30 Years
MusicNL celebrated 30 years of supporting a vibrant and resilient music sector in 2022. Thank you for your support over the last 3 decades, it is appreciated. Thank you to those that had the foresight to start this association back in 1992. Happy Birthday MusicNL!
New Vision
Music cultivated at home and celebrated everywhere.
MusicNL’s directors created a new vision, mission and values in 2022 to guide the sector into 2023 and beyond. Thank you Nigel, Mary Beth, Derrick, Lindsey, Leonard, Heather, Théa, Krista, David and Ayon for your sage guidance and foresight. Thanks to our awesome facilitator Ken Kavanagh and to the province’s capacity building program for supporting us.
Membership
MusicNL’s membership grew to 820 in 2022, making us one of the largest membership based organizations in Newfoundland and Labrador and the second largest Music Industry Association in Canada! Not a member? Join now.
Financial Stewardship
MusicNL’s 2022 financial audit was completed by Grant Thornton. Unrestricted net assets, end of year was $67,066. The audit process dug deep and challenged our financial processes & practices. We look forward to implementing key learnings in 2023. Thanks to the team at Grant Thornton.
Awards
Musicians and those working in the sector had one of the best years ever! Walking away from the ECMAs with 11 wins and many wins during music celebration week. Not to mention all of the accolades that so many members received during 2022.
ECMAs
- Contemporary Roots Recording of the Year / Enregistrement Roots contemporain de l’année:
Quote the Raven – Can’t Hold the Light - Rock Recording of the Year / Enregistrement de l’année – Rock:
Kelly McMichael – Waves - Songwriter of the Year / Compositeur ou compositrice de l’année:
Rube & Rake - Artist Innovator of the Year (In light of COVID-19) / Artiste innovateur/innovatrice de l’année:
Mallory Johnson - Media Outlet of the Year / Média de l’année:
First Light Fridays - Media Person of the Year / Représentant des médias de l’année:
Greg Smith - Video Director of the Year / Réalisateur/Réalisatrice de vidéoclip de l’année:
Cecil Johnson - Fans’ Choice Entertainer of the Year / Artiste de l’année – Choix du public:
Justin Fancy - Fans’ Choice Video of the Year / Vidéoclip de l’année – Choix du public:
Mallory Johnson - Musician’s Achievement Award / Prix pour réalisations exceptionnelles par un musicien ou une musicienne:
Yvette Lorraine - Stompin’ Tom Awards / Prix Stompin’ Tom: Gordon Quinton (NL)
Music Celebration Week
- Album of the Year – Presented by FACTOR
Nick Earle & The Reckless Hearts – No More Hiding - Alternative Artist of the Year – Presented by Coleman’s
Swimming - Celtic/Traditional Artist of the Year – Presented by VOCM
Rosemary Lawton - Classical Artist of the Year – Presented by MUN School of Music
Deantha Edmunds - Country Artist of the Year – Presented by Marble Mountain Resort
Youngtree & The Blooms - Electronic Artist of the Year
Alex Byrne - Entertainer of the Year- Presented by Saltwire
Justin Fancy - Folk/Roots Artist of the Year – Presented by Minister Gerry Byrne
Kubasonics - Global Music Artist of the Year – Presented by Sharing Our Cultures Inc
Florian Hoefner - Group of the Year- Presented by Yamaha
Quote the Raven - Indigenous Artist of the Year – Presented by First Light
Deantha Edmunds - Instrumental Artist of the Year – Presented by The Rotary Arts Centre
Florian Hoefner - Loud Artist of the Year
Slowpoke - Music Video of the Year – Presented by College of the North Atlantic
Rosemary Lawton – Little Fires
Dir: Centre City Media - Pop Artist of the Year – Presented by DC Design House
Rachel Cousins - Rap/Hip-Hop Artist of the Year – Presented by SARFEST
King Sway - Rising Star of the Year – Presented by Genoa Design
Jing Xia - Rock Artist of the Year – Presented by Coast 101.1
Nick Earle & The Reckless Hearts - Side Musician of the Year – Presented by CBDC
Dan George - Solo Artist of the Year – Presented by Cox and Palmer
Rachel Cousins - Ron Hynes Songwriter of the Year – Presented by SOCAN
Kelly McMichael - Event of the Year – Presented by George Street Association
