The Urban Music Association of Canada (UMAC) is a Canadian non-profit[1] organization focused on showcasing and expanding Canadian urban music established in 1996. UMAC offers a variety of service such as workshops, tours and also hosts the Canadian Urban Music Awards.[2] Its president is Trevor Shelton.[3]
History
UMAC was established in 1996 to promote urban music in Canada.[4] It has chosen an Artist of the Year every year since its establishment, a distinction that has been described as "prestigious" by MTV.[5]
Canadian Urban Music Awards
The UMAC created its annual Canadian Urban Music Awards in 1998[1] "to garner more attention for the country's growing urban-music scene."[6] In 2004, the awards covered 24 categories including soca, gospel, jazz and spoken word.[1] The awards have also been known as Urban X-posure awards.[6]
