East Coast Music Association announces full list of 2025 award winners in St. John’s

May 11, 2025

(St. John’s, NL) – The East Coast Music Association (ECMA) is thrilled to announce the full list of 2025 East Coast Music Award winners. Classified led with five ECMA wins followed by Vishtèn with three awards and Kellie Loder and Maggie Andrew with two wins each.

The first batch of ECMA Award winners was announced Thursday evening, during the 37th annual East Coast Music Awards presented by Rogers. Two classical awards were given out on Saturday at the Classical Showcase, presented by the Canadian Music Centre and Debut Atlantic. The remaining Awards were presented earlier today at the East Coast Music & Industry Awards.

The full list of 2025 ECMA winners are as follows:

MUSIC AWARDS:

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

*A first for an Acadian and francophone band.

Artiste acadien(ne) ou francophone de l’année | Acadian or Francophone Artist of the Year

Presented by: Le Gaboteur

Les Hay Babies

Region: NB

Blues Release of the Year | Sortie blues de l’année

Presented by: East Coast Blues Society

Campbell & Johnston – “Find Your Way”

Region: NS

Breakthrough Artist of the Year | Révélation de l’année

Presented by: Atlantic Lottery

Loviet

Region: NS

Children’s Artist of the Year | Artiste jeunesse de l’année

Presented by: Avalon Mall

Heather Feather

Region: NL

Classical Composer of the Year | Compositrice ou compositeur classique de l’année

Presented by: Canadian Music Centre Debut Atlantic

India Gailey – “Butterfly Lightning Shakes the Earth: I. SKY”

Region: NS

Classical Release of the Year | Sortie classique de l’année

Presented by: Canadian Music Centre Debut Atlantic

Suzie LeBlanc – “pour une Amérique engloutie”

Region: NB

Country Release of the Year | Sortie country de l’année

Presented by: Stingray

Brett Matthews – “If I Die Today (feat. Classified)”

Region: CB

Dance Release of the Year | Sortie dance de l’année

Presented by: The JAG Hotel

Summer Bennett – “Just a Phase – Dave Aude Remix”

Region: NL

Electronic Release of the Year | Sortie électronique de l’année

Presented by: Nova Scotia Spirit Co

Rich Aucoin – “Sonica”

Region: NS

Folk Release of the Year | Sortie folk de l’année

Presented by: City of St. John’s

Vishtèn Connexions – “Kouma”

Region: PEI

Fusion Release of the Year | Sortie multi-genre de l’année

Presented by: Beverage Baron

Vishtèn Connexions – “Kouma”

Region: PEI

Global Music Release of the Year | Sortie monde de l’année

Presented by: St John’s International Airport

Ana Luísa Ramos – “Clouds”

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

Instrumental Release of the Year | Sortie instrumentale de l’année

Presented by: Delta Hotels St. John’s

Mark Fewer – “The Simple Life (Arr. for Violin & String Orchestra by Andrew Downing)”

Region: NL

Jazz Release of the Year | Sortie jazz de l’année

Presented by: Browning Harvey

Measha Brueggergosman-Lee – “Zombie Blizzard”

Region: NS

Loud Release of the Year | Sortie loud de l’année

Presented by: Coffee Matters

The Order of the Precious Blood – “Suffer & Die”

Region: NL

Pop Release of the Year | Sortie pop de l’année

Presented by: Needs

Noah Malcolm – “January”

Region: PEI

Producer of the Year | Réalisatrice ou réalisateur de l’année

Presented by: Stewart McKelvey

Classified

Region: NS

Rap / Hip-Hop Release of the Year | Sortie rap/hip-hop de l’année

Presented by: Atlantic Lottery

Classified – “Sure Enough”

Region: NS

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

Release of the Year | Sortie de l’année

Presented by: TD

Classified – “Amnesia”

Region: NS

Rock / Alternative Release of the Year | Sortie rock/alternatif de l’année

Presented by: Stingray

Maggie Andrew – “DAY JOB”

Region: NS

Roots Release of the Year | Sortie folklore de l’année

Presented by: Midland

Quote The Raven – “Already Gone”

Region: NL

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

Vocal Release of the Year | Sortie vocale de l’année

Presented by: Newfoundland Labrador Liquor Corporation

Laura Roy – “Lucy”

Region: NS

INDUSTRY AWARDS:

Artist Management of the Year | Gérance de l’année

Presented by: Canadian Federation of Musicians

Hurricane Music Artist Management

Region: NL

Content Creator of the Year | Créatrice ou créateur de l’année

Presented by: Atlantic Music & Merch

Jud Haynes

Region: NL

Event of the Year | Événement de l’année

Presented by: Mary Browns Centre

Congrès mondial acadien 2024

Region: NS

Innovator of the Year | Innovatrice ou innovateur de l’année

Presented by: Canadian Musical Reproduction Rights Agency

Chelsi Madonna

Region: NS

Media Person of the Year | Représentante ou représentant des médias de l’année

Presented by: Cape Breton Regional Municipality

Zach Snow

Region: NL

Venue of the Year | Salle de spectacle de l’année

Presented by: Memorial University

Shore Club

Region: NS

HONOURARY AWARDS:

Dr. Helen Creighton Lifetime Achievement Award

The Ennis Sisters

Region: NL

Musician’s Achievement Award

Chris Ryan

Region: NL

Industry Builder Award

Wade Pinhorn

Region: NL

Bucky Adams Memorial Award

Marc Perry

Region: NS

Stompin’ Tom Awards

• Newfoundland and Labrador

Korona Brophy

• Cape Breton

Monica MacNeil

• New Brunswick

Heidi Baird

• Nova Scotia

Mike Campbell

• Prince Edward Island

Ghislaine Cormier

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.

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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

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