46th Newfoundland & Labrador Folk Festival - Industry Professional of the Year – Presented by The Art of Going Out
Mary Beth Waldram - Media Person of the Year – Presented by Ray Agency
Chris Batstone - Music Educator of the Year – Presented by Long and McQuade
Rozalind MacPhail - Outstanding Company of the Year – Presented by Noseworthy Chapman
Atlantic Music - Recording Engineer/Producer of the Year – Presented Task Force NL
Michelle LaCour - Venue of the Year- Presented by Killick Capital
The Ship Pub - Volunteer of the Year – Presented by PAL
Alick Tsui - Unsung Hero Award – John Clarke
- Denis Parker Industry Builder Award – Darren White
- Lifetime Achievement – Don & Kathy Wherry – Sound Symposium
Events
MusicNL hosted over 40 online and in person events with 730 participants. Events included everything from monthly professional development sessions in partnership with AFM/CFM Local 820 to our final event of the year our holiday coffee house! Follow our events here.
Advocacy
MusicNL effectively advocates using a range of activities including research, legislative analysis, organizing, mobilizing, educating and lobbying. In 2022 we:
- met with Steve Crocker, Provincial Minister of Tourism Culture Arts and Recreation, to discuss partnerships and increased funding
- met with John Abbott Provincial Minister of Children, Seniors and Social Development, to discuss community partnerships
- met with Pam Parsons, Minister Responsible for Women and Gender Equality, to discuss the importance of women in music. Minister Parsons also partnered with us for IWD 2022.
- met with Senator Fabian Manning with Chair of CCMIA Sean McManus to lobby for Bill C-11
- Created and shared Provincial Pre-Budget Submission with Premier Furey and other Ministers
- Created an Atlantic Regional Advocacy committee in partnership with PEI, NB and NS with the Canandina Live Music Association (CLMA)
- Hosted safe spaces meeting with member Rowan Sherlock focusing on solutions to keep our members safe while at work and for a safer Newfoundland and Labrador.
Programs
Funding Programs: we delivered $230,000 in funding to artists and those working in the sector through 5 funding programs on behalf of the Government of Newfoundland and Labrador.
Global Music Series: In partnership with The Rooms and the ANC we delivered one of the most diverse concert series in Canada with music from around the world heard at home! Providing a stage for more than 20 diverse musicians.
Community Presenters: The Government of Newfoundland and Labrador with the support of ACOA provided MusicNL with $260,000 to deliver funding throughout the province to hire musicians for come home year events and festivities in 2022. Every nook and cranny is rockin with local talent!
Genoa Design Musician-in-Residence: for its second year our program was a success hosting award winning musicians Rube & Rake(2021) & Nico Paulo (2022) in the beautiful community of Brigus.
Connector Program: a successful model to help retain talent, engage employers, and create a more welcoming community. A Connectee and a Connector meet for 30 minutes to gain insight knowledge about each other and their projects within the music industry then the Connector refers the Connectee to 2/3 more contacts within their network.
Master Corporal Jason Cull Mental Health Scholarship: With the help of the Canadian Mental Health Association NL, Lifewise, Curtis Dawe Lawyers and Daniel Glover we launched an annual scholarship to support the mental health of a student studying music.
Gander, A Music City: MusicNL in partnership with the Town of Gander and the Centre for Music Ecosystems will explore and support policymakers and leaders to use music to its fullest extent to make places better!
The Move
MusicNL moved offices to 99 Queens Road, Play on Gower. We are proud to say we are accessible and have just completed the Rick Hansen Audit in partnership with Gower Street United. We offer a full suite of performance and practice space to our membership at a discounted rate, with added value such as advertising, promotion and event management.
Thank you for a great year! We look forward to our 2023 journey together.
Rhonda, Sarah, Mariana, Manizheh, Chanel, Danielle and Mike.