East Coast Music Awards (ECMA)
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The East Coast Music Association is a non-profit association that hosts an annual awards ceremony based in
Atlantic Canada Atlantic Canada, also called the Atlantic provinces (french: provinces de l'Atlantique), is the region of Eastern Canada comprising the provinces located on the Atlantic coast, excluding Quebec. The four provinces are New Brunswick, Newfoundlan ...
for music appreciation on the East Coast of
Canada Canada is a country in North America. Its ten provinces and three territories extend from the Atlantic Ocean to the Pacific Ocean and northward into the Arctic Ocean, covering over , making it the world's second-largest country by tot ...
. Its mission is to develop, advance and celebrate East Coast Canadian music, its artists and its industry professionals throughout the region and around the world, and advocate for members to ensure they can sustain music careers while based in Canada’s Atlantic region." The East Coast Music Awards have been a springboard for many Atlantic Canadians, including Sarah McLachlan,
Ashley MacIsaac Ashley Dwayne MacIsaac (born February 24, 1975) is a Canadian fiddler, singer and songwriter from Cape Breton Island. He has received three Juno Awards, winning for Best New Solo Artist and Best Roots & Traditional Album – Solo at the Juno A ...
,
Rawlins Cross Rawlins Cross is a Celtic band that formed in 1988 in Atlantic Canada. With members from Newfoundland, Nova Scotia, Prince Edward Island and Ontario, the band took its name from an intersection in St. John's, Newfoundland. Formation and ea ...
, Lennie Gallant,
Natalie MacMaster Natalie MacMaster (born June 13, 1972) is a Canadian fiddler from Troy, Inverness County, Nova Scotia who plays Cape Breton fiddle music. MacMaster has toured with the Chieftains, Faith Hill, Carlos Santana, and Alison Krauss, and has recorded ...
,
Gordie Sampson Gordon Francis Sampson (born July 30, 1971) is a Canadian singer-songwriter and producer from Big Pond, Nova Scotia. Beginning his career as a performer on his hometown island of Cape Breton, both in bands and on his own, Sampson has gone on to ...
,
Joel Plaskett William Joel MacDonald Plaskett (born April 18, 1975) is a Canadian rock musician and songwriter based in Halifax, Nova Scotia. He was a member of Halifax alternative rock band Thrush Hermit in the 1990s. Plaskett performs in a number of genres ...
, The Rankin Family,
Rita MacNeil Rita MacNeil (May 28, 1944 – April 16, 2013) was a Canadian singer from the community of Big Pond on Nova Scotia's Cape Breton Island. Her biggest hit, "Flying On Your Own", was a crossover Top 40 hit in 1987 and was covered by Anne Murray t ...
, Bruce Guthro,
J.P. Cormier John Paul "J.P." Cormier (born January 23, 1969), is a Canadian bluegrass music, bluegrass/Folk music, folk/Celtic music, Celtic singer-songwriter and multi-instrumentalist. To date he has won thirteen East Coast Music Awards and one Canadian Fol ...
and
Great Big Sea Great Big Sea was a Canadian folk rock band from Newfoundland and Labrador, best known for performing energetic rock interpretations of traditional Newfoundland folk songs including sea shanties, which draw from the island's 500-year Irish, Scot ...
. Each year, the association awards one person with the Dr.
Helen Creighton Mary Helen Creighton, CM (September 5, 1899 – December 12, 1989) was a prominent Canadian folklorist. She collected over 4,000 traditional songs, stories, and beliefs in a career that spanned several decades, and she published many books and ar ...
Lifetime Achievement Award. The award recognizes an artist or band that has had a profound and lasting effect on the Atlantic Canadian music industry, and the recipient is chosen by the ECMA board of directors. Helen Creighton (1899-1989) was an author and pioneer in the field of folklore, both nationally and internationally. In 1958, she was one of the judges at the first Miramichi Folksong Festival, organized by Louise Manny. Recipients of this prestigious award include
Stompin' Tom Connors Charles Thomas "Stompin' Tom" Connors, OC (February 9, 1936 – March 6, 2013) was a Canadian country and folk singer-songwriter. Focusing his career exclusively on his native Canada, he is credited with writing more than 300 songs and has rele ...
(1993),
Édith Butler Édith Butler (born Marie Nicole Butler, 27 July 1942) is an Acadian-Canadian singer-songwriter and folklorist of from New Brunswick’s Acadian Peninsula. Biography Édith Butler was born in Paquetville on the Acadian Peninsula in Glouces ...
(1997) and
Don Messer Donald Charles Frederick Messer (May 9, 1909 – March 26, 1973) was a Canadian musician, band leader, radio broadcaster, and defining icon of folk music during the 1960s. His CBC Television series '' Don Messer’s Jubilee'' (1959–69) feature ...
(1998). The ECMA is a registered non-profit association. Membership is open to all individuals working in any sector of the music industry, or those who support the music industry. Membership includes musicians, artists, agents, managers, record companies, studios, media, related corporation and retailers. As of 2021, it has over 1,000 members.


