Our International Adjudicators for
MiMc Music Awards 2024 are experts from
‘around the world’ and are excited to hear your music.
Our Adjudicators will provide mentorship feedback.
These top-notch experts in the industry of
Music Producers, Label Owners, Professional Songwriters and Promoters will provide you with the knowledge you need to fast-track your career.
Meet Our Music Adjudicators
Thomas Wade
Michael Hanson
Cussy Nicodemo
Paul Milner
Don Graham
Michael Williams
Dan McConomy
Alan Roy Scott
Lennart Ostland
Genres: Country, Country Blues, Country Folk, Country Alternative, Blues, Soul, Pop, Jazz
Born and raised in Burford, Ontario, with Haggard and Jones in his
blood, Thomas Wade is a true Canadian county original. Chalking up
3 Juno nominations and 7 CCMA awards, he was a fixture on
Canadian radio and CMT throughout the 90s.
As the lead singer of Thomas Wade & Wayward and as a solo artist,
Thomas’ hits included ‘Lyin’ Here With You’, ‘Zero to Sixty’ and
‘Running Away With You’, bringing an early rock and roll edge to the
country scene, long before such a thing became the norm. An
accomplished songwriter and producer, Thomas wrote for many other
artists too, including Bobby Wills, Beverley Mahood, and Celine
Dion.
His journey has not been a straight line, however. Diagnosed in 2006
with an incurable neurological disease, and unable to sing, he began
to draw on another early influence: the music of Kay Starr, Peggy Lee,
and other 50’s Pop/Jazz artists. Writing for Jazz artists such as Tim
Louis, and putting together a touring review of the great female pop
and jazz artists of all time,The Covergirlz, Thomas has constantly
focused on broadening his musical landscape.
As if that wasn’t plenty of experience, as he began to work toward
healing, he wrote the book, Singing In My Sleep to share the
knowledge he gained in regaining his voice.
Thomas released the album Blue Country Soul in 2017 and
continues to write, produce, and perform.
Michael Hanson was the founder, drummer, songwriter and a pivotal original member of the Capitol EMI Records band GLASS TIGER from 1985 to 1990. He moved on from EMI / Screen Gems and was signed by Warner/Chappell Music Publishing as a staff songwriter in 1990. He has received a number of top music industry awards and accolades worldwide including 5 Juno Awards, a Grammy Nomination, and Gold & Platinum sales globally as well as multiple songwriting awards.
Previously Hanson toured alongside Journey, Tina Turner and the Moody Blues. In the USA alone he has toured and written with a long list of A-listers including John Bettis (Madonna), Sue Siffron & Susan Pomerantz (Cher, Chicago), Brad Buxer (Michael Jackson), Scott Humphries (Rob Zombie).
Now working with and developing new artists (while residing and operating in his LOGIC-based digital studio in Sharon Ontario) he is considered to be among the elite as a renowned, multi-talented Producer / Songwriter / hook specialist in multiple music genres (including pop, rock, R&B, country, folk, alt rock and heavy rock).
Enjoying celebrity status and remaining in the public eye, he has been writing and recording at Altravox Studios for a steady stream of new young artists over 20 years. Hanson is well known for providing pro-level, highly creative musicianship on guitars, drums, bass and piano (as well as programming MIDI with the latest software). The prime directive for Hanson is to be “a vehicle for the artist’s vision” …. to inspire & assist singers to strive for new heights while also arranging uniquely complex contemporary vocal melodies, hooks & harmonies with full artist involvement.
Altravox Studios continues to supply a rare ‘one-stop-shop’ for Songwriting, Recording, Production and additional follow-up on global music release platforms through the newly established Radar Love Records – which offers distribution and guidance in navigating the music business.
“Michael Hanson is one of Canada’s most prolific songwriters” – Kim Mitchell
Genres: Dance, Electronica, EDM, Garage, Grunge, Instrumental, Latin, MOR, New Age, Punk, Rap, Techno, Pop, Soul
Cussy Nicodemo is President and Founder of Dance Plant Records/Les Disque Dance Plant Inc./Cussy Music Publishing, Montreal, Quebec.
