Photo by Samantha Mills Wiseman

Thank you!

MusicNL Week 2025 has come to a close, and before our team takes a rest, we want to extend our deepest gratitude to everyone who helped bring this incredible week to life. It was a celebration of talent, community, and collaboration, and it simply wouldn’t have been possible without so many generous hands and hearts.

Thank you to our MusicNL members, all 2025 showcasing artists, award nominees and recipients whose artistry inspires everything we do. And to the amazing audiences who showed up to celebrate our music community, thank you!

To our sponsors, partners, and funders, thank you for believing in this event and helping us create opportunities for Newfoundland and Labrador’s music community. To the technical and production teams, your expertise and dedication kept every stage, session, performance, and the Export Program running smoothly.

To our tireless volunteers, outstanding venues, and the staff at the Sheraton Hotel, the St. John’s Convention Centre, and the Mary Brown’s Box Office, thank you for your hospitality. A huge appreciation to our Volunteer Photography and Social Media team, and to Scott Legge, who continues to support youth learning the ropes through Brilliant Labs / Labos créatifs.

To our Red Carpet sponsors and supporters—Quidi Vidi Brewery, CelebrateNL, Nara Community, Atlantic Music & Merch, Collingwood Spirits & Wines, Casablanca Bakery, Emyn Hayden, Ali Pike, and Cleo Leigh, thank you for adding sparkle to the Awards Gala. And a special shout-out to Casablanca Bakery for surprising us with the sweetest cake! 

A heartfelt thank you to our Awards Hosts for both the Gala and Industry Awards, and our amazing Showcase Hosts for shining a light on every artist and keeping us entertained, including Premier Tony Wakeham and Hon. Andrea Barbour who presented the Lifetime Achievement Award to Dave Panting!

We are incredibly grateful to our thoughtful export delegates, panelists, panel moderators, reception hosts, one-on-one meeting hosts, and trade show participants (Nara Community, Zach Snow, and the Canadian Federation of Musicians) for sharing insights, fostering connections, and enriching the week.

And finally, to our MusicNL Board of Directors and anyone who supported us or went the extra mile and is not captured here: we appreciate you more than you know.

Here’s to a restful week and an even brighter year ahead for NL music!

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We Want To Hear From You!

Photo by Samantha Mills Wiseman

Your feedback is incredibly valuable to us! Please help us to improve future MusicNL programs by completing our post-conference survey.

We estimate it will take 20-30 minutes to complete. At the end of the survey, you may enter your name for a prize raffle (complimentary MusicNL Week registrations and Bannerman Brewery gift cards!) and/or for further contact. You are not required to give your name to offer feedback on our event.

Your responses to this survey help us create better experiences for everyone who attends MusicNL Week. We use your feedback to improve our programming, refine our events, and ensure we’re meeting the needs of our membership.

Deadline to submit: Sunday Nov 29, 2025

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MusicNL Staff Takes a Break

Photo by Scott Legge

After a busy week, the MusicNL staff are taking a much needed break. The office will be closed from November 17-25. Until then, please get in touch by email and we will get back to you when we return! 

We plan to check email on November 20, so if it’s a matter that needs attention then, please mark URGENT in the subject line.

Thanks for your understanding.

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2025 MusicNL Award Winners

Photo by Alick Tsui

Leading this year’s winners are Kelly McMichael, Nick Earle and the Reckless Hearts, Deantha Edmunds, XIA-3, and Quote the Raven, each earning two awards. MusicNL also celebrated many first-time award recipients, including Zaynab Wilson (R&B Artist of the Year), Smoke Signals (Loud Artist of the Year), Andrew Gosse (Electronic Artist of the Year), and Evan Watts Smith (Rising Star of the Year).

Congratulations to all Award winners, nominees, and the entirety of the music sector for an amazing year of music!

Music Award Winners

Album of the Year – Presented by Chara Pictures
Kelly McMichael – After The Sting Of It

Alternative Artist of the Year
Kelly McMichael

Classical Artist of the Year
Deantha Edmunds

Country Artist of the Year – Presented by Anderson’s
Mallory Johnson

Electronic Artist of the Year
Andrew Gosse

Fan’s Choice Entertainer of the Year – Presented by VOCM
Justin Fancy

Folk Artist of the Year – Presented by O’Brien’s Music
Quote the Raven

Global Music Artist of the Year
XIA-3

Group of the Year – Presented by Quidi Vidi Brewery
Nick Earle & The Reckless Hearts

Indigenous Artist of the Year
Deantha Edmunds

Instrumental Artist of the Year
XIA-3

International Touring Artist of the Year – Presented by Capital Auto Group
Rum Ragged

Jazz Artist of the Year
Natasha Blackwood

L’Artiste Francophone de L’Année
Port-Aux-Poutines

Loud Artist of the Year
Smoke Signals

Music Video of the Year – Presented by Up Sky Down Films
Quote the Raven – “Already Gone” 
Directed, Produced, Edited by Cody Westman
Director of Photography: Troy Maher

Pop Artist of the Year – Presented by Churchill Park Music Festival
With Violet

R&B Artist of the Year
Zaynab Wilson

Rising Star of the Year
Evan Watts Smith

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

Ron Hynes Songwriter of the Year
Mick Davis and Thin Love

Side Musician of the Year – Presented by Canadian Federation of Musicians
Hunter Madden

Solo Artist of the Year
Nico Paulo

Sound on Screen of the Year – Presented by Panoramic Pictures
Ian Foster

Traditional Artist of the Year – Presented by VOCM
Jim Payne and Fergus O’Byrne

Industry Award Winners

Artist Manager of the Year
Hilda Cousins

Event of the Year – Presented by Canadian AV
HeavyNFLD Fest

Graphic Artist of the Year – Presented by College of the North Atlantic
Andrew Boyd
Scott Sheppard

Industry Professional of the Year – Presented by Genoa Design
Ben Chapman-Smith Music

Media Person of the Year – Presented by Ray Agency
Glenn Pardy – NL Live Events

Music Educator of the Year – Presented by Long & McQuade
Amy Collyer-Holmes

Outstanding Company of the Year
Lawnya Vawnya

Recording Engineer/Producer of the Year
Michelle LaCour

Venue of the Year
The Majestic Theatre

Volunteer of the Year – Presented by PAL Airlines
Out of the Fog – Hosts

Honorary Award Winners: 

Lifetime Achievement
Dave Panting

Denis Parker Industry Builder
June Hiscock

Unsung Hero
Paul “Boomer” Stamp