ST. JOHN’S, NL – MusicNL is proud to announce the recipients of its 2026 honorary awards, celebrating individuals whose contributions have shaped the music sector in Newfoundland and Labrador in lasting and meaningful ways. Con O’Brien will receive the Lifetime Achievement Award, ColleenPower will receive the Denis Parker Industry Builder Award, and Dr. Zainab Jerrett will receive the Unsung Hero Award. All three will be honoured during MusicNL Week, taking place in St John’s from October 1 to 4, 2026.

Dr. Zainab Jerrett will be presented with the Unsung Hero Award, a tribute to the kind of behind-the-scenes work that keeps our music sector thriving. Colleen Power will receive the Denis Parker Industry Builder Award for her role in strengthening the industry from the ground up. And Con O’Brien will be honoured with the Lifetime Achievement Award, recognizing decades of contribution to our province’s music community.  All three recipients will be celebrated on stage during MusicNL Week, taking place in St. John’s from October 1 to 4, 2026

These honorary awards recognize achievement that goes beyond a single year or a single body of work. This year’s recipients each represent a distinct and vital piece of what makes the music sector in our province strong: an artist whose legacy has shaped generations, a builder whose vision has strengthened the industry’s foundations, and a champion whose work behind the scenes has elevated the artists around them.

Beyond celebrating individual achievement, these honours reflect the broader work of MusicNL to strengthen the music economy across the province. Music is not only a cultural cornerstone of our province but also an economic driver, supporting careers, generating tourism, and creating export opportunities for artists on regional, national, and international stages. Recognizing the people who build and sustain that ecosystem, whether through their artistry, their leadership, or their quiet dedication behind the scenes, is central to MusicNL’s mission of ensuring the music sector continues to grow and thrive for generations to come.

Unsung Hero – Dr. Zainab Jerrett Creating fair-paid, province-wide opportunity for newcomer musicians

The Unsung Hero Award is a heartfelt tribute to the often-overlooked and behind-the-scenes champions who have played an indispensable role in shaping the music sector. This award aims to shine a well-deserved spotlight on individuals whose tireless dedication and selfless contributions have significantly impacted the industry without receiving the widespread recognition they deserve. Whether it’s a talented music producer, an exceptional session musician, an innovative sound engineer, or an influential music educator, the Unsung Hero Award acknowledges those whose passion, expertise, and hard work have supported and elevated the artistry of others. Through their unwavering commitment and influence, these unsung heroes have left a mark on the music community. The award is a poignant reminder that sometimes, the most significant contributions are made by those working diligently in the shadows. As Executive Director of the Tombolo Multicultural Festival Newfoundland and Labrador, Dr. Zainab Jerrett came to Canada 34 years ago from Nigeria to pursue PhD studies in folklore at Memorial University on a Commonwealth Scholarship, and has spent decades as an outstanding contributor to the multicultural and social fabric of Newfoundland and Labrador. Her work is rooted in cross-cultural understanding and unheralded support for new Canadians, new immigrants, newcomers, refugees and international students. Through Tombolo, she has translated that same commitment directly into the music sector: by deliberately programming newcomer musicians and paying them fairly, she has created real, dignified economic opportunity for artists who often face steep barriers to entering the local scene. Just as important, she has taken these musicians beyond the St. John’s bubble, bringing them into Central and Western Newfoundland and giving audiences across the province access to talent and cultural perspectives they would otherwise never encounter. Her work shows what equitable inclusion in the music industry can look like in practice, not just symbolic representation, but fair pay and provincial-wide reach. She has been married to a gentleman from Brigus, Newfoundland and Labrador, since 2000.