Cussy is foremost an artist himself (Fussy Cussy) but he is also an author/composer/arranger and Producer of many songs in the Dance Plant repertoire. He has received accreditation from Dallas Songwriters Association in 1992, Received 2 Gold records with Aquarius & K-Tel for “La Vita” and “Disco Kings” Between 1970-1980 he was televised on “Jeunesse d’Aujoud’hui”, “Feel like Dancing”, “Telethon of Stars”, Much Music, Musique Plus, Dance Party USA, and toured for 3 months at El Festival in Puerto Rico, The Montreal Forum with Santana, El Mocombo and many more.
Cussy (Fussy Cussy) has also opened for “The Village People”, “Santana” and “Mahogany Rush”. He is a member of MCPS, SOCAN and ASCAP.
Cussy has been teaching music for the past 20 years for Commission Scholaire de la Point de I’lle (Adult education).
Genres: Blues, Reggae, Calypso, FUNK, Blue Grass, Rock Pop, Indigenous, Classical
For 40 years Paul has worked in the music industry with credits on over 500 recordings as a freelance record producer/engineer/mixer and mastering engineer.
Paul has worked alongside some of the best names in the music industry, in some of the world’s top recording studios on both major and indie projects. These projects have sold over 21 million copies worldwide with artists such as Eddy Grant, Keith Richards (Rolling Stones), Miki Imai. Glass Tiger, Queensryche, Men Without Hats, Sting, Matt Andersen, Headstones, Anne Murray, Robert Palmer, Rush, Northern Pikes, Randy Waldman Trio, Larry
Norman. Paul’s work has won numerous music industry awards and nominations, Juno’s, gold and platinum certifications in the US, Canada, Europe, UK and Japan, a SOCAN #1 song award, GMA Covenant award several ECMA awards with recordings for Matt Andersen (Blues Recording), The Saddle River Stringband (Bluegrass Recording) and Paper Lions (Pop Recording), countless regional music awards including several ADISQ awards for French projects and Canadian Aboriginal Music awards.
Paul has also run record labels, distributing projects globally, his label TLG The Label Group signed 20 + Artists and distributed to 25 territories. Paul worked in A&R, established his publishing company 30 years ago with international partners.
Genres: PURE COUNTRY
He has recorded in Nashville, Montreal, Quebec, Toronto, Ontario, Austin, Texas and Muscle Shoals, Alabama, travelling regularly to Europe, sharing his music and stories.
Michael has an extensive history in the history of Hip/Hop, Rock and Pop genres and is a much-in-demand panelist and host.
Micheal has worked with many artists, including The Nylons Live to Love, (Juno Nominated), Cirque du Soleil- Algeria (contractor ), Stevie Wonder (edit), Star Search ( Mix), Billy Newton-Davis, LMT Connection (produced, mixed) the R&R Soul Orchestra voice, Jackie Mittoo, Willii Williams, Chris Hall, Arvo Lepp, Herb Alpert, Dougie Richardson, Washington Savage, Club 980 Rap Sessions CKGM Montreal…!
Genres: Hot AC, Pop, R&B, World, Dance, Rock
As a professional songwriter for over 40 years, his songs have been recorded by Celine Dion, Luther Vandross, Notorious B.I.G., Gloria Estefan, Cyndi Lauper, Patti LaBelle, Neville Bros. Roberta Flack, Cher, Jason Gould, El DeBarge, Tiffany, Patti Austin, The Spinners, Rick Springfield, Martika, Oak Ridge Boys, Ricky Martin, Anne Murray, Johnny Mathis, Pointer Sisters, Sheena Easton, Jason Gould, and Ray Charles among many. His work also has been featured in Films and TV shows such as “Top Gun,” “First Wives Club,” “Coming To America,” “Falling Inn Love”(Netflix),” “Redline,” “Karate Kid III,” “Summer School,” “Fame,” “Fame/ LA,” “Sons of Anarchy,” “Oprah’s Next Chapter,” “Cruel Summer (WB),” “Santa Barbara,” “Guiding Light,” “Melrose Place,” & “Beverly Hills 90210” among others. Internationally key releases include Coco Lee, Hannah Boel, Edyta Gorniak, Clouseau, Paul Johnson, Rene Froger, Carola, & Tommy Nilsson.
