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Country Music Week Mentorship Program

A text based image with details about the Country Music Week Mentorship Program

Presented by CCMA x Creative Okanagan

The Country Music Week Mentorship Program is a collaborative initiative between the Canadian Country Music Association® (CCMA®) and Creative Okanagan, designed to support the professional development of emerging country artists and up-and-coming country music industry professionals. 

This program connects approved applicants with established industry professionals through tailored mentorship opportunities. Participants will receive personalized guidance, gain access to key events during Country Music Week, and build meaningful industry relationships to help advance their careers.

The program will be promoted through Creative Okanagan’s network and CCMA channels and is open for applications until July 22, 2025. 

Program Overview

  • Each mentor and mentee will be thoughtfully paired.
    Pre-Event:
    • One introductory virtual meeting between mentor and mentee prior to Country Music Week.
    • Mentee will participate in a pre-event session hosted by Creative Okanagan.
  • During Country Music Week (September 10–13, 2025):
    • Mentor and mentee will attend the CCMA Industry Opening Reception together.
    • Mentees will receive access to:
      • CCMA Industry Opening Reception 
      • CCMA Songwriters’ Unplugged Series presented by SOCAN with Apple Music
      • CCMAU Seminar Series Presented by Rogers
      • Country Connects: Industry Networking Roundtables Presented by Rogers
      • Songwriting Workshop
      • Country Connects: Mentorship Lounge presented by Rogers
  • Post-Event:
    • One follow-up meeting between mentor and mentee, arranged by the participants
    • Mentees will complete a brief participant survey to support program evaluation.

Selection Process

Our selection committee will consist of experienced music industry professionals who bring diverse perspectives and backgrounds. They will thoughtfully review each application, evaluating past and current projects as well as your goals for the mentorship program.

Eligibility

  • Open to applicants from across Canada. 
  • Applicants must be Canadian citizens, permanent residents, or legally authorized to work and live in Canada.
  • We welcome and encourage applications from individuals of all backgrounds, experiences, and identities. Our program is designed to be inclusive and accessible to people of all genders, sexual orientations, abilities, and cultural perspectives, with a commitment to fostering a space where everyone feels seen, valued, and supported.
  • Applicants must be 18 years of age or older.
  • If you require accommodations or have accessibility needs, please contact [email protected].

Mentee Commitments

  • Attend a virtual pre-event mentorship session
  • Attend Country Music Week activities as outlined (view the Country Music Week programming schedule HERE).
  • Mentees are expected to book their own meetings and share their goals and questions with the mentors. 
  • Commit to participating in this program and Country Music Week. We understand that mentees may have conflicts, but they are encouraged to take advantage of all that this program has to offer
  • Complete a post-program survey

Apply today!

Deadline: July 22, 2025 at 8:00pm ET

Country Music Week Mentorship Program application

Name(Required)
Email(Required)
Address(Required)
Are you currently a member of the Canadian Country Music AssociationⓇ(Required)

Self-Identifying Questions:

Collecting this information provides an opportunity for the selection committee to consider diversity. Applicants are encouraged to identify the way they are comfortable.
Gender:(Required)

Please indicate your pronouns(Required)

Ethnic Background:(Required)

Sexual Orientation:(Required)

Disabilities:(Required)

Eligibility Confirmation

Confirm you meet the programs eligibility criteria:(Required)

Professional Background

Are you applying as an:(Required)

In approximately 150 words.
In approximately 300 words.
Provide the best link for the selection committee to see your current project/work represented online.
Provide a secondary link for the selection committee to see your current project/work represented online.
(PDF or DOC)
Accepted file types: pdf, doc, Max. file size: 128 MB.

Mentorship Goals

What areas of the music industry are you hoping to learn more about?(Required)
(Check all that apply)
In approximately 200 words.
You can list a type of role: manager, publicist, songwriter, or qualities you’re looking for.

Country Music Week Participation

Have you attended Country Music Week before?(Required)
We're currently exploring potential funding support. Should financial assistance become available, would you like to be considered for needs-based support to attend Country Music Week in Kelowna (Sept 10-13) to help reduce potential barriers to your participation??(Required)
(e.g., travel from other province, accommodations, etc.)
Do you consent to Creative Okanagan and the CCMA’s use of my name, image, and likeness, including photographs and/or video content, for promotional and marketing purposes related to the Country Music Week Mentorship Program and its associated activities, in both print and digital formats, if selected to participate in this program?(Required)

Declaration

Declaration:(Required)
This field is for validation purposes and should be left unchanged.