Nickelback, Karl Wolf lead race for radio airplay awards

Blockbuster rock group Nickelback and pop singer Karl Wolf,who were among the acts heard most often on Canadian radio last year, lead the nominees for the 13th annual Canadian Radio Music Awards.

Nickelback nabbed three nominations, including fans' choice. The award-winning band garnered two nods for song of the year (for If Today Was Your Last Day and Gotta Be Somebody).

Also in contention for song of the year are Sunglasses (Divine Brown), Not Meant To Be (Theory of a Deadman) and Tug of War (Carly Rae Jepsen)

Lebanese-Canadian performer Karl Wolf, who incorporates an international flavour into his R&B, soul and dance-inspired pop music, also snagged a trio of nominations. He is a fan's choice contender while his remake of the 1980s song Africa will compete in two categories.

Ontario alt-rockers Midway State, Edmonton pop band Stereos, Nova Scotia rapper Classified and Toronto rapper-singer Drake are among a host of others who scored a pair of nominations.

Held during Canadian Music Week, the awards celebrate the newly released songs that achieved the most "spins" on Canadian radio stations during the past year, as recorded by Nielsen Broadcast Data Systems.

Radio industry representatives, including music directors, program directors and on-air personalities, vote for the majority of the winners.

Public vote determines the recipient of the fans' choice title, with Hedley, Marianas Trench, State of Shock and Theory of a Deadman competing against Nickelback and Karl Wolf.

Organizers also present two non-voting awards: the Chart Topper Award for the individual or group that achieved the top airplay and Breakthrough Artist for top airplay by a new act receiving support from FACTOR, the Foundation to Assist Canadian Talent on Records.

The winners will be announced March 12 at a gala luncheon in Toronto during Canadian Music Week 2010.

The event will include performances by nominees Stereos, The New Cities, Arkells and Dean Broady, as well as a tribute to the latest inductees into the Canadian Music and Broadcast Industry Hall of Fame: 1980s new wave band Platinum Blonde and radio executive Rob Braide.