He has been a private songwriting coach for more than 20 years, and has taught classes and has led workshops and seminars domestically through UCLA Extension, The Songwriting School of Los Angeles, Musician’s Institute, Songu.com, ASCAP, as well as the “Grammy-In-The-Schools” program for the Los Angeles Chapter of NARAS. Internationally, he has taught songwriting and music workshops in Australia (through APRA & ASC), Ireland (through IMRO), Finland through LAFO, and Denmark (through KODA) among others.
Alan attended the prestigious Boston Conservatory of Music majoring in Music Composition. He has won top prizes in the John Lennon Song Contest, The American Song Festival, and numerous awards in International Music Festivals around the world, competing as composer and/or artist, representing the USA.
Genres: Rock, Heavy Metal, Dance, Pop
Dan McConomy is simply a music man. As the story usually goes, with his lifetime love affair with music, magical opportunities have created this global journey
Dan is originally from Montreal, Quebec and is the founder of Bigger Management, located in Paris, France. As a 40+ year music industry veteran, he has garnered experience as a Producer, Manager and Label Owner. His current roster of artists includes Opium Moon, Lili Haydn, Shawn Barry, Laszlo Jones, May Kravitz, Lea Elka, William Close and The Earth Harp Collective, and newcomers Wizard Tree.
McConomy’s first gig was working for his father, Kevin Hunter manager of Natalie Cole, Peter Paul & Mary, Wilson Pickett, Dusty Springfield, The Bells, etc. at New Direction in Los Angeles, California.
Subsequently, he had the golden opportunity to intern at the legendary Muscle Shoals Sound Studios, where he learned the art of recording under the keen eye of Barry Beckett and The Muscle Shoals Rhythm Section in Alabama. This led to working with Jerry Wexler, Barry Beckett, Duck Dunn, Alabama, Frankie Miller, Bob Dylan, Bob Seger, Bonnie Bramlettt, The Oak Ridge Boys, and others where Dan learned to hone his craft as a Producer.
Returning to Los Angeles, he produced and managed such acts as Agent Steel (Combat/Relativity), Zoom Zoom (EMI), Overdose (Fierce), The Doughboys (A&M), Mother’s Army (JVC), and twenty or so other independent and major label recording artists with Exposure Management.
After this, he built Sonic Underground a very successful independent Label/Promotions and Marketing Company with an impressive client and roster that included Dr. Dre (Concrete Roots), Ice T, 2 Live Crew, Black Sabbath, UFO, LA DREAM TEAM, GODHEAD +60 other artists and labels. INDI distribution filed Bankruptcy after 9/11 which forced many labels to close including his as fate have it in 2001.
In 2002, he was called to fly out from Los Angeles for what was to be a six-week DJ replacement for a friend in Paris, France. Dan made a name for himself as a DJ in the City of Love and Lights, mixing 60 to 70 hours a week, and has now become a mainstay on the Parisian scene. Chances, passion, and hard work have led to appearances at the Cannes Film Festival, Bercy Arena in Paris, Queen Club, NYC, Madrid, Ibiza, and acclaimed as one of the top Parisian DJs today under the moniker of THE STEREO FLOW with his musical partner Michael Buyens.
They released an album called READY FOR LOVE and along with remixes for Village People, KC and The Sunshine Band, Lili Haydn, and various other artists. McConomy opened the TSF label with The Orchard after longtime Friend Scott Cohen signed them at MIDEM which has since been bought by Sony.
