Sunday, March 5, 2000

By ANDREW FLYNN

Canadian Press

TORONTO -- The Canadian radio industry named Tal Bachman as its most accomplished rookie Saturday, handing him three awards for airplay in 1999.

Bachman, the son of legendary rock guitarist Randy Bachman, took Canadian Radio Music Awards for best new rock solo artist, best new pop adult solo artist and best new contemporary hit radio artist.

"Thank you very much, especially to radio for playing me," Bachman told the crowd after accepting his third award. "I really didn't expect this."

Bachman's self-titled debut album produced the hit single She's So High last year and also earned him four Juno award nominations.

Hosted by Newfoundland singer Kim Stockwood, the third annual radio awards were handed out during an informal private industry luncheon at a downtown hotel.

Michael McCabe, president of the Canadian Association of Broadcasters, praised the awards for recognizing Canadian newcomers.

"Radio needs all the new stars it can get," he said.

Honouring the best new talent to make it to Canadian airwaves in 1999, the show featured nominee performances by pop singers Patria and Kayle, rap/R&B group 7N7, teenage rockers Serial Joe, country singer Tara Lynn Hart and singer-songwriter Gordie Sampson.

Serial Joe, from Toronto, were named best new rock group while best new pop adult group went to the Quebec and Ontario-based Len.

Hart won best new country artist, while best new dance/urban artist went to Toronto's Boomtang Boys.

"I just want to thank Tal Bachman for wearing a path in the carpet up here," Hart quipped in accepting her award.

Gilles Goddard, Richard Giles and Tim Nichols took the SOCAN songwriter award for I Want A Man, recorded by country trio Lace.

The breakthrough award, presented by music funding organization FACTOR, went to Montreal's See Spot Run.

The chart topper award, for the new or established artist who had the most radio airplay in 1998 went to country singer Shania Twain for the second year in a row.

Nominees for the awards, held in conjunction with the Canadian music industry's annual conference, were selected based on the number of times their material was played on radio stations across the country.

Votes to select winners were cast by private radio music directors, program directors and on-air personalities.