History

In 1989, Halifax music industry promoter Rob Cohn launched the Maritime Music Awards. In 1991, Cohn joined forces with
Sheri Jones Sheri Jones is a Canadian artist manager based in Halifax, Nova Scotia. She has managed a roster of Maritime musical artists for nearly three decades. Career Jones founded her company Jones & Co. Artist Management in 1993 after working alongside R ...
, Karen Byers, Lee Stanley, Mike Barkhouse, Peter Hendrickson, Bruce Morel and Tony Kelly to form the East Coast Music Association. The association's event became known as the East Coast Music Awards and covered all of the provinces in
Atlantic Canada Atlantic Canada, also called the Atlantic provinces (french: provinces de l'Atlantique), is the region of Eastern Canada comprising the provinces located on the Atlantic coast, excluding Quebec. The four provinces are New Brunswick, Newfoundlan ...
. The award trophy was designed by Nova Scotia sculptor Valerie J. Stone. The event moved from The Flamingo Cafe & Lounge to the Rebecca Cohn Auditorium at the
Dalhousie Arts Centre The Dalhousie Arts Centre, at Dalhousie University in Halifax, Nova Scotia, contains a number of theatres (including an outdoor rooftop theatre), Dalhousie Art Gallery, classrooms, and a sculpture garden. It remains the premier performing arts ve ...
and new awards were added. With the formation of provincial music industry associations it was decided that the event would move each year, revolving from province to province. The East Coast Music Awards: Festival and Conference is now a five-day event. Since 2002, its awards gala has been aired in a two-hour national broadcast on
CBC Television CBC Television (also known as CBC TV) is a Canadian English-language broadcast television network owned by the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation, the national public broadcaster. The network began operations on September 6, 1952. Its French-l ...
.


1989 Maritime Music Awards

Halifax, Nova Scotia Halifax is the capital and largest municipality of the Canadian province of Nova Scotia, and the largest municipality in Atlantic Canada. As of the 2021 Census, the municipal population was 439,819, with 348,634 people in its urban area. The ...
. The first Maritime Music Awards took place at The Flamingo Cafe & Lounge, which won Best Venue of the Year. There were just seven awards; winners were 100 Flowers,
Rita MacNeil Rita MacNeil (May 28, 1944 – April 16, 2013) was a Canadian singer from the community of Big Pond on Nova Scotia's Cape Breton Island. Her biggest hit, "Flying On Your Own", was a crossover Top 40 hit in 1987 and was covered by Anne Murray t ...
, Haywire,
Matt Minglewood Matt Minglewood (born Roy Alexander Batherson, January 31, 1947) is a Canadian musician whose style can be described as a blend of country, blues, folk, roots and rock. The name "Matt" was borrowed from his brother, Matt Batherson. Career B ...
and
John Gracie John Gracie is a Canadian folk music artist. Born in Glace Bay, Nova Scotia,John Gr ...
. Sarah McLachlan received three nominations and performed at the event, which was broadcast on Community Access TV Cable 10.