Dan’s diversified skills of being a DJ (Trance Electro Vocal), Songwriter, Lyricist, Record Producer, Manager and Label Executive now have him continuing all these talents while running Bigger Management in Paris, France, and his most current acquisition is Bigger Management Pictures LLC, (Montreal, Quebec) with a recent release of a movie in France, and future projects in the planning involving sync developments for soundtracks and artists.
Genres: Music Theatre, Opera, Rock
Lennart Ostlund is one of Sweden’s most famous producers, mixers and recording engineers.
Over the years, Lennart has been involved in various recordings with history’s greatest artists such as Led Zeppelin, ABBA, Rammstein, Genesis, Ramones, Europe, Rainbow, Backstreet Boys, Beastie Boys, Celine Dion, Roxette and many, many more.
Lennart started his career at the legendary Polar Studios, which was built especially for ABBA, where he worked for 44 years, Lennart took over Polar Studios from ABBA. Currently, he is continuing to produce at his own Polar Studios, and is in development of West of Mars, a musical theatre production and live performances.
Lennart Ostlund continues to mentor, produce artists, and is involved in songwriting and production of new projects.
Meet Our Road Ready, Press Ready & Grant Ready Adjudicators
Jonas Tancred
Malin Osth
Lisa Nasta
Sandy Graham
Ryan Farley
Malin Osth and Jonas Tancred, Bara Jonson and Free
This duo has been performing for many years as Bara Jonson and Free, with global success in Europe and internationally, having performed at MIDEM in Cannes, France, the largest North American Festival in the world, Summerfest in the USA, and garnering a nomination at Toronto, Canada’s Indie Week as Best International Artists.
Their experiences led them to create Lilla By Festivalen in the South of Sweden to provide opportunities to other artists to showcase on an international level.
Malin Osth has been involved in the music industry for decades, both as an artist and most recently as co-founder and producer of Lilla By Festivalen, a hybrid family festival now entering its fourth year. Malin and Jonas have added a second music festival to their events, with an offshoot of Lilla By Festivalen, Music Days which is usually produced during the year prior to Lilla By Festivalen.
Jonas Tancred, co-founder and producer of Lilla By Festivalen, started his music career in the early 80s as a singer, guitarist, and songwriter and continues to pursue his musical career today.
As adjudicators, they can assist in guiding to make the artists road ready to travel, as their background and empathy will provide vital information to making that experience a success.
Lisa Nasta is a seasoned event manager and programmer. She also coordinates music educational programs and is the Director of Re-Play Music C.I.C; a non-profit community project that donates musical instruments, educates and entertains children, and is a permanent fixture at Kidz Field, Glastonbury Festival.
A master craftsman and luthier, Lisa was the director of the Surrey Strings Music Store in London for 10 years. Her penchant for festival planning and organization found its roots there.
She has been twice nominated for the Green Awards at Merton Borough, and the Re-Play Music Project has won two Music Industry Awards for “Environmental Initiative & Sustainability” from the Music Industry Association of Britain (MIA) & America (NAMM).
Lisa is currently an area coordinator & production manager for Green Futures Field, Glastonbury. Youth Music Coordinator for Kidz Field, Glastonbury. Kids Area Coordinator for Weyfest. Re-Play Music Project coordinator WOMAD.
Sandy Graham has had perhaps one of the most diverse and interesting careers in the Canadian Music Industry.
As the founder, owner, and Editor-In-Chief of Cashbox Canada as well as the founder of Record World International, Sandy has added to her media CV by becoming the founder and owner of Cashbox Radio. Cashbox Radio is a popular online radio station that prides itself in playing the legendary artists right alongside the new indie artists releasing today that features a host of senior dj’s from the Canadian market.
With over close to 40 years in the industry, Sandy Graham has been involved in many various aspects of the music business, and is a true trailblazer as well as a supporter of music and artists.
She began in record retail, followed by holding the position of the 3rd female Music Director in Canada, and was known to break artists such as Shawn Phillips, Murray McLauchlan, Daryl Hall & John Oates, Ian Matthews, Jesse Colin Young amongst others.
