Newfoundland and Labrador artists and industry earn 36 East Coast Music Award nominations
Artists and industry from Newfoundland and Labrador are shining brightly after capturing 36 nominations for the 2026 East Coast Music Awards (ECMAs), announced today.
Nominees from the province received significant recognition across a range of ECMA categories, including Classical Composer of the Year, securing three of the five nominations, and Group of the Year, with three of six nominations. Of the 26 music nominations, 17 were supported by MusicNL funding investments.
Mallory Johnson earned five nominations including Country Release of the Year, TD Fans’ Choice Entertainer of the Year, TD Fans’ Choice Video of the Year, Folk Release of the Year, and Release of the Year.
Kellie Loder earned four nominations including Album of the Year, TD Fans’ Choice Entertainer of the Year, TD Fans’ Choice Video of the Year, and Songwriter of the Year.
Three time nominees include the recently JUNO nominated Andrew Staniland (Classical Composer of the Year , Electronic Release of the Year, Instrumental Release of the Year), The Irish Descendants (Album of the Year, Group of the Year, Traditional Release of the Year), Rachel Cousins (TD Fans’ Choice Entertainer of the Year, Pop Release of the Year, Songwriter of the Year), and XIA-3 (Global Music Release of the Year, Group of the Year, Rock / Alternative Release of the Year).
Nominated in two categories are Bailey Jordan-Neil (TD Fans’ Choice Entertainer of the Year, Indigenous Artist of the Year), Claire Porter (Fusion Release of the Year, Jazz Release of the Year), Judith Ifeadi (African Canadian Artist of the Year, R&B/Soul Release of the Year), Justin Fancy (TD Fans’ Choice Video of the Year, Folk Release of the Year), Kelly McMichael (Release of the Year, Solo Artist of the Year), and Nick Earle & The Reckless Hearts (Group of the Year, Rock/Alternative Release of the Year).
Completing the music category nominees are: Ana Luísa Ramos (Global Music Release of the Year), Atlantic Jazz Collective feat. Norma Winstone & Joe LaBarbera (Jazz Release of the Year), Bekah Simms (Classical Composer of the Year), Clint Curtis (Producer of the Year), Daniel Adams (Producer of the Year), Duo Concertante (Classical Release of the Year), Heather Feather (Children’s Artist of the Year), Jason Noble & Steve Cowan (Fusion Release of the Year), Jim O’Leary (Classical Composer of the Year), Matthew Byrne (Traditional Release of the Year), Port-Aux-Poutines (Children’s Artist of the Year, potem (Dance Release of the Year), Summer Bennett (Indigenous Artist of the Year), and The Order of the Precious Blood (Loud Release of the Year).
Music companies, media, and entrepreneurs received recognition in industry categories, underscoring their work in developing and promoting our province’s vibrant music scene. The 10 nominees include Ben Chapman-Smith Music (Innovator of the Year), Greg Smith (Media Excellence Award), Roger Lockyer of Foleymore Entertainment and Hilda Cousins (Artist Management of the Year), Lawnya Vawnya 15 (Event of the Year), Matt Dines (Recording Engineer of the Year), Nick Decker (Technical Excellence Award), The Majestic Theatre and The Ship Pub (Venue of the Year), and Sandra-Lee Layden (Visual Artist of the Year).
The ECMAs take place in Sydney, Cape Breton from May 20-24, 2026.