THE CANADIAN MUSIC INDUSTRY AWARDS GENERAL INFORMATION

The winners of the Canadian Music Industry Awards are chosen by the combined votes of registered Canadian music industry professionals. The winners are not chosen by fans, or by a panel of judges, but by their own peers.

Canadian Music Week will present 28 awards, not including the special presentations to the annual inductees into the Canadian Music Industry Hall of Fame. Only one award will be presented in each category.

There must be a minimum of five (5) nominees in each category in order for that category to remain on the ballot for the current year. If there are less than five (5) nominees, the category may be put on hiatus for the current year only.

All nominees must have been active during the eligibility period. The eligibility period for all awards categories will run from November 1, 2003 to October 31, 2004.

Participation in balloting is limited to registered professionals in the Canadian Music Industry. Registered voters will receive an email containing the website link and a random password that will allow them to cast their vote, one time only, via an electronic ballot.

Voting rules are subject to change without notice.

SELECTION PROCEDURES

NOMINATIONS

National selection juries comprised of no less than 15 professionals from the retail, recording & live sectors nominate five contenders in each category. The top seven (7) contenders receiving the most nominations in each category will appear on the voting ballot.

VOTING BALLOT

Once the Nominees are determined, each eligible voter may vote for ONE and ONLY ONE Nominee in each category. The Nominee receiving the most votes in each category will be announced as the winner at the annual Canadian Music Week Industry Awards presentation.

ADJUDICATION

All electronic ballots will be returned to the independent accounting firm Bearing Point for final tabulation. The results of the voting process are protected until the annual Canadian Music Week Industry Awards presentation.

THE INDUSTRY AWARDS

These Awards are presented to honour individuals and organizations that have made a significant contribution to the Canadian music industry in the past year.

BROADCAST

Award 1 • MUSIC DIRECTOR OF THE YEAR (SECONDARY MARKET)
Award 2 • MUSIC DIRECTOR OF THE YEAR (MAJOR MARKET)
Award 3 • PROGRAM DIRECTOR OF THE YEAR (SECONDARY MARKET)
Award 4 • PROGRAM DIRECTOR OF THE YEAR (MAJOR MARKET)
Award 5 • ON-AIR TALENT OF THE YEAR
Award 6 • STATION OF THE YEAR (SECONDARY MARKET)
Award 7 • STATION OF THE YEAR (COUNTRY)
Award 8 • STATION OF THE YEAR (CHR)
Award 9 • STATION OF THE YEAR (AC)
Award 10 • STATION OF THE YEAR (ROCK)
Award 11 • STATION OF THE YEAR (MULTICULTURAL)
Award 12 • STATION OF THE YEAR (NEWS/TALK/SPORTS)
Award 13 • PROMOTION OF THE YEAR (this award is presented at the "Promotion Panel" during Canadian Music Week).

LIVE TOURING

Award 14 • PEFORMING ARTS CENTRE OF THE YEAR
Award 15 • MAJOR FACILITY OF THE YEAR
Award 16 • MANAGEMENT COMPANY OF THE YEAR
Award 17 • BOOKING AGENCY OF THE YEAR
Award 18 • PROMOTER OF THE YEAR

RETAIL

Award 19 • INDEPENDENT RECORD STORE OF THE YEAR
Award 20 • RACK JOBBER OF THE YEAR
Award 21 • MASS MERCHANT/SPECIALTY RETAILER OF THE YEAR
Award 22 • RETAIL CHAIN OF THE YEAR

RECORDING INDUSTRY

Award 23 • RECORDING STUDIO OF THE YEAR
Award 24 • CANADIAN INDEPENDENT LABEL OF THE YEAR
Award 25 • INDEPENDENT DISTRIBUTOR OF THE YEAR
Award 26 • MUSIC PUBLISHER OF THE YEAR
Award 27 • MAJOR LABEL OF THE YEAR
Award 28 • CANADIAN TALENT DEVELOPMENT STORY OF THE YEAR

The following categories are non-voting categories.

INDUSTRY HALL OF FAME

This award recognizes the individual who has contributed their talents behind the scenes to promote and advance Canadian artists domestically or abroad. Inductees are determined by a panel of judges comprised of Canadian music industry professionals. The recipient must be a Canadian citizen or landed immigrant. One Award or two Awards may be presented.

BDS CUTTING EDGE AWARD

Awarded to the station that was first to add the most Canadian charted songs during the eligibillity period.

NIELSEN SOUNDSCAN CANADIAN AWARD

Awarded to the label/distributor with the most Canadian artists appearing in the weekly top 50 album charts during the eligibility period.