She was also one of the first women to be hired by a major label, holding the position of Eastern Promotions Manager for RCA Records in Montreal, Quebec which resulted in working and touring with the aforementioned Daryl Hall & John Oates, KC & the Sunshine Band, Natalie Cole, and Tower of Power.
Sandy Graham has owned various music venues in her career, including the Legendary Horseshoe Tavern, Route 66 and produced shows for The Tall Ships, Starlight Foundation, Toronto Blue Jays Baseball Club, Variety Village, Earth Day 2021 with Tom Jackson.
Aside from currently being a music journalist, musicologist and on air host, Sandy Graham is also a choreographer, having choreographed the first ever halftime show at the SkyDome (Rogers Centre) Toronto’s 60,000 seat domed stadium. She also worked with Atlantis Films as a dance instructor and choreographer (Robocop, Almost Grown, Maniac Mansions-SCTV, David Chase/Sopranos, Joe Flaherty) and continues to teach dance to this day. She was featured in the best-selling book “Still Dancing!” by Canadian author, Pat Beaven, featuring dancers over 60 who currently continue to teach and dance.
Sandy’s current mission is to take up the torch to fight ageism and the long-running gender equality of women in the workforce, and does so now by travelling globally to promote featured artists and music industry icons over the age of 60, who still have much to offer and deliver in expertise and knowledge, as well as creating performance opportunities for older Canadian artists.
Sandy is also currently writing her memoirs about being a woman in the music industry at a very young age, and the experiences, downfalls and opportunities that have helped her to continue to present herself to be relevant in today’s market. Appropriately named, ‘Sky is the Limit’, is due out in 2024.
Ryan Farley, is an entertainment consultant specializing in grant writing and music coordination who founded his company, Hubris Entertainment Inc., in 2022. Serving a wide variety of artists and music businesses he acts as the team member you didn’t know you needed.
He started in the music industry in 2014, acting as a road manager on a cross country hip hop tour. It was there he found the spark that would inspire a new career path and took a deep dive into gaining knowledge about grants, music publishing, copyright law, and sync licensing.
Today he works with artists of all genres and styles. As a grant writer Ryan has helped many artists navigate the funding opportunities available to them, assisting in rece grants from federal, provincial, and regional grant organizations, including FACTOR and Canada Council for the Arts, In 2023 he developed a strategic partnership with Los Angeles based boutique sync & music supervision house A Matter of Music, working both on films in their music departments and as sync agents pitching music for major productions. In 2024 Ryan was invited to join EMG Collectives as their official grant writer.
The Music Adjudication Process
An evaluation of your music creation is a part of the process of going to the next phase with your talent. It is an opportunity to identify areas for improvement and evolve as a musician.
What it means for you…
An opportunity to have your original music adjudicated provides you with written comments and guidance from music industry professionals to develop your talent.
How it happens…
Once you have submitted and paid for your adjudication you will upload your video to our portal where the adjudicators can access it.
The finals…
The adjudicators will adjudicate every entry we receive and as a group will choose the winning finalists.
Our Adjudicators are experienced professionals in the Music industry with the expertise to provide feedback and guidance to inspire and educate.
Integrity, being honest and impartial is a key characteristic of an effective Adjudicator.
The Criteria
The adjudicators will critique, providing an evaluation for each submission based on the following criteria:
Unique Style, Creativity & Originality
Melody & Lyrics (if your song does not have lyrics, only the melody will receive feedback)
Arrangement
Overall likeability
Potential to be a hit!
Industry Ready
Media Ready
Radio Friendly
The work of an adjudicator will inspire and educate singers/songwriters and performers.
Adjudicators will provide written comments with
compliments on your strengths,
constructive criticism of your weaknesses
and recommendations toward correction or action.
The constructive criticism given by adjudicators is valuable feedback that will help you improve your music and be the catalyst for progress and success.
Songwriter Adjudicators are well-connected with Recording Engineers, Music Producers, Recording Artists, and Managers.