TORONTO – Evanov Radio Group’s Carmela Laurignano has been named this year’s recipient of the Rosalie Award, as part of Canadian Music Week next month.
Named in honour of Rosalie Trombley, renowned music director at Windsor-Detroit Top 40 powerhouse CKLW-AM "The Big 8", the Rosalie Award was established in 2005 to recognize Canadian women who have blazed new trails in radio. Recipients are women who are successful in the radio industry and are seen as leaders, mentors, and people making a difference in the business.
Carmela Laurignano is vice-president and radio group manager at Evanov Radio Group (ERG) as well as part owner of four of its radio properties. She also serves on the company's board.
She began her decades-long career in the broadcasting industry at CHIN Radio, serving as sales assistant, sales manager, and was later promoted to vice-president of sales, marketing and promotions, becoming the first woman to hold a VP position with a Canadian ethnic broadcaster and one of the youngest vice-presidents in the Canadian radio industry at the time.
Laurignano joined ERG in 1993 as vice-president & radio group manager where she has been instrumental in helping to grow the company by constantly fostering opportunities for it to acquire and launch new stations. When she first joined, ERG only had one ethnic station (CIAO-AM Brampton) and an equity interest in CING-FM Burlington. The broadcaster now has 19 stations across four provinces, serving major, medium and small markets in a variety of formats including Specialty, Ethnic, Christian, Top 40, and Adult Contemporary, Country and LBGTQ2+.
She has also worked to foster talent in the Canadian music and broadcasting industry by helping to administer ERG's more than $10 million in direct contributions to Canadian artists and talent, plus has worked to provide airplay, on-air mentions, and performance opportunities. Dedicated to mentoring the next generation of professionals in the broadcasting industry, she introduced an internship program at ERG, and has helped to set up four separate ERG broadcasting endowments across the country at major universities and broadcasting schools.
Outside of ERG, Laurignano serves as secretary of the Canadian Association of Broadcasters' board of directors, and has been involved in a range of broadcasting policy and regulatory work over the years. She is also involved in the broader community, serving as a board member for a number of not-for-profit organizations, supporting community programs and partnership initiatives between business and organizations.
Laurignano will receive the award at the Canadian Music and Broadcast Industry Awards Gala dinner on May 9 at Rebel Entertainment Complex in Toronto.
Previously announced honourees for the 2019 Canadian Music and Broadcast Industry Awards include Robbie Robertson as the recipient of the lifetime achievement award in the Canadian Music Industry Hall of Fame, and Michael McCarty and Steve Herman in the Canadian Music and Broadcast Industry Hall of Fame.
Tickets for the Canadian Music and Broadcast Industry Awards are available for purchase through the Canadian Music Week website here.
Now in its 37th year, Canadian Music Week is Canada's leading annual entertainment event dedicated to the expression and growth of the country's music, media and entertainment industries.
