The East Coast Music Association has announced its list of 2023 award nominees with 58 Newfoundland and Labrador artists and industry members making the cut.

West Coast native and country artist Jason Benoit leads this province with five nominations. Fortunate Ones picked up three while Rev Dave & The Sin-Eaters and Andrew Standiland picked up two nods each.

VOCM Program Director Greg Smith has once again been nominated for Media Person of the Year, an award he took home in 2022.

Your #ECMA35 Media Person Of The Year/ Représentant ou Représentante Des Médias De L’année nominees! 🏆

– @gusboydoug
– @RadioGregSmith
– Heidi-Lyn O’Connor
– @KatieKellyHali
– @richardlann pic.twitter.com/BKrcCH3L1G

— East Coast Music (@eastcoastmusic) January 24, 2023

The 35th anniversary celebration of the East Coast Music Awards will be held in Halifax May 3rd – 7th.

Here is the full list of the nominees:

Music Nominees 

African Canadian Artist of the Year

• Aquakultre
• Jah’Mila
• Maggie Andrew
• Owen O’Sound Lee
• Zamani Folade

Album of the Year

• Andrew Waite – Andrew Waite (Self-Titled)
• Classified – Retrospected
• David Myles – It’s Only A Little Loneliness
• Fortunate Ones – That Was You and Me
• Jason Benoit – TIME TRAVELLER – SIDE A
• Kristen Martell – Every Season

Blues Recording of the Year

• Allen Snow – The Quorum
• Charlie A’Court & Witchitaw – When Country Gets The Blues
• Mark Riley – PM BLUE
• Mike Trask – TV Dinner
• Dave and The Sin Eaters – Beams of Love

Children’s Entertainer of the Year

• Bingly and the Rogues (with The Villains Theatre)
• Heather Feather
• Matt the Music Man
• Pete

Choral Recording of the Year

• Zoo Featuring South African Singers Choir – We May Win
• Halifax Camerata Singers – Last Evening
• Luminos Ensemble – I Am an Island That Dreams
• Men of the Deeps – Remember the Miner
• Sirens – In Her Image

 Classical Composer Of The Year

• Andrew Staniland
• Derek Charke
• Edward Enman
• Grej
• Natalie Williams Calhoun

 Classical Recording of the Year

• Andrew Staniland – Reddened by Hammer: Earthquakes & Islands Remixed
• Atlantic String Machine – A Single Juniper Post
• Duo Concertante – Ecology of Being
• Jennifer King – O Mistress Moon (Canadian Edition)
• SHHH!! Ensemble – Meanwhile

Contemporary Roots Recording of the Year 

• Carleton Stone – Papercut
• David Myles – It’s Only A Little Loneliness
• Madison Violet – eleven
• Rawlins Cross – Sunrise
• The East Pointers – House Of Dreams

Country Recording of the Year

• La Patente – L’Illusion d’la perfection
• Mallory Johnson – Surprise Party
• Pretty Archie – Pretty Archie (Self Titled)
• Dave and The Sin Eaters – Beams of Love
• Willie Stratton – Drugstore Dreamin’

Dance Recording of the Year

• Alex Byrne – Nothing but a Liar
• Bishu – WYGD
• Cloverdale & DJ Susan – Talkin
• Corey LeRue – IDTYK
• PINEO & LOEB – Hope

Electronic Recording of the Year

• It Could Be Franky – Edena
• Maura Whitman – Introspection
• Mear – Soft Chains
• Rich Aucoin – Synthetic Season 1
• Sparkee – Snack Pack

Folk Recording of the Year

• Dylan Menzie – Modern Classic
• Fortunate Ones – That Was You and Me
• Julie Aubé – Contentement
• Kristen Martell – Every Season
• Madison Violet – eleven