1990 Maritime Music Awards

Halifax, Nova Scotia Halifax is the capital and largest municipality of the Canadian province of Nova Scotia, and the largest municipality in Atlantic Canada. As of the 2021 Census, the municipal population was 439,819, with 348,634 people in its urban area. The ...
. This year, Cohn held the awards at the Crazy Horse Cabaret and were offered in eight categories. They were won by
Rita MacNeil Rita MacNeil (May 28, 1944 – April 16, 2013) was a Canadian singer from the community of Big Pond on Nova Scotia's Cape Breton Island. Her biggest hit, "Flying On Your Own", was a crossover Top 40 hit in 1987 and was covered by Anne Murray t ...
,
Anne Murray Morna Anne Murray (born June 20, 1945) is a retired Canadian singer. Her albums, consisting primarily of pop, country, and adult contemporary music, have sold over 55 million copies worldwide during her over 40-year career. Murray was the fir ...
,
John Gracie John Gracie is a Canadian folk music artist. Born in Glace Bay, Nova Scotia,John Gr ...
, Brett Ryan and the band ICU. Performers at the ceremony included
Matt Minglewood Matt Minglewood (born Roy Alexander Batherson, January 31, 1947) is a Canadian musician whose style can be described as a blend of country, blues, folk, roots and rock. The name "Matt" was borrowed from his brother, Matt Batherson. Career B ...
's Jam Band.


1991 East Coast Music Awards

Halifax, Nova Scotia Halifax is the capital and largest municipality of the Canadian province of Nova Scotia, and the largest municipality in Atlantic Canada. As of the 2021 Census, the municipal population was 439,819, with 348,634 people in its urban area. The ...
. There were 12 categories at the inaugural East Coast Music Awards. Winners were
Rita MacNeil Rita MacNeil (May 28, 1944 – April 16, 2013) was a Canadian singer from the community of Big Pond on Nova Scotia's Cape Breton Island. Her biggest hit, "Flying On Your Own", was a crossover Top 40 hit in 1987 and was covered by Anne Murray t ...
,
Stompin' Tom Connors Charles Thomas "Stompin' Tom" Connors, OC (February 9, 1936 – March 6, 2013) was a Canadian country and folk singer-songwriter. Focusing his career exclusively on his native Canada, he is credited with writing more than 300 songs and has rele ...
, The Rankin Family, Brett Ryan, Figgy Duff and local bands Black Pool and The Floorboards.


1992 East Coast Music Awards

Halifax, Nova Scotia Halifax is the capital and largest municipality of the Canadian province of Nova Scotia, and the largest municipality in Atlantic Canada. As of the 2021 Census, the municipal population was 439,819, with 348,634 people in its urban area. The ...
. For the second East Coast Music Awards, a trade show was added and there were 13 categories. Winners were the Barra MacNeils, Joan Kennedy, The Rankin Family, Sarah McLachlan,
Natalie MacMaster Natalie MacMaster (born June 13, 1972) is a Canadian fiddler from Troy, Inverness County, Nova Scotia who plays Cape Breton fiddle music. MacMaster has toured with the Chieftains, Faith Hill, Carlos Santana, and Alison Krauss, and has recorded ...
, Lennie Gallant, John Campbelljohn and the band Real World.


1993 East Coast Music Awards

Halifax, Nova Scotia Halifax is the capital and largest municipality of the Canadian province of Nova Scotia, and the largest municipality in Atlantic Canada. As of the 2021 Census, the municipal population was 439,819, with 348,634 people in its urban area. The ...
. The winners at this year's awards were
Anita Best Anita Best C.M. is a teacher, broadcaster, and well-known singer from the Atlantic province of Newfoundland and Labrador, Canada. With Genevieve Lehr, Best collected the songs for ''Come and I Will Sing You: A Newfoundland Songbook'', spending y ...
,
Pamela Morgan Pamela Morgan (born November 25, 1957) is a Canadian recording artist, songwriter, and owner of independent label Amber Music, now living in St. John's, Newfoundland and Labrador. From 1976 to 1995 she was lead singer of influential folk rock ba ...
, Terry Kelly, The Rankin Family,
Rita MacNeil Rita MacNeil (May 28, 1944 – April 16, 2013) was a Canadian singer from the community of Big Pond on Nova Scotia's Cape Breton Island. Her biggest hit, "Flying On Your Own", was a crossover Top 40 hit in 1987 and was covered by Anne Murray t ...
,
Rawlins Cross Rawlins Cross is a Celtic band that formed in 1988 in Atlantic Canada. With members from Newfoundland, Nova Scotia, Prince Edward Island and Ontario, the band took its name from an intersection in St. John's, Newfoundland. Formation and ea ...
, and Émile Benoît (posthumously). At these awards, The
Stompin’ Tom Connors Charles Thomas "Stompin' Tom" Connors, OC (February 9, 1936 – March 6, 2013) was a Canadian country and folk singer-songwriter. Focusing his career exclusively on his native Canada, he is credited with writing more than 300 songs and has rele ...
Award was created when Stompin’ Tom was presented with the Dr. Helen Creighton Lifetime Achievement Award. He preferred to return the award, and have an award be created to honor those who have made a significant, or long-term contribution to the East Coast Music Awards Industry.


