategory sponsor for Radio Station of the Year (Medium Market) at the 14th annual CMAOntario Awards.
• ManrkēminorGTM or Marketing PartnerCategory sponsor for Industry Person of the Year at the 14th annual CMAOntario Awards.

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Regional players

• Music BC: British Columbia's provincial music industry association. Operates member programs, industry events, and showcases for BC-based artists — a comparable provincial-scale music industry body, though not country-specific.
• Alberta Music: Alberta's provincial music industry association. Functions as a peer at the same provincial level as CMAOntario, offering member programs, workshops, and showcase programming for Alberta-based artists, with a different geographic focus.

Broad incumbents

• Academy of Country Music (ACM): US-based country music association running the ACM Awards and ACM Lifting Lives. Shares CMAOntario's mandate of recognizing country music artists and industry professionals, with comparable award/festival/event programming structure.
• Country Music Association (CMA): The US-based parent-style country music industry association. Operates the CMA Awards and Country Music Hall of Fame. Comparable as a fellow provincial/national-style music association serving a country music ecosystem, though at vastly larger scale.
• Americana Music Association: US-based industry association for Americana and roots music. Comparable in operating an annual AmericanaFest conference, Americana Music Honors & Awards, and year-round member-based programming serving a genre-adjacent music community.
• Folk Alliance International: International folk and roots music association operating an annual conference and member services. Provides a structural model for how a non-profit music association runs industry conferences and member tiers analogous to CMAOntario's R2i Conference and membership program.

Others

• Music Canada: National trade association representing the Canadian music industry's recorded music sector. Useful adjacent peer for understanding the broader music industry association ecosystem CMAOntario operates within, including major label members.
• Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum: Cultural institution dedicated to preserving and interpreting country music history. Comparable to CMAOntario's Ontario Pioneers archival series in mission, though at a much larger institutional scale, and represents a potential future partner or inspiration for heritage programming.

Direct peers

• Canadian Country Music Association: The national Canadian country music industry association. Operates the Canadian Country Music Awards and CCMA Week, running awards, conferences, and industry programming analogous to CMAOntario but at a national scale with broader sponsor reach.

Emerging players

• International Bluegrass Music Association: Trade association for the bluegrass music industry. Operates IBMA World of Bluegrass and the IBMA Bluegrass Music Awards — a comparable genre-specific conference-and-awards model serving a niche segment of the broader roots-country music community.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/theCMAOntario
• Facebookfacebook.com/thecmaontario
• Instagraminstagram.com/theCMAOntario
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/country-music-association-of-ontario

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles4 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Country Music Association of Ontario