Francophone Recording of the Year

• Caroline Savoie – Bruits blancs
• Laurie LeBlanc – Long Weekend
• Les Hôtesses d’Hilaire – Pas l’temps d’niaiser
• Lisa LeBlanc – Chiac Disco
• Plywood Joe – Et les mangeux de baloni
• P’tit Belliveau – Un homme et son piano

Global Recording of the Year 

• Andru Branch & Halfway Tree – Weather the Storm
• Jah’Mila – Roots Girl
• Jing Xia – The Numinous Journey
• Kubasonics – Kubasongs
• Vineet Vyas – Satyam

Group Recording of the Year / Enregistrement groupe de l’année

• Fortunate Ones – That Was You and Me
• Moira & Claire – I’m not usually this forward but…
• Pretty Archie – Pretty Archie(Self Titled)
• The East Pointers – House Of Dreams
• The Trews – Wanderer

Indigenous Artist of the Year 

• Deantha Edmunds
• Gearl
• Jason Benoit
• Morgan Toney
• Silver Wolf Band

Inspirational/Gospel Recording of the Year 

• Zoo – 20
• Elijah MacDougall – The Boy Who Would Be
• Keith Mullins – Vets for Healings Song Camp 1
• One8tea – Say Amen
• Yvette Lorraine – Same Story

Instrumental Recording of the Year 

• Atlantic String Machine – A Single Juniper Post
• Florian Hoefner – Desert Bloom
• Quilting – Quilting (Self Titled)
• Sarah Hagen – Johann Sebastian Bach: Goldberg Variations
• Shannon Quinn – 20 Summers

Jazz Recording of the Year 

• Behrooz Mihankhah – Lydium
• Big Space – In Relation To
• Duane Andrews and the Hot Club of Conception Bay – Djangology
• Florian Hoefner – Desert Bloom
• JOYFULTALK – Familiar Science

Loud Recording of the Year 

• Dali Van Gogh – New Blood, Old Wounds
• Electric Spoonful – 2 Poor 4 a Two Four
• Red Usurper – Abandon
• Swimming – That’s OK
• – Unentitled

Pop Recording of the Year 

• Caroline Savoie – Bruits blancs
• Lisa LeBlanc – Chiac Disco
• Maura Whitman – Introspective
• The East Pointers – House Of Dreams
• Yvette Lorraine – Same Story

R&B / Soul Recording of the Year 

• Aquakultre – Don’t Trip
• Boy T – Ride Your Name
• DEE HERNANDEZ – Remember Those Days
• JRDN – Red Eye
• Nicole Ariana – Crybaby

Rap/Hip-Hop Recording of the Year 

• Albert Dalton – If I Can’t Have It
• City Natives – The People of the Dawn
• Classified – Retrospected
• Owen O’Sound Lee – 235
• Reggie Morales – Regicide

Rising Star Recording of the Year 

• Daniel James McFadyen – Hot Sun
• Dylan Menzie – A Piece of Me
• Isabella Samson – Love Takes You Home
• Marian – Astral Plane
• Moira & Claire – South Shore

Rock Recording of the Year 

• Dali Van Gogh – New Blood, Old Wound
• Julie & Dany – Julie & Dany (Self Titled)
• Les Hôtesses d’Hilaire – Pas l’temps d’niaiser
• Motherhood – Winded
• Nick Earle – No More Hiding
• The Trews – Wanderer

Roots/Traditional Recording of the Year 

• Gina Burgess – ISNOW
• Jing Xia – The Numinous Journey
• Kubasonics – Kubasongs
• Les Fireflies – Day by Day
• Shane Pendergast – The House Before the Bridge

Solo Recording of the Year 

• Adam Baldwin – Concertos & Serenades
• David Myles – It’s Only A Little Loneliness
• Jason Benoit – TIME TRAVELLER – SIDE A
• Lisa LeBlanc – Chiac Disco
• Owen O’Sound Lee – 235