1994 East Coast Music Awards

St. John's, Newfoundland and Labrador St. John's is the capital and largest city of the Canadian province of Newfoundland and Labrador, located on the eastern tip of the Avalon Peninsula on the island of Newfoundland. The city spans and is the easternmost city in North America ...
. The number of awards for this year increased to 16; winners were
Natalie MacMaster Natalie MacMaster (born June 13, 1972) is a Canadian fiddler from Troy, Inverness County, Nova Scotia who plays Cape Breton fiddle music. MacMaster has toured with the Chieftains, Faith Hill, Carlos Santana, and Alison Krauss, and has recorded ...
,
The Hardship Post The Hardship Post was a Canadian alternative rock band, that formed in St. John’s, Newfoundland in 1992 and moved to Halifax, Nova Scotia, during the Halifax Pop Explosion of the early 1990s. The band originally consisted of vocalist and guita ...
, Roger Howse and Ruff Ideas, The Rankin Family, Ron Hynes, Sarah McLachlan, the
Holly Cole Holly Cole (born November 25, 1963) is a Canadian jazz singer and actress. For many years she performed with her group The Holly Cole Trio. Background Cole was born in Halifax, Nova Scotia. Her father, Leon Cole, was a noted radio broadcaster ...
Trio,
The Irish Descendants The Irish Descendants are a folk group from St. John's, Newfoundland and Labrador, Canada. All the members, born of Irish emigrants, were workers in the Newfoundland fishing industry before forming the band in 1990 out of the remnants of two fo ...
and Lennie Gallant.


1995 East Coast Music Awards

Sydney, Nova Scotia Sydney is a former city and urban community on the east coast of Cape Breton Island in Nova Scotia, Canada within the Cape Breton Regional Municipality. Sydney was founded in 1785 by the British, was incorporated as a city in 1904, and dissolv ...
. This year's winners, in 17 categories, were Lennie Gallant, Eric's Trip, Symphony Nova Scotia,
The Irish Descendants The Irish Descendants are a folk group from St. John's, Newfoundland and Labrador, Canada. All the members, born of Irish emigrants, were workers in the Newfoundland fishing industry before forming the band in 1990 out of the remnants of two fo ...
,
Rita MacNeil Rita MacNeil (May 28, 1944 – April 16, 2013) was a Canadian singer from the community of Big Pond on Nova Scotia's Cape Breton Island. Her biggest hit, "Flying On Your Own", was a crossover Top 40 hit in 1987 and was covered by Anne Murray t ...
, Theresa Malenfant,
Ashley MacIsaac Ashley Dwayne MacIsaac (born February 24, 1975) is a Canadian fiddler, singer and songwriter from Cape Breton Island. He has received three Juno Awards, winning for Best New Solo Artist and Best Roots & Traditional Album – Solo at the Juno A ...
,
Rawlins Cross Rawlins Cross is a Celtic band that formed in 1988 in Atlantic Canada. With members from Newfoundland, Nova Scotia, Prince Edward Island and Ontario, the band took its name from an intersection in St. John's, Newfoundland. Formation and ea ...
, Chris Mitchell, Les Méchants Maquereaux and the Barra MacNeils.


