Dec. 1 - March 1, 2023
JUDGES
RUTH MCCARTNEY
Ruth is a music industry veteran, communications expert and brand strategist with a strong marketing and entrepreneurial background. Ruth's brainchild is the online Customer / Fan acquisition and retention, tool iFanz® iFanz.com® whose technology has provided online data mgmt., eCRM, & email broadcasting & compliance to LeAnn Rimes, Estate of Tupac Shakur, Roseanne Barr, John Cleese, Chevrolet, Paula Abdul, Edgar Winter, etc. http://www.mccartneystudios.com
SARAH BURKE
Sarah Burke is a Canadian broadcaster, podcast host, producer, and storyteller based in Toronto. She is a host for Indie88 (CIND-FM) in Toronto, the Women in Media Podcast, and formerly SiriusXM. She’s currently chase producer/co-host for the Jann Arden Podcast and the Executive Producer of Don Amero’s Through the Fire Podcast. https://linktr.ee/SarahBurke
SARA KNIGHT
Sara Knight is a licensed booking agent and artist manager, CEO of a boutique booking agency KnightMoves Productions and involved in talent management. She collaborates with artists, venues, sponsors, talent buyers, ticket vendors and PR/social media firms in hosting and marketing a wide range of events. She has worked with national talent at large festivals, private events for charitable causes, and successfully managed all facets of event planning and production. http://www.knightmovespro.com
KAREN BLISS
Toronto’s Karen Bliss has been the Canadian correspondent for Billboard for over a decade and a freelance music journalist since her teens. Her work has appeared in Variety, Rolling Stone, Pollstar, Melody Maker, NME, Time, and dozens more. She has interviewed thousands of artists, including Kurt Cobain, Eminem, Eddie Vedder, Lauryn Hill, Robert Plant, Jimmy Page, Justin Timberlake, Beyoncé, Ed Sheeran, Shania Twain, Shawn Mendes, Michael Bublé, Britney Spears, Metallica, and Gwen Stefani. Among her other ventures, she co-authored the book Music From Far and Wide: Celebrating 40 Years of the JUNO Awards. Karen was also a co-producer, researcher and interviewer on the documentary Chasing Fortune, about former INXS frontman JD Fortune.
BRENT BACKHUS (SONG AND VIDEO JUROR)
Recording engineer for Solomon Burke, The Whispers, John Lee Hooker. Also video production clients include Sheryl Crow Live At The Capitol Theatre (Winner Best Performance Blu-Ray 2019), Jane's Addiction (Concert Video), George Harrison Foundation (film), The Pretenders With Friends (Concert Video). Companies: Group 4, Cleopatra Entertainment & Rock Fuel Media.
DAVID EATON
Record Producer/Engineer - Dynamite Hack, The Polyphonic Spree, All The Apparatus, Crackout, Slammin' Gladys, Engineer for Maureen McCormick, Jean-Luc Ponty, Kenny Wayne Shepherd, & Archivist for Warner/ Elektra/Atlantic Record distribution. Los Angeles, CA.
DIANA WILLIAMSON
Writer of 2 x #3 Billboard hot club chart songs, over 50 cuts in film/TV. Produced one of the Temptations. Los Angeles Music Awards "Female Songwriter of the Year."Writer of "101 Tips and Tricks of Successful Songwriting. DJ at Acoustic Gold Radio, 4680Q.ca, CEO Themusiclibrary.org http://www.themusiclibrary.org
