Newfoundland country singer-songwriters Jason Benoit and Chris Ryan are set to compete in SiriusXM Top of the Country.

Nine artists were selected from applicants and invited to one of three studio sessions in Toronto, Halifax, and Vancouver. All registrants are set to receive travel grants and a professionally-recorded and mixed video and audio file of their performance.

From there, it’s off to the fans. The videos will be posted online, on this website, for a nation-wide vote to pick the three finalists. All those in the running will be contacted prior to voting opening on the site and will be encouraged to spread the word to gain the most votes.

The three finalists will get a once-in-a-lifetime chance to hone their craft with education, mentoring, and exposure at SiriusXM events. The finalists will perform at Canada’s biggest country music festivals, take part in a Mentor Session in Toronto hosted by the Canadian Country Music Association and SiriusXM, and be flown down to Nashville with SOCAN for a week-long songwriting camp after the contest ends.

All three finalists will open for a headliner during The CCMA’s Country Music Week, in front of industry professionals and big names in country music. Judges will then announce the winner of $25,000 and who will claim the title of SiriusXM’s Top of the Country.

For more on Top of the Country visit the official website.