1996 East Coast Music Awards

Charlottetown Charlottetown is the capital and largest city of the Canadian province of Prince Edward Island, and the county seat of Queens County. Named after Queen Charlotte, Charlottetown was an unincorporated town until it was incorporated as a city in ...
,
Prince Edward Island Prince Edward Island (PEI; ) is one of the thirteen Provinces and territories of Canada, provinces and territories of Canada. It is the smallest province in terms of land area and population, but the most densely populated. The island has seve ...
. This year's event was held at the
Eastlink Centre The Eastlink Centre (formerly known as the Charlottetown Civic Centre) is a combined hockey/basketball arena and trade and convention facility located in Charlottetown, Prince Edward Island, Canada. History The facility's original name was the ...
, which allowed it to swell to 4,000 people. Winners, in 19 categories, were
Lee Cremo Lee Cremo (30 December 1938 – 10 October 1999) was a Mi'kmaq fiddler from Cape Breton Island, Canada. Early life He was born on 30 December 1938 in Barra Head, Richmond County, Cape Breton Island. His family moved to Eskasoni, Cape Breton when ...
, Annick Gagnon, Ray Legere, Laura Smith, Sloan, the Saint John String Quartet,
Stompin’ Tom Connors Charles Thomas "Stompin' Tom" Connors, OC (February 9, 1936 – March 6, 2013) was a Canadian country and folk singer-songwriter. Focusing his career exclusively on his native Canada, he is credited with writing more than 300 songs and has rele ...
,
Great Big Sea Great Big Sea was a Canadian folk rock band from Newfoundland and Labrador, best known for performing energetic rock interpretations of traditional Newfoundland folk songs including sea shanties, which draw from the island's 500-year Irish, Scot ...
, Goodspeed and Staples Quartet,
Dave MacIsaac Dave MacIsaac (born 1955) is a Canadian musician from Nova Scotia who plays the fiddle and guitar, specialising in the Celtic music style. He has two children, a daughter Mary Clare and a son named Angus. Awards and recognition *1996: East Coas ...
, The Rankin Family, Duncan Wells and the Barra MacNeils.


1997 East Coast Music Awards

Moncton Moncton (; ) is the most populous city in the Provinces and territories of Canada, Canadian province of New Brunswick. Situated in the Petitcodiac River Valley, Moncton lies at the geographic centre of the The Maritimes, Maritime Provinces. The ...
,
New Brunswick New Brunswick (french: Nouveau-Brunswick, , locally ) is one of the thirteen provinces and territories of Canada. It is one of the three Maritime provinces and one of the four Atlantic provinces. It is the only province with both English and ...
. This year, 7,000 awards show guests attended the televised broadcast in Moncton, with special guest
Édith Butler Édith Butler (born Marie Nicole Butler, 27 July 1942) is an Acadian-Canadian singer-songwriter and folklorist of from New Brunswick’s Acadian Peninsula. Biography Édith Butler was born in Paquetville on the Acadian Peninsula in Glouces ...
and broadcaster
Peter Gzowski Peter John Gzowski (July 13, 1934 â€“ January 24, 2002), known colloquially as "Mr. Canada", or "Captain Canada",Mary Gazze Canadian Press via The ''Toronto Star'', August 23, 2010. Retrieved 2016-06-27. was a Canadian broadcaster, write ...
. The event attracted 1,500 delegates, including 200 media from around the world, and injected $3-million into the local economy. There was a 76-hour jam session, a Cape Breton Rave Night and a concert series featuring
Great Big Sea Great Big Sea was a Canadian folk rock band from Newfoundland and Labrador, best known for performing energetic rock interpretations of traditional Newfoundland folk songs including sea shanties, which draw from the island's 500-year Irish, Scot ...
, Four the Moment, Barachois and Bruce Guthro, who signed with
EMI EMI Group Limited (originally an initialism for Electric and Musical Industries, also referred to as EMI Records Ltd. or simply EMI) was a British transnational conglomerate founded in March 1931 in London. At the time of its break-up in 201 ...
Music Canada that week-end. The winners, in 20 categories, were Sloan,
Ashley MacIsaac Ashley Dwayne MacIsaac (born February 24, 1975) is a Canadian fiddler, singer and songwriter from Cape Breton Island. He has received three Juno Awards, winning for Best New Solo Artist and Best Roots & Traditional Album – Solo at the Juno A ...
,
Natalie MacMaster Natalie MacMaster (born June 13, 1972) is a Canadian fiddler from Troy, Inverness County, Nova Scotia who plays Cape Breton fiddle music. MacMaster has toured with the Chieftains, Faith Hill, Carlos Santana, and Alison Krauss, and has recorded ...
, Barachois, Teresa Doyle, Puirt a Baroque, Terry Kelly,
Great Big Sea Great Big Sea was a Canadian folk rock band from Newfoundland and Labrador, best known for performing energetic rock interpretations of traditional Newfoundland folk songs including sea shanties, which draw from the island's 500-year Irish, Scot ...
,
Mary Jane Lamond Mary Jane Lamond (born 1960) is a Canadian Celtic folk musician who performs traditional Canadian Gaelic folk songs from Cape Breton Island. Her music combines traditional and contemporary material. Lamond is known as the vocalist on Ashley MacI ...
,
Jeri Brown Jeri Brown (born 1952 in Missouri) is an American jazz singer, songwriter, and professor. Life and work Jeri Brown grew up in St. Louis, where she first appeared in public at age six. In Iowa, she studied classical singing, and later appeare ...
, the
Nova Scotia Mass Choir The Nova Scotia Mass Choir is a Canadian choral ensemble based in Halifax, Nova Scotia. The choir performs mainly black gospel music, and focuses on spreading the message of racial harmony. History The Nova Scotia Mass Choir was founded in 1992. ...
, Bruce Guthro children's entertainers Audrey and Alex, and the bluegrass group Exit 13.


