MusicNL is pleased to welcome its new Marketing & Communications Manager, Abigail Pye.
Abigail is a St. John’s-based music industry professional who has spent the last eight years working in support of Atlantic Canadian artists. She’s had the privilege to serve artists of various disciplines as they carve out spaces for themselves on our stages and airwaves. She studied Music Business at NSCC and holds a business degree from MUN. Keenly interested in the connection between place and art, Abigail believes that there’s a lot to be found in NL’s lesser-explored spaces. She’s a strong proponent of the province’s rich musical underground.
“I’m so excited to join the MusicNL team in a permanent capacity,” she says. My music industry career began with an internship here back in 2016, and I’ve had quite a professional journey since then. I’m happy to be able to bring what I’ve learned back to the organization.”
Get in touch with Abigail at comms@musicnl.ca
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
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
Rock Artist of the Year Presented by George Street Association
Nick Earle & the Reckless Hearts
Side Musician of the Year
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!
Congratulations 2024 Award Nominees
Here are the steps to renew:
- Step 1: go to www.musicnl.ca
- Step 2: click the Manage Account button under Membership on the top menu bar
- Step 3: Log in using your username and password
- Step 4: Under the About tab in your account, you will see the renew button it says:
RENEW, UPGRADE OR UPDATE BILLING
Again if you have any trouble call or email us!
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.
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.
Year in Review
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:
- Artist Name
- Title of Song/Album/EP
- Photo of artist OR album artwork
- Link to music or location on where to purchase
- short (100 -250 words) about the release
- Release Date
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.
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
Latest News
- CEO’s Departure – Farewell and Gratitude: A Message from the Chair
- MusicNL Hits a Milestone with 1000 Members, Celebrating a Vibrant and Growing Music Community in 2023
- Music Award Winners 2023
- Industry Award Winners 2023
- Award Nominees 2023
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
Funding Partners
