Hedley Chart Mag's Artist Of Year

Chart magazine has declared breakout pop-punkers Hedley its 2008 artist of the year.

Hedley may have finished 2007 by releasing an album called Famous Last Words, but the events of 2008 would suggest that we haven't heard the last from Hedley yet. Frontman Jacob Hoggard and crew had a busy year filled with extensive touring, a bunch of awards and even more nominations, a book, a video shoot in Barbados and even a doobie in Halifax's City Hall. It was also a year that saw them establish a unique identity as artists even further removed from their Canadian Idol-related beginnings.

"I feel the most accomplished about the fact that this band is about who we are and about what we do," says Hoggard. "I really don't think it's about that I came from Canadian Idol anymore."

Somewhere along the way, they even managed to melt some cold, black hearts in the Chart universe with their solid work ethic and sincere appreciation of their fans (and, we admit, their occasional antics).

You can read all about what makes Hedley special in the new issue of Chart. You can also see what Hoggard and guitarist Dave Rosin had to say about their year in review here.