CCMA NAMES REGINA AS 2007 HOST CITY

Released on March 16, 2006

The Canadian Country Music Association announced today that Regina, Saskatchewan will be the host city of 2007 Country Music Week, along with the CCMA Awards.

Today's announcement was made in the City of Regina by the CCMA's Chair of the Board of Directors Heather Ostertag, who added she was delighted to be able to award the event to a city so obviously enthusiastic about having Country Music Week in its community. "The decision to award the 2007 event to Regina was the result of a very compelling submission by the Regina Host Committee and its province-wide team of supporters," Ostertag said.

For 30 years the Canadian Country Music Association has marked each September with Country Music Week, a four day conference and celebration culminating in the CCMA Awards (established in 1983). Country Music Week is one of the largest music events in Canada each year and in 2007 will take place from September 7th to 10th. It has not been held in the City of Regina since the years 1978 and 1983.

"Country music has long been a part of Saskatchewan's musical mosaic. From award winning television series, to Juno nominated entertainers, to legends in the Canadian Country Music Hall of Fame, Saskatchewan has contributed generously to this wonderful art form," Premier Lorne Calvert said. "It is music about the land and the people - real stories brought to life by writers, producers and performers. In a very real sense, every week is Country Music Week in Saskatchewan, so we are excited about the opportunity to host Canadian Country Music Week. The province is ready to welcome the best and the brighest in Canadian country music to our province in 2007."

"Our citizens have demonstrated this city's ability to host top notch events again and again," Regina Mayor Pat Fiacco said. "From the Grey Cup and the Jeux du Canada Summer Games to the Tim Horton's Brier, we know how to make the rest of the country feel welcome and a part of this community. Now as we get set to host the 2007 Canadian Country Music Awards and Country Music Week, Reginans will roll out the welcome mat and put on an event to be remembered."

Country Music Week Regina 2007 will be held September 7th to 10th, offering a variety of events for both the community and industry attendees throughout, culminating with the internationally televised CCMA Awards on September 10th.

For 2008, the CCMA will release to interested communities the 2008 Country Music Week Bid Document later this Spring.

About the CCMA:

The CCMA is the only national voice in Canada solely dedicated to the growth and development of the evolving genre of Canadian country music. For three decades as one of Canada's main advocates for country, the CCMA has become a trusted partner of the industry, a platform for artists, and Canada's most active trade organization aggressively working to keep country music front and centre. The CCMA is a non profit trade association working to ensure the preservation of this wide ranging music genre unique to Canada, to the enactment of laws favourable to the industry, and to exploring new avenues for its continued growth.

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For More Information, Contact:

Brandi Mills CCMA Toronto Phone: (416) 947-1331 Email: Ext 211	J.P. Ellson Saskatchewan Creative Music 2007 Inc. Regina Cell: (306) 535-6753
Lisa Wilson-Sturm City of Regina Regina Phone: (306) 777-7486	Jay Branch Media Services Regina Phone: (306) 787-6349