Zach McPhee, a former Vernon Viper, has achieved a new milestone in his music career by winning SiriusXM’s 2024 Top of the Country Competition. The announcement came on Wednesday, September 11, during Canadian Country Music Week, part of the Canadian Country Music Awards (CCMA).
McPhee, who transitioned from drumming to singing and songwriting, triumphed over two other finalists in the competition. His journey began as a semifinalist in March, leading to a studio session audition in Vancouver. He later produced a standout song and secured his place as one of the top three finalists, competing against Montreal’s Trudy and Calgary’s Robert Adam.
The finalists showcased their talents live during the CCMA music week in Edmonton and at the LASSO Montreal music festival in August. McPhee’s victory earns him a $25,000 prize and a coveted spot at the Society of Composers, Authors and Music Publishers of Canada (SOCAN) songwriting camp.
“This journey has been absolutely unbelievable, and I’m so grateful to everyone who supported me along the way,” McPhee expressed after winning. “Winning the competition is a dream come true, and I’m thrilled to be able to share my music with more fans across the country.”
McPhee debuted his single “Bring On” last year and has since released a seven-song album, Feels Country to Me. With nearly 30,000 monthly listeners on Spotify and a total of six million streams across all platforms, McPhee is making significant strides in the country music scene.