Denis Parker Industry Builder Award: Colleen Power Building a pipeline to train our province’s future music journalists

The Denis Parker Industry Builder Award is a meaningful accolade that recognizes visionary leaders and innovators who have played a pivotal role in the growth and evolution of the music sector. This award celebrates individuals who have excelled in their artistic endeavours and demonstrated exceptional business acumen, strategic vision, and a profound commitment to fostering growth and sustainability within the music sector. Recipients of the Industry Builder Award have left an indelible mark on the industry through their groundbreaking initiatives, entrepreneurial spirit, and forward-thinking approach. Whether through the creation of cutting-edge digital platforms, transformative record label strategies, innovative licensing and distribution models, influential advocacy for artist rights and fair compensation, or education, these industry builders have shaped the landscape of music, leaving a lasting legacy for generations to come. Colleen Power is a pillar of the Newfoundland and Labrador music community whose impact extends far beyond her own celebrated career as a bilingual singer-songwriter. For over a decade, Colleen has served as the News Director at CHMR-FM (Memorial University Radio), hosting The Colleen Power Hour and The CHMR Arts and Entertainment Report where she has been a foundational force in professionalizing and diversifying the province’s music journalism landscape. Colleen’s primary contribution as an “industry builder” is her role as a mentor and trainer. She has spent years educating and guiding a generation of music journalists, many of whom—such as Hugh Campbell (OZFM) and Zach Snow—have gone on to become key voices in our local and national media. Her work at CHMR created a vital pipeline for professional storytelling within the music sector, ensuring that local artists receive the critical and thoughtful coverage necessary for a thriving industry. In addition to her mentorship, Colleen has used her platform to champion diverse local talent, frequently featuringMusicNL members on her program Spot On. As the media landscape shifts, recognizing Colleen now highlights her enduring commitment to maintaining the integrity and visibility of our music community through her tireless work behind the scenes and on the airwaves. Her influence has fundamentally shaped how the NL music industry is documented and communicated to the public.

Lifetime Achievement Award – Con O’Brien Turning a cultural loss into a national export

The Lifetime Achievement Award is a prestigious honour bestowed upon exceptional individuals who have made profound and enduring contributions to the music sector in Newfoundland and Labrador. This award recognizes the remarkable career and lasting impact of an artist, musician, or industry member, whose talent, creativity, and innovation have transcended generations and inspired countless others. Recipients of this esteemed accolade have not only achieved remarkable success but have also demonstrated a lifelong dedication to their craft, and leaving a mark on the hearts and minds of the province. The Lifetime Achievement Award celebrates the extraordinary legacy of these individuals in the music sector, honouring their extraordinary talent, passion, and commitment. When the cod moratorium hit in 1992, Con O’Brien and the founding members of The Irish Descendants were working in the fishing industry. The collapse of the stocks pushed them into music full time, and while more than 40,000 Newfoundlanders and Labradorians left the province to find work, O’Brien was able to stay home because his music career gave him another way to earn a living. What began as necessity became one of our province’s most durable exports: an international recording contract made the band the first in Newfoundland and Labrador to release a CD, paving the way for acts like Great Big Sea and many others after. For over three decades since, Con has carried that story onto stages across Canada and beyond, opening doors for our province’s music in places it had never reached before. Over 8,000 live shows later, that same foundation, forced into being by the moratorium, has become the reason our music has a national and international presence at all. He still recalls hearing the moratorium announced over the radio on July 2, 1992, the same morning his father had to tell hundreds of plant workers they were jobless, a memory that has shaped decades of touring built on turning our province’s story into a product the rest of the world would pay to hear. That same instinct still drives the growth of our music export industry today, one show, one market, and one new audience at a time. Con O’Brien’s career is proof that when the fishery disappeared, Newfoundlanders and Labradorians found a way to export their story instead, and he has spent 35 years making sure the world keeps listening.

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About MusicNL

MusicNL is the voice of the music sector and industry in Newfoundland and Labrador.  As a non-profit trade association, MusicNL fosters business, grows exports, supports music entrepreneurs and shines a spotlight on all facets of music in the province.  Through its programs and services, MusicNL provides information, education, communication, advocacy, industry development, and networking opportunities to nurture, develop and promote the growth and sustainability of the local music industry.  Its marquee annual event, MusicNL Week, brings together an awards gala, conference, industry gathering and music festival.

For more information, visit musicnl.ca. You can also follow MusicNL on Instagram: @music.nl.

Media Assets: https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/1qh8tsPmfThInHTTuRt8Gte83dQudkTzS?usp=sharing 

Media Contact:
Nathan Mackey
Marketing and Communications Manager
(709) 754-2574 ext. 206
comms@musicnl.ca