SaskMusic

Canadian Songwriting Challenge 2017: Saskatchewan Edition

Presented by SaskMusic, in partnership with the Canadian Council of Music Industry Associations (CCMIA) and Bell Media

We're gearing up for a huge weekend ahead, with our Bell Media Canadian Songwriting Challenge starting Friday evening June 9! Nine participants will be grouped up for a weekend of co-writing and recording under the direction of acclaimed songwriter/producer, Justin Gray. Congratulations to James Gates, Tyler Gilbert, Lyn Besse McGinnis, Levi Soulodre, Scott Anthony Andrews, Gabrielle Giroux, Luke Rossmo, Alexandra Barabe and Sally Meadows who are our 2017 participants. Although they have already been selected by jury, we'd still like to open some of the weekend to you fine folks!

FREE Saturday June 10 Songwriting Seminars

Saturday, June 10 you are invited to take part in a morning of FREE songwriting activities taking place at The Recording Arts Institute of Saskatoon (RAIS). From 9:30-10:45am, Justin will lead a discussion on the Anatomy of a Hit Song. Having collaborated with a diverse range of artists including Mariah Carey, John Legend, Joss Stone, Amy Winehouse, James Bay, and Reignwolf, this is a session you don't want to miss! We'll take a short coffee break and move into a Skype Session with world-renowned industry experts, taking place from 11am-12pm, with time for Q&A afterwards.

Everyone is welcome to join us for these exciting Saturday sessions, but please RSVP to info@saskmusic.org so we know how many of you to expect! We're SO looking forward to it.

The Canadian Songwriter Challenge is a multi-year partnership between the Canadian Council of Music Industry Associations (CCMIA) and Bell Media. 

Justin Gray is a Canadian-born, Los Angeles-based songwriter, record producer, music executive and tech entrepreneur. Over the past 12 years, Justin’s projects have sold in excess of 25 million copies worldwide, and he has collaborated with a diverse range of artists including Mariah Carey, John Legend, David Bisbal, Luis Fonsi, Joss Stone, Amy Winehouse, James Bay, and Reignwolf. 

Anticipated releases for 2017 include singles by multi-platinum artist Mr. Probz, internationally renowned DJ Benny Bennassi, and brand new collaborations with Sublime with Rome, Dirty Heads, and Jaafar Jackson. You can also hear "Say Hey!" performed by his band Black & Gray as the soundtrack to Zaxby's Restaurants 2017 advertising campaign.

In 2016, Justin 's song "That's All I Need" performed by Dirty Heads was the most added song at Alternative radio for 4 consecutive weeks starting in May 2016. The Dirty Heads album went #1 on the iTunes Alternative Album Chart, and #2 all formats during the week of July 15, 2016.  

Justin has also collaborated with major brands such as Mercedes Benz, Nissan, Budweiser, Disney, ABC Television, AT&T, LG, KFC, MTV and Chevrolet.  

His extensive film and TV work includes: Oz The Great and Powerful, Sisters, Spy, Letters To Juliet, Beverly Hills Chihuahua, Legally Blondes, Soulplane, Bounce, Hannah Montana, Beverly Hills 90210, Modern Family, Las Vegas, and America’s Funniest Home Videos. Most recently, music supervising the Lifetime Channel's medical based reality program, “Life Flight." Justin has won a Genie Award for “Best Song in A Motion Picture,” as well as a prestigious Canadian Radio Music Award for “Songwriter of the Year.” 

Plans for 2017 include identifying, signing and developing talent through his various publishing and production ventures, as well as continuing to collaborate with world-class songwriters, producers and artists. Justin is the founder and Chairman of songistry.com, a "Global social platform for songwriters and Music Professionals" recently launched.

Justin is proud to be published by BMG Chrysalis/Boardwalk.