ole Founder Robert Ott to Receive CCMA International Award

Robert Ott (L) and Gord Bamford

Robert Ott, co-founder, Chairman and CEO of ole, one of the world’s largest indie music publishers, will receive the CCMA’s Leonard T. Rambeau International Award for 2015. The award recognizes an individual who has demonstrated extraordinary effort in helping the Canadian country music industry achieve its aims and initiatives internationally. Ott will receive the award during a private event held during Country Music Week Sept. 10-13 in Halifax, Nova Scotia. 

“Robert Ott’s persistence and devotion to the acts he has worked with, along with his forward-thinking approach to music publishing, has benefited Canadian artists by putting them on a global scale and offering them new opportunities,” said Chair of the CCMA Board of Directors, Brian Hetherman. “His ability to innovate the music publishing model, along with his passion for the business of music, has built one of Canada’s most enduring companies. Robert’s long-time support not only of Canadian country music, but also the CCMA, is undeniable. He is an exceptionally worthy recipient of this CCMA Award of Achievement.”

Ott founded ole in 2004 and has operations in Toronto, Nashville, New York, and Los Angeles, and the company includes a team of over 100 industry professionals focused on acquisitions, creative development and worldwide rights management. Before founding ole in 2004, Ott led BMG Music Publishing Canada for seven years.

“I am very honored by this recognition from my colleagues and peers in the CCMA,” said Ott. “As Canadians, we have to take our aspirations to the world in a unique way in order to be heard.  That’s what makes Canadian talent so special. I look forward to many more years of supporting the CCMA and Canadian Country Music around the globe.”

Through ole, Ott has concluded over $450 million in acquisitions and controls a catalogue of over 45,000 songs and 60,000 hours of TV/film music across all genres. The company has over 100 staff writers, and has had a hand in over 230 Canadian cuts and over 46 Canadian singles since 2013. ole’s Canadian roster includes Gord Bamford and George Canyon. The company has won the CCMA Award for Music Publishing Company of the Year for eight consecutive years (2007 – 2014), and is nominated again this year. ole and ole current and past songwriters received a total of 16 nominations at the CCMA Awards.