Song of the Year 

• Adam Baldwin – “Lighthouse in Little Lorraine”
• Andrew Waite – “Ain’t Goin’ Out Like That”
• Braden Lam – “Silence feat. Wolf Castle”
• Brandon Howard Roy – “Give Me Love”
• Daniel James McFadyen – “Hot Sun”

Songwriter of the Year

• Andrew Waite
• Kellie Loder
• Madison Violet
• Quote the Raven
• The East Pointers

TD Fans’ Choice Entertainer of the Year

• Classified
• David Myles
• Jason Benoit
• Kellie Loder
• Lisa LeBlanc
• Madison Violet
• Neon Dreams
• Rich Aucoin
• Robert Thomas and the Sessionmen
• The East Pointers

TD Fans’ Choice Video of the Year

• Andrew Waite – “Full Time, Tryin’ 2 Luv” (Director: Brendan Henry)
• Braden Lam – “don’t let go (Chapter 1 of 2)” (Directors: Tim Mombourquette, Braden Lam)
• Classified – “Accept It (Retrospected)” (Directors: The Boyd Brothers)
• Dave Sampson – “All My Friends” (Directors: Ryker Titus, Andy Hines)
• Les Hôtesses d’Hilaire – “Safe to Say” (Directors: Katrine Noël, Kevin McIntyre)
• Moira & Claire – “Delaney’s Dad” (Director: Ray Antonison)
• Neon Dreams – “ITS ALL GOOD” (Directors: Dan Lewis Cole,Frank Kadillac)
• Nicole Ariana – “Master of Denial” (Directors: Griffin O’Toole, Brendan Lyle (MooseCanFly))
• PINEO & LOEB – “Attached 2 U” (Director: Gee Clarke)
• The East Pointers – “Save Your Lonely” (Director: Lucas Eastmure)

Industry Nominees 

Artist Innovator of the Year 

• Carolina East
• Classified
• Zoo
• Hillary Ladd
• Jason Benoit

Company of the Year

• Atlantic Music
• East Track Mind
• Jones & Co
• Lawnya Vawnya
• Sound of Pop

Event of the Year

• Cloggeroo – The Island Folk Festival
• Lawnya Vawnya 12
• TD Halifax Jazz Festival
• The Jibfest Weekender
• The Smokey Sessions Songwriters’ Circle

Industry Innovator of the Year 

• Cartermusic Presents
• East Track Mind
• Eirinn Fraser
• Rozalind MacPhail
• Secret Key Media

Live Sound Engineer of the Year

• Evan Cormier
• John Ellingbo
• Kyle Gallagher
• Michelle Lacour
• Peter Green
• Steve Everett

Artist Management Of The Year

• Derrick Sturge, Pharos Music Inc.
• Faye WilliamsWood
• Mary Beth Waldram
• Todd Mercer

Media Person Of The Year

• Doug Gallant
• Greg Smith
• Heidi-Lyn O’Connor
• Katie Kelly
• Richard Lann

Producer Of The Year

• Chris Kirby
• Classified
• Clint Curtis
• Corey LeRue
• Mark Howard

Studio Engineer of the Year

• Scott Ferguson
• Stonehouse Sound
• Future Dad
• Mike “Sheppy” Shepherd
• Chris Iannetti
• Thomas Stajcer

Studio of the Year

• Future Dad
• Iannetti Recording
• Lakewind Sound Studios
• Scott Ferguson
• Stonehouse Sound

Venue of the Year 

• Broken Record Bar & Music Room
• First Light Center For Performance & Creativity
• The Carleton
• The Ship Pub
• Under The Spire Music Festival: Historic St. Mary’s

Video Director of the Year

• Cecil Johnson
• HARMZ
• Jamie Miller
• Jeff Miller
• Matthew Ingraham

Visual Artist of the Year 

• Alex MacAskill – Midnight Oil Print & Design House
• Ashley Anne Clark
• Heidi-Lyn O’Connor
• Jud Haynes
• Krista Power