Media for social change

Canadian Music Week=For the Creative by the Creative...2

Posted in CitizenShift by tynesha
March 16, 2010

2010 crystal winners

The Radio Marketing Bureau’s crystal awards 2010 was the place to be.

representing the best practices in the broadcast and advertising industries. The RMB presents Canada’s most prestigious competition for excellence in radio advertising, honoring radio stations and agencies with the following merits.

RMB Crystal Awards…

• Honour outstanding achievement in agency and station creative from across Canada
• Showcase innovation
• Celebrate creative from a broad range of industry sectors

This event was a fully catered-sit-down formal award show. In addition to various honorable mentions there were gold, silver and gold awards given in almost each category(11 to be exact). Categories ranged from “Best entry from a small market, Public Service Announcement, Creative use of Sound/Music, Station campaign and Agency campaign”. A total of 46 awards were announced making it a night to remember.

The Crystals were not the only ones however paying homage to the awesome benefits and fruits of the radio industry. The Canadian RAdio Music Awards also had a lot to celebrate. Taking place at the Fairmont Royal York Hotel in Toronto as part of Canadian Music Week 2010, featuring performances by nominees Karl Wolf, Stereos, The New Cities, Arkells and Dean Brody.

The place was packed with all the presenters, guests, and hopeful nominees as listed below:

And the nominees are…

MAINSTREAM ADULT CONTEMPORARY
DALA - LEVI BLU
KARL WOLF - AFRICA
MELANIE FIONA - GIVE IT TO ME RIGHT
NADJA - HOUND DOG
THEO TAMS - SING

BEST NEW GROUP/SOLO ARTIST OF THE YEAR (HOT ADULT CONTEMPORARY)
KARL WOLF - AFRICA
THE LATENCY - TONIGHT I LOVE YOU
MIDWAY STATE - NEVER AGAIN
STEREOS - SUMMER GIRL
THE NEW CITIES - DEAD END COUNTDOWN

ROCK
ARKELLS - OH, THE BOSS IS COMING
METRIC - HELP I’M ALIVE
MOTHER MOTHER - BODY OF YEARS
THE ENDING - FREAKSHOW
VEER UNION - SEASONS

BEST NEW GROUP/SOLO ARTIST OF THE YEAR (CONTEMPORARY HIT RADIO)
CLASSIFIED - ANYBODY LISTENING
DRAKE - BEST I EVER HAD
MIDWAY STATE - NEVER AGAIN
STEREOS - SUMMER GIRL
THE NEW CITIES - DEAD END COUNTDOWN

DANCE/URBAN/RHYTHMIC
CLASSIFIED - ANYBODY LISTENING
DOMAN & GOODING – RUNNIN’
DRAKE - BEST I EVER HAD
EMMALYN ESTRADA – GET DOWN
MELANIE FIONA – GIVE IT TO ME RIGHT

COUNTRY
DARREN MCGINNIS - MORE THAN ME
DEAN BRODY - BROTHERS
ONE MORE GIRL - I CAN LOVE ANYONE
STEVEN LEE OLSEN - NOW
VICTORIA BANKS - THE WHEEL

SOCAN SONG OF THE YEAR
CHAD KROEGER
IF TODAY WAS YOUR LAST DAY
Recorded by NICKELBACK

CHAD KROEGER, RYAN PEAKE, JOE MOI
GOTTA BE SOMEBODY
Recorded by NICKELBACK

DIVINE BROWN, SLAKAH THE BEATCHILD, NELLY FURTADO, COREY HART
SUNGLASSES
Recorded by DIVINE BROWN

TYLER CONNOLLY, DEAN BACK, DAVE BRENNER, KARA DIOGUARDI
NOT MEANT TO BE
Recorded by THEORY OF A DEADMAN

CARLY RAE JEPSEN, RYAN STEWART
TUG OF WAR
Recorded by Carly Rae Jepsen

FANS’ CHOICE
HEDLEY
KARL WOLF
MARIANAS TRENCH
NICKELBACK
STATE OF SHOCK
THEORY OF A DEADMAN

Though so many great artists were present, only a select few could walk away with an award. Hedley proudley accepted the Fan’s choice award, Karl Wolf was given the HOT AC award as best New Solo artist of the year, whereas the Stereos after giving a high-energy performance on stage mounted it again to receive the CHR Best New Group of the Year.

The night was dedicated to awarding up and coming groups and solo artists, but ended it’s merits by recognizing Platinum Blonde and Rob Braide for receiving a Lifetime Achievement Award to commemorating their induction into the Canadian Music and Broadcast Industry Hall of Fame.

A remarkable night for the artists, the nominees, the winners and even the staff and volunteers putting the show together can attests of how great and spectacular it was. As a volunteer I can say it all worked out well because everyone was in unity, celebrating each others achievements.