1998 East Coast Music Awards

Halifax, Nova Scotia Halifax is the capital and largest municipality of the Canadian province of Nova Scotia, and the largest municipality in Atlantic Canada. As of the 2021 Census, the municipal population was 439,819, with 348,634 people in its urban area. The ...
. The winners this year, in 26 categories, were Sarah McLachlan, Exit 13, Four the Moment, the Glamour Puss Blues Band,
Great Big Sea Great Big Sea was a Canadian folk rock band from Newfoundland and Labrador, best known for performing energetic rock interpretations of traditional Newfoundland folk songs including sea shanties, which draw from the island's 500-year Irish, Scot ...
,
The Super Friendz The Super Friendz are a Canadian indie rock band from Halifax, Nova Scotia. They were initially active between 1994 and 1997, before reforming in 2003. Contemporaries of Sloan, their early work was on Sloan's Murderecords label. Career The Su ...
, Lennie Gallant, Symphony Nova Scotia with Georg Tintner, the Johnny Favourite Swing Orchestra, Julian Austin,
J.P. Cormier John Paul "J.P." Cormier (born January 23, 1969), is a Canadian bluegrass music, bluegrass/Folk music, folk/Celtic music, Celtic singer-songwriter and multi-instrumentalist. To date he has won thirteen East Coast Music Awards and one Canadian Fol ...
, Jamie Sparks, Richard Wood, Michelle Boudreau Samson, Sam the Record Man, graphic designer Carol Kennedy, media members Greg Guy and Mike Campbell, sound technician David Hillier, and production company Tour Tech East.


