East Coast Music Association announces first round of 2025 award winners in St. John’s

May 8, 2025

(St. John’s, NL) – The East Coast Music Association (EMCA) announced fourteen 2025 East Coast Music Awards tonight at the 37th annual East Coast Music Awards Gala, presented by Rogers at the Mary Brown’s Centre in St. John’s, NL. The show was broadcast live across the Rogers’ network and streamed online via ECMA.com.

The first round of 2025 ECMA award winners include:

African Canadian Artist of the Year | Artiste afro-canadienne ou afro-canadien de l’année
Presented by: African Nova Scotian Music Association
Maggie Andrew
Region: NS

Album of the Year | Album de l’année
Presented by: Rogers
Vishtèn Connexions – Expansion
Region: PEI

Artiste acadien(ne) ou francophone de l’année | Acadian or Francophone Artist of the Year
Presented by: Le Gaboteur
Les Hay Babies
Region: NB

Breakthrough Artist of the Year | Révélation de l’année
Presented by: Atlantic Lottery
Loviet
Region: NS

Country Release of the Year | Sortie country de l’année
Presented by: Stingray
Brett Matthews – “If I Die Today” (feat. Classified)
Region: CB

Dr. Helen Creighton Lifetime Achievement Award
The Ennis Sisters
Region: NL

Group of the Year / Groupe de l’année
Presented by the Province of Newfoundland and Labrador
Neon Dreams
Region: NS

Indigenous Artist of the Year / Artiste autochtone de l’année
Deantha Edmunds
Region: NL

R&B/Soul Release of the Year / Enregistrement R&B/soul de l’année
Presented by Craft Beer Collective
Jah’Mila – “Never Fail”
Region: NS

Solo Artist of the Year / Artiste solo de l’année
Presented by the Dairy Farmers of Newfoundland and Labrador
Classified
Region: NS

Songwriter of the Year / Compositrice ou compositeur de l’année
Presented by SOCAN
Old Man Luedecke – “The Raven and The Dove”
Region: NS

TD Fans’ Choice Entertainer of the Year / Artiste de l’année – Choix du public
Kellie Loder
Region: NL

TD Fans’ Choice Video of the Year / Vidéoclip de l’année – Choix du public
Kellie Loder – “Can’t Go Back” (Directed by: Ashlea Wessel)
Region: NL

Traditional Release of the Year | Sortie traditionnelle de l’année
Rum Ragged – “Paddy Hyde”
Region: NL

The remaining music, industry and honourary awards will be handed out this Sunday, May 11, 2025 at the 37th East Coast Music & Industry Awards, presented by Needs, at the JAG Soundhouse, beginning at 11 a.m. The show will be streamed live on ECMA.com.

ECMA would like to acknowledge the generous support of its sponsors and funding partners, including the Government of Newfoundland & Labrador, the City of St. John’s, Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency (ACOA), FACTOR, MUSICACTION, TD, Rogers, Stingray, and the Government of Canada through the Department of Canadian Heritage (Canada Music Fund) of Canada’s private radio broadcasters.

About ECMA

The East Coast Music Association (ECMA) is a regional collaboration of people in the music industry of Atlantic Canada that fosters, develops, and celebrates East Coast music and its artists locally, regionally, nationally, and internationally. The ECMA annually produces the ECMAs, one of the top music industry events in Canada, which includes an Award Show, a Festival, an Industry Conference, and the Accelerator Program. For more information, visit: ECMA.com

Media assets: HERE

Media contacts:
Wendy Phillips, Phillips PR
wendy@pprl.ca

Virginie Ouellet, Director of Engagement
marketing@ecma.com

NT4