COUNTRY SENSATION DEAN BRODY HELPS CELEBRATE MUSICOUNTS BAND AID GRANTS IN NOVA SCOTIA HALIFAX, NS, MARCH 8, 2013 – The celebrations continue for MusiCounts as they visit the East Coast to celebrate Band Aid Grants awarded to schools in Nova Scotia. This afternoon, $25,000 worth of musical instruments were presented to Prospect Road Elementary School (Halifax), Musquodoboit Rural High School (Middle Musquodoboit), and Uniacke District School (Mount Uniacke), in an event that took place at Kenneth C. Rowe Heritage Hall at Pier 21 in Halifax. The event also recognized MusiCounts’ partnership with the Canadian Country Music Association and their recent announcement that the CCMA Awards will be coming to Halifax in 2015. "The CCMA is proud to be a part of the MusiCounts legacy in Halifax and engaging hundreds of young people with the gift of music,” said Don Green, President, CCMA. “We are thrilled to be celebrating Country Music Week and the CCMA Awards in this vibrant city in 2015!" After coming off his sold out national tour, two-time JUNO Award nominee and six-time CCMA Awards winner, Dean Brody took part in the event. Dean performed his hit singles Bob Marley and Canadian Girls and spoke to the audience about the powerful influence music has had on his life. Scott Long, Executive Director, Music Nova Scotia, announced that they will provide a $5,000 investment to the Band Aid Grants program to be matched by MusiCounts for the purchase of music equipment for a school or schools in need in the South Shore Region of Nova Scotia next year. “Music Nova Scotia believes that support for music education and training in our schools and communities is critical for the future development of our industry,” Scott Long was quoted as saying. “The creative industries are the future of our economic development in the post-industrial era.” A total of $100,000 will be awarded through the Band Aid Grants in Nova Scotia, Prince Edward Island, New Brunswick and Newfoundland & Labrador this year alone, impacting 13 school communities. Since inception, MusiCounts has awarded over $850,000 in Band Aid Grants and Scholarships to help support music education in the Atlantic provinces. MusiCounts’ impact nationally also continues to increase. This past February, it was announced that an exceptional milestone was reached and that this year $1,000,000 dollars will be awarded to support music education programs across the country. “This is a major milestone for MusiCounts, one that has been 16 years in the making,” said Allan Reid, Director of MusiCounts. “Every student deserves the opportunity to play an instrument, to create music, to pursue their dreams and maybe even someday win an ECMA, a CCMA or even a JUNO!” The Band Aid Grants impact young Canadians and support a diverse array of music programs, impacting students in grades ranging from kindergarten to grade 12, in urban, rural, remote and First Nations communities from coast to coast. Grant recipients are selected based on economic need, inventory and condition of instruments, number of students, dedication of school staff and the overall impact of the grant would make within the school community. About Dean Brody Currently nominated for Country Album of the Year at the 2013 JUNO Awards, Brody has been honoured with the 2012 CCMA Award for Male Artist of the Year and received the award for Album of the Year (Trail In Life and Dirt) at the CCMA Awards in 2011 and 2012. His third album, Dirt, released in April 2012, debuted at #1 on the iTunes Canadian Country chart and continues to rank in the Top 20. Brody set out on his headlining, The Dirt Tour, this past winter playing to sold-out crowds across the country. With over 100,000 digital singles sales from Dirt and named the #1 Most Played Canadian Country Artist at radio in both 2011 and 2012, Brody has charted ten Top 10 singles including the Gold-selling #1 hit “Canadian Girls,” #2 song "Bob Marley" and newly certified Gold single “It’s Friday” featuring Great Big Sea. He has won six CCMA Awards, earned 17 CCMA Award nominations, two JUNO Award nominations and four of his videos have reached #1 on CMT’s Top 20 Countdown. The success of Dirt has brought Brody to the forefront of audiences; being featured on Degrassi - The Next Generation, performing at CBC's Fall Season Preview, CBC's Stampede 100! and appearing on the covers of Canadian Musician, SOCAN's Words + Music, Verb News and more. Website: www.deanbrody.com Twitter: @deanbrody Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/deanbrody About the Canadian Country Music Association (CCMA) Since 1976, the CCMA has been committed to ensuring the growth of Canadian country music through education, communication, information, promotion and recognition. Core to the organization’s efforts is Country Music Week – an annual event that heightens awareness and increases exposure for Canada's country artists. The culmination of Country Music Week is the Canadian Country Music Association Awards, celebrating country music and the artists that represent Canada’s unique culture. For more information, please visit: www.ccma.org About MusiCounts MusiCounts, Canada’s music education charity associated with The Canadian Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences (CARAS) and the Canadian Country Music Association (CCMA) is helping to keep music alive in schools across Canada. MusiCounts’ mission is to ensure that children in Canada, regardless of socio-economic circumstances or cultural background, have access to music programs through their schools. MusiCounts includes Band Aid musical instrument grants, the MusiCounts Teacher of the Year Award, Scholarships and other music education initiatives. MusiCounts is funded by various initiatives such as the JUNO Awards nominee compilation CD; annual contributions by Bell Media; Astral Media; TD; SiriusXM Canada; the Slaight Family Foundation; Music Canada, Vista Radio, House of Marley, IA Clarington, Morningstar Canada and supported since inception by Sony Music Entertainment Canada Inc.; Universal Music Canada and Warner Music Canada Ltd.; along with JUNO Songwriters’ Circle presented by SOCAN and eOne as well as JUNO Cup. Since the Program’s establishment in 1997, over $6,000,000 will have been awarded impacting 286 post secondary music program graduates and an estimated 520,000 students, their schools and communities, from coast to coast. MusiCounts will have also honoured 8 extraordinary music teachers through the MusiCounts Teacher of the Year Award. For more information, please visit: www.musicounts.ca -30- For more information please contact: Indoor Recess Inc. Joanne Setterington – ph. 416.884.4119 / e. [email protected] .