We Are Listening

In recent weeks there has been a lot of discussion around changes in ECMAs programs and awards.  MusicNL wants to assure its members, and the greater music community of Newfoundland and Labrador that we’ve been listening to all voices contributing to the discussion, and have kept in regular contact with regional MIA and ECMA leadership.

We hope that export activities (both at the 5-day ECMA  event, and year-round), which are a major value proposition for our membership and provincial industry, continue to be a priority in planning and investment for the ECMAs, particularly as the event approaches its return to St John’s for the first time since 2015.

If you have thoughts you would like to share with us, we welcome your voice.   Please feel free to attend one of our upcoming Community Consultation Sessions and/or email us (comms@musicnl.ca)

Community Consultation Sessions

Music community! Your voice counts – we want your input! 

Our staff and board are working on planning 2025 and will soon develop a new 3-year strategic plan.  We need your help to build these tools! What would you like to see MusicNL offer in the future? How can we remain relevant to the ever-changing needs of Newfoundland and Labrador’s music industry? Are you a member who would like to see more? Are you interested in joining MusicNL, but thinking there’s something more we could offer that would make you REALLY interested? 

MusicNL exists to serve, promote, and celebrate the Newfoundland and Labrador music community, but we can’t do that without hearing from the people we’re here to support. Come join us in an open forum to share your perspective!

Join us for our upcoming in-person or virtual Community Consultation Sessions! There are three sessions:

• Wednesday, November 13, 5:00pm – 7:00pm – Battery Cafe (capacity limited, RSVP before Nov 12)
• Thursday, November 14, 7:00pm – 9:00pm – Virtual 
• Saturday, November 16, 1:00pm – 3:00pm – Virtual 

Please register at the following link by Monday, November 11th. https://form.jotform.com/242967830435060

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Congratulations to all the 2024 MusicNL Award Recipients!

MusicNL celebrated the province’s best and brightest artists and industry at the 2024 MusicNL Awards Gala, which took place at the St. John’s Convention Centre on Saturday September 7. The event, hosted by comedian Matt Wright, featured the presentation of 20 awards including Shanneyganock receiving the MusicNL Board of Directors Lifetime Achievement Award. Sensational performances were given by, Ana Luísa Ramos,Valmy, Justin Fancy, Kellie Loder, Liz Fagan Band, Maria Cherwick & Jockey Special, Rachel Cousins, Silver Wolf Band, The Order of the Precious Blood and Shanneyganock. The show also included a special performance by The Modern Saints as a tribute to the late Denis Parker, the founding Executive Director of MusicNL.

Of the awards handed out, Rum Ragged led the way with 3 awards, followed by Ana Luísa Ramos, With Violet, and Kellie Loder with two awards each. Many first-time MusicNL award winners were also celebrated: Iris Trio (Classical Artist of the Year), Summer Bennett (Indigeous Artist of the Year), Adrian House (Jazz Artist of the Year), The Order of the Precious Blood (Loud Artist of the Year), Andrew Rodgers (Rising Star), Len O’Neil (Rising Star) , Hunter Madden (Side Musician of the Year), and Valmy (Solo Artist of the Year). The gala marked the culmination of Music Celebration Week, a 4-day whirlwind of industry development, professional training and export investment that included more than 30 showcase performances, 15 panels and workshops, 340 curated business meetings and 33 awards presentations. Thanks to the investment of provincial and federal funders, MusicNL invited nearly 50 talent buyers, labels and key industry tastemakers to soak up talent and do business with the province’s music industry.  Music Celebration Week, including the MusicNL conference, is an integral part of the growth of the province’s thriving music sector which brings significant economic and cultural impact to Newfoundland and Labrador.

2024 MusicNL Award Winners

Music Awards:

Album of the Year – Presented by FACTOR
Rum Ragged – Gone Jiggin’

Alternative Artist of the Year
With Violet

Celtic/Traditional Artist of the Year Presented by VOCM
Rum Ragged

Classical Artist of the Year Presented by MUN School of Music
Iris Trio

Country Artist of the Year
Justin Fancy

Fan’s Choice Entertainer of the Year Presented by SaltWire
Jason Benoit

L’Artiste Francophone de L’Année Presented by Fédération des francophones de Terre-Neuve et du Labrador
Port-Aux-Poutines

Folk/Roots Artist of the Year
Kellie Loder
Global Music Artist of the Year
Ana Luísa Ramos
Group of the Year Presented by Yamaha
With Violet

Indigenous Artist of the Year
Summer Bennett

Instrumental Artist of the Year
Maria Cherwick & Jockey Special

Jazz Artist of the Year Presented by Coast 101.1
Ana Luísa Ramos

Adrian House

Loud Artist of the Year
The Order of the Precious Blood

Music Video of the Year Presented
Rum Ragged
Directed by: Roger Maunder – Up Sky Down Films