There are two artists who both presented for these awards but they themselves did not receive an award or trophy of their own, but their great attitude, personalities and humble-hearted souls and well-excercised sportmanship merits a note or two on ewhat they do and why they do it.

Stary tuned for much much more as I share how the Canadian Music Week closed its long list of events and seminars with the celebration of the Indie Awards, which I have Yet to discuss …

GO Canada, GO Musicians, Go Canadian Music Week !

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Now and Then

Posted in Adventures in Outreach by chanda
March 9, 2010

Now: I’ve been in a reflective mood lately. I think that often happens when one is going through some sort of transition. And I am. Several.

I’m six months pregnant. Here’s a picture of the little guy:

But I’m also going through a transition of another kind. Read more.

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Not such a good morning . . .

Posted in Good Morning Afghanistan by ariel
February 26, 2010

Shar-e-Naw street, across from the Safi Landmark building, is scented with pine. Branches litter the street under the tall pine trees that grow at the edge of the park. The street is crowded with curious onlookers, watching the armed guards clean the glass from the entrance to the mall, as cars drive past over a downed police line. This morning’s bombing shook me from my bed around 6:20. As in the past, I rolled off my bed away from my shattered window thinking “how close was it this time”. Gunshots and more explosions quickly followed. It was hours before they slowed down, and hours more before they stopped. I walked out to the courtyard to speak to the guards. They showed me a twisted piece of metal from a car door that had landed in courtyard, blown there from the morning’s first suicide bombing. Black and shiny with rain, it looked vaguely like a dead crow. The fighting was just down the street. I found this time I had no desire to venture out for a photograph or a quick look. I went back to bed. Though one side of my room was now open to the cool air, I didn’t bother to light the sawdust heater. With the curtains closed, I pulled the blankets over my head and fell asleep. When I ventured out, hours later, the streets were crowded. The scene after a bombing is surreal, everything changed, people walking the middle of the street as though a festival were underway. I followed the crowd to the blast area, shattered glass everywhere. Kabul’s window sellers will do a lively trade. For days there will be panes of glass moving down every street on the backs of pickup trucks and balanced precariously on bicycles. At the local grocery, all the shop boys were busy picking up glass and righting shelves. I got a laugh, then a shrug (”why not?”) when I asked if I could buy groceries. I found only dollars in my wallet but the calculator wouldn’t work.  I wondered if something inside it had snapped in the blast.  I settled for an estimated afghani to dollar conversion, not caring that it was a little on the high side. Back at home the power had come to life, so I finally got around to reading the news. 17 dead. Every article crowded with comments. Armchair pundits weighing in with delight, indignation, disgust. I’ve reached the conclusion that it’s easier to comment the further away you are. Nobody in the street was talking politics.

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Bye bye Bombay?

Posted in Women Boxers In India: With This Ring by anna
February 27, 2010

Photo from the Times of India

Looks like Mary Kom is moving on and moving up.

As reported in the Times of India, she is looking for a new coach. Her top pick is Irishman Peter Taylor, who coaches his world champion daughter, the unbelievable Katie Taylor (whom we interviewed in Delhi in 2006).

Mary has had discussions with Taylor and wants to work with him to improve her game for the London 2012 Olympics.

She is also one of 15 athletes hand-picked for the Olympic Gold Quest, a non-profit organization which supports Indian athletes with the potential to win big in London. Fellow boxer Usha is also on the roster.

The OGQ press release quoted Mary as saying, “I know that I can now concentrate fully on my training and preparations for the Olympics without have to worry about money, medical support, nutrition and proper facilities.”

Having spent 10 weeks with the team at boxing camps, we can vouch for the fact that conditions are very difficult for the team (intermittent electricity and running water, unbalanced meals, and cramped conditions).

Mary is no stranger to controversy. In October, she spoke out about substandard accommodations for the team at the Indian national championships.

“It is really upsetting,” she said at the time. “I am really shocked at the treatment particularly when I was recently been honoured with country’s highest sports award, Rajiv Gandhi Khel Ratna.”

It’s hard to say what this will mean for dynamics the Indian national team, who could be losing their star boxer.

Mary also has her sights set on the Commonwealth Games in Delhi which run Oct. 3 to 14.

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Interview with director of "I Love Hip Hop in Morocco"

Posted in Videoblog FNC by annie
October 22, 2007

I missed Joshua by a day when he was actually in Montreal presenting his first feature film, I Love Hip Hop in Morocco, but after seeing his film, I knew I wanted to speak with him regardless. The film gave me goosebumps. I was sitting on the edge of my seat most of the way through, wishing there was other people in the audience that i could join in throwing my hands in the air, bopping my head, that sort of thing. The drive and determination of these kids, doing their thing, philosophizing about the world around them is truly inspirational. This film certainly gives you a genuine glimpse into this incredibly creative and tight community affair.

Josh on the making of the film

Josh on Fati, the only female MC in the film. Her story is remarkable.

Josh on the Hip Hop movement

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