At this year’s Canadian Country Music Awards (CCMAs), Spotify highlighted new data showing Canadian country music is gaining traction both at home and abroad—with French-Canadian country leading much of the momentum.
According to Spotify, streams of Canadian country music have risen 64% globally over the past five years, while French-Canadian country music has jumped 280% in the same period. In Canada, streams of French-language country have grown by 286%.
The surge in Quebec’s country scene was recognized with the CCMA’s inaugural Francophone Artist of the Year category, sponsored by Spotify. Nominees Francis Degrandpré, Fred Dionne, Sara Dufour, Vince Lemire, and Salebarbes have each seen worldwide streams on Spotify increase by more than 80% in the past year.
Salebarbes won the Francophone Artist of the Year award, at the awards that took place on Sunday.
“Listening patterns on Spotify reveal sustained gains for Canadian country music, and a marked acceleration in French-Canadian country in the past five years. We’re thrilled that streaming is playing a key role in helping Canadian artists export their music and connect with new fans globally,” Elizabeth Phipps, Artist and Label Partnerships Lead at Spotify Canada, told iPhone in Canada.
Spotify’s data also points to strong regional support. Canadian country sees the highest per-capita streaming in Newfoundland and Labrador, Saskatchewan, and Nova Scotia. For French-Canadian country, Quebec, New Brunswick, and Prince Edward Island lead the way, with additional growth in Ontario and the territories.
Globally, Canadian country is drawing listeners in Australia, Norway, the U.S., New Zealand, and Ireland, while French-Canadian country has found new fans in France, Switzerland, Belgium, Norway, and Sweden.
“At the heart of Canada’s country music story is discovery – and Quebec is a big part of that,” said Phipps. “By mixing tradition with a fresh, modern sound, French-Canadian artists aren’t just joining the genre, they’re playing a key role in bolstering its transformation around the world.”
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What a trip! A Norwegian listens to country music that is coming from Canada and it’s in French.