Pop Artist of the Year Presented By DC Design House
Rachel Cousins

Rap/Hip-Hop Artist of the Year
Albert Dalton

Rising Star of the Year
Andrew Rodgers

Len O’Neill

Rock Artist of the Year Presented by George Street Association
Nick Earle & the Reckless Hearts

Side Musician of the Year  

Hunter Madden

Solo Artist of the Year Presented by Up Sky Down Films
Valmy

Ron Hynes Songwriter of the Year Presented by SOCAN
Kellie Loder

Industry Award Winners:

Industry Awards
Artist Manager of the Year
David Shears

Event of the Year Presented by Canadian AV Inc.
Spirit and Song Festival – First Light

Industry Professional of the Year Presented by College of the North Atlantic
Matt Dines

Media Person of the Year Presented by Ray Agency
Zach Snow

Music Educator of the Year Presented by Long & McQuade
Rosemary Lawton

Outstanding Company of the Year Presented by Noseworthy Chapman
Hurricane Music

Recording Engineer/Producer of the Year
Michelle LaCour

Venue of the Year
The Ship

Volunteer of the Year
Alick Tsui & Christopher Deacon

Honorary awards:

• Unsung Hero Award  – Jean Hewson
• Denis Parker Industry Builder Award – David Smallwood
  
  St. John’s Jean Hewson, a tradition-keeper, teacher and musical leader will received the Unsung Hero Award.  David Smallwood, of Corner Brook, received the Denis Parker Industry Builder Award for his work leading the music and arts community on the West Coast. 
• Congratulations to all Award winners and the entirety of the music sector for an amazing year of music!

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Congratulations 2024 Award Nominees

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With the passing of Denis Parker this week in St. John’s, we at MusicNL are planning a long-term way of celebrating his life and impact though your memories, comments, photos or stories.

We are inviting you, our members, to write us at Denis@musicNL.ca with anything you would like to share about Denis. Please keep your comments to 250 words or less, give us permission to use your comments and photos, and let us know whether you would like your name associated with your story, or whether you would prefer to remain anonymous.

We commit to linking this commentary collection with our Denis Parker Industry Builder Award during Music Celebration Week for this year and for years to come. The aim is to share Denis’s impact with new audiences over the coming years.

Thank you in advance for your submissions – we look forward to sharing this project with you.

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Canadian Music Fund – Call to Action

The Liberal government has been a strong supporter of Canada’s music sector throughout the pandemic and it promised in the last federal election to increase the annual contribution to the Canada Music Fund to $50 million by 2024-2025.

That’s huge because the Canada Music Fund (CMF) is a key part of what funds FACTOR’s ground-breaking investments in Canadian artists and music companies – including songwriters and music publishers. Last year alone FACTOR invested $21 million in the music sector. 6,500 artists have had support through FACTOR in the last five years. 

But FACTOR’s budget can’t keep up with the growing demands for its programming. The other part of FACTOR’s annual budget comes from contributions from private radio broadcasters and those contributions are falling fast. For example, in 2020, FACTOR received $16 million in radio contributions. In 2024 those contributions could be as low as $2 million. This is why the CMF increase is so crucial. But look, that $50 million would only ensure that existing programming continues and is insufficient to create new live programming, especially for the live sector. That’s why music associations across the country have called for an increase to $60 million.  

So if the government does not make good even on their $50 million promise to our sector, FACTOR’s budget could be cut in half over the next couple of years. If that happens companies will close, jobs will be lost, artists won’t get the investments they need to record or tour which will harm an already precarious local live music scene.

We need your help to raise the voice of the music community and get this government’s attention. By following the simple steps with the link in our bio, you can email your local Liberal MP if you have one, and Canada’s Ministers of Heritage and Finance. Call on them to be Music Champions and keep their promise to increase the budget of the Canada Music Fund.

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Year in Review

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New Music Friday

NEW MUSIC FRIDAYS! MusicNL will post our member’s new releases each Friday on social media. Have new music? Submit your music by WEDNESDAY of each week to be featured in NEW MUSIC FRIDAY. Releases will also be featured in our newsletter.

Please Provide:

1. Artist Name
2. Title of Song/Album/EP
3. Photo of artist OR album artwork
4. Link to music or location on where to purchase
5. short (100 -250 words) about the release
6. Release Date

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MusicNL closes out 2023 with 1000 members! We want to thank each and everyone of our members for their support during the year. See you in 2024.

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Our new virtual office is open & ready to serve you each day between 9:00am-4:00pm. We also have drop-in hours Monday – Thursday, 10:00am – 2:00pm

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Latest News

• We Are Listening
• Community Consultation Sessions 2024
• MusicNL Welcomes New Marketing & Communications Manager
• Welcome to our New Executive Director -Tamara Kater
• CEO’s Departure – Farewell and Gratitude: A Message from the Chair

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Newsletter

Click here to stay up to date on all of MusicNL’s latests news, opportunities and events! Do you have news for our newsletter? Email Abigail: comms @ musicnl.ca

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