Yukoners could be seeing some hardware out of the Western Canadian Music Awards set for October.

Former Yukoner James Murdoch, who's now based in Alberta with the James Murdoch Band, has been nominated for two awards.

As well, the Whitehorse-based Magnum Opus Management (MOM) is up for Agency of the Year against four other agencies.

The Western Canadian Music Alliance announced the nominees last Thursday.

Along with Murdoch's band being nominated in the Outstanding Pop Recording for their In Transit album and Video of the Year for their Transportation video, In Transit designer Nick Perrault is nominated for Best Album Design for his work on it.

While Murdoch was raised in the territory, Magnum is the only nominee currently based in the territory.

"It was a surprise. We're absolutely thrilled," MOM founder Debbie Peters said in an interview Monday afternoon.

The agency is honoured to be lumped in with some of the bigger agencies in the country, she added.

They include Graffiti Music of Saskatchewan, Paquin Entertainment of Manitoba, PM Gigs Inc. of Alberta and S.L. Feldman & Associates of B.C.

MOM was also nominated as Agency of the Year last year with the Canadian Arts Presenters Association.

With next year marking MOM's 10th anniversary, Peters attributed part of her success to the quality of the performers who have signed on.

One of their first clients, Hungry Hill, is now booked for a six-week tour in Ireland and many others have seen similar success.

There's no doubt though that Peters' hard work has taken the agency to signing on bands and musicians throughout Canada and the U.S. in the near-decade since Peters started the company. The company will celebrate its 10th anniversary next year.

Originally told by some nay-sayers she would end up having to move to Toronto and work 80 hours a week, Peters opted to make a go of it in the Yukon anyway.

"I have to commit to being on the road a lot," she said.

Being based in the Yukon means that while she can't get to a lot of her clients' shows, she and her staff make it a point to attend numerous industry events and such to make sure the MOM name is out there.

Living in the age of Internet communication and phone plans that permit calls to be made pretty much anywhere anytime has also helped the company succeed, Peters said.

"There's no reason not to be in the Yukon," she commented, adding location likely would have been an issue if the technology wasn't there.

Even though it's outside of a major centre, clients are now coming to MOM to act as their agent.

Along with Murdoch's nominations, there are 24 performers from Alberta, 42 from B.C., 19 from Manitoba and nine from Saskatchewan that make up the list of nominees in the 19 artistic categories.

They range from Outstanding Children's Recording to Songwriter of the Year.

Meanwhile, in addition to Perrault and Magnum Opus being up for Industry Awards, there are 12 Albertans, six Saskatchewan-based industry workers and organizations, nine based in Manitoba and 15 based in B.C., ranging from Engineer of the Year to Live Music Venue of the Year.

"With representation from the Prairie provinces, B.C. and the Yukon, it is once again clear that the music industry is alive and kickin' and full of world-class talent," the music alliance said.

Set to be held in Edmonton from Oct. 16 to 19, the event will also see both Tommy Banks and Spirit of the West inducted into the Western Canadian Music Alliance Hall of Fame.

Banks hosted The Tommy Banks Show from 1968 to 1983, first telecast on the CBC before it went into syndication. He's conducted nearly every major professional orchestra in Canada and been an accompanist, arranger and/or producer for hundreds of performers.

His work in the music industry has also seen him serve as the musical director for the 1978 Commonwealth Games, 1983 World University Games, Vancouver's Expo 86, the 1988 Olympic Winter Games and in 1984, his jazz band was the first to tour China in 35 years.

Over the years, Banks has received numerous honours and awards for his musical work.

"Tommy Banks' contributions and pioneering effort have resulted directly in the flourishing recording arts, cultural industries in the province of Alberta and across the country," it's stated. "He continues to be an integral part of our industry today."

Meanwhile, Spirit of the West got its start in 1983 performing in small pubs and clubs originally calling themselves Eavesdropper.

Their first album was released in 1984 with a number of albums following into the 1990s.

The band went through a small hiatus while members pursued their own musical interests, though they continued to perform together at times, before releasing Spirituality: The Consummate Compendium two-CD collection in July, celebrating the band's 25 years.

Tickets for the main awards ceremony set for Oct. 19 will go on sale Aug. 15.