1999 East Coast Music Awards

St. John's, Newfoundland and Labrador St. John's is the capital and largest city of the Canadian province of Newfoundland and Labrador, located on the eastern tip of the Avalon Peninsula on the island of Newfoundland. The city spans and is the easternmost city in North America ...
. The winners this year, in 19 categories, were Este Mundo,
Gordie Sampson Gordon Francis Sampson (born July 30, 1971) is a Canadian singer-songwriter and producer from Big Pond, Nova Scotia. Beginning his career as a performer on his hometown island of Cape Breton, both in bands and on his own, Sampson has gone on to ...
, Blou, The John Campbelljohn Trio, Bruce Guthro,
Sol Sol or SOL may refer to: Astronomy * The Sun Currency * SOL Project, a currency project in France * French sol, or sou * Argentine sol * Bolivian sol, the currency of Bolivia from 1827 to 1864 * Peruvian sol, introduced in 1991 * Peruvian sol ( ...
, children's entertainers Kidd Brothers, David MacDonald,
Great Big Sea Great Big Sea was a Canadian folk rock band from Newfoundland and Labrador, best known for performing energetic rock interpretations of traditional Newfoundland folk songs including sea shanties, which draw from the island's 500-year Irish, Scot ...
,
Natalie MacMaster Natalie MacMaster (born June 13, 1972) is a Canadian fiddler from Troy, Inverness County, Nova Scotia who plays Cape Breton fiddle music. MacMaster has toured with the Chieftains, Faith Hill, Carlos Santana, and Alison Krauss, and has recorded ...
,
Shirley Eikhard Shirley Rose Eikhard (7 November 1955 – 15 December 2022) was a Canadian singer-songwriter. Although moderately successful in Canada as a performer in her own right, she had her greatest Canadian and international success as a songwriter for ...
, The Rankin Family,
Rawlins Cross Rawlins Cross is a Celtic band that formed in 1988 in Atlantic Canada. With members from Newfoundland, Nova Scotia, Prince Edward Island and Ontario, the band took its name from an intersection in St. John's, Newfoundland. Formation and ea ...
, and
Denise Murray Denise Murray (born March 8, 1964 - September 15, 2020) was a Canadian female country music singer. Signed to Loggerhead Records in 1997, Murray released her debut album, ''What You Mean to Me'', which included the top ten hit "Has Anybody Seen ...
.


2000 East Coast Music Awards

Sydney, Nova Scotia Sydney is a former city and urban community on the east coast of Cape Breton Island in Nova Scotia, Canada within the Cape Breton Regional Municipality. Sydney was founded in 1785 by the British, was incorporated as a city in 1904, and dissolv ...
. This was an economically successful event that allowed the ECMA to gain a sound financial footing. It commemorated the influence of The Rankin Family Cape Breton's Celtic Music family, and launched Radio freECMA, a low-power radio station that, in a partnership with the government of
Prince Edward Island Prince Edward Island (PEI; ) is one of the thirteen Provinces and territories of Canada, provinces and territories of Canada. It is the smallest province in terms of land area and population, but the most densely populated. The island has seve ...
, provided coverage over the Internet. It also launched Continuous Jam, a three-day musical extravaganza featuring sets from all genres and from all levels of Atlantic Canadian talent. At the
15th Gemini Awards The Academy of Canadian Cinema & Television's 15th Gemini Awards were held on October 30, 2000, to honour achievements in Canadian television. The awards show, which was hosted by Steve Smith, took place at the John Bassett Theatre and was broadc ...
, the awards show won Best Music, Variety Program or Series.


2001 East Coast Music Awards

Charlottetown Charlottetown is the capital and largest city of the Canadian province of Prince Edward Island, and the county seat of Queens County. Named after Queen Charlotte, Charlottetown was an unincorporated town until it was incorporated as a city in ...
,
Prince Edward Island Prince Edward Island (PEI; ) is one of the thirteen Provinces and territories of Canada, provinces and territories of Canada. It is the smallest province in terms of land area and population, but the most densely populated. The island has seve ...
attracted more than 1,700 delegates and debuted the Jazz/Classical Concert Series. The event fostered interest in the formation of the Prince Edward Island Music Awards and introduced Soundwaves, a program that sees musicians visiting schools throughout P.E.I., and hospitals, businesses and churches in
Charlottetown Charlottetown is the capital and largest city of the Canadian province of Prince Edward Island, and the county seat of Queens County. Named after Queen Charlotte, Charlottetown was an unincorporated town until it was incorporated as a city in ...
. Over this weekend, the
Ennis Sisters The Ennis Sisters are a Canadian musical family group from St. John's, Newfoundland and Labrador, St. John's, Newfoundland and Labrador. Biography The Ennis Sisters, Maureen, Karen and Teresa, started playing music at a young age, encouraged by ...
signed a two-record deal with Warner Music Canada. At the
16th Gemini Awards The Academy of Canadian Cinema & Television's 16th Gemini Awards were held on October 29, 2001, to honour achievements in Canadian television. The awards show, which was hosted by Mike Bullard, took place at the Metro Toronto Convention Centre a ...
, the awards show won Best Music, Variety Program or Series.


2002 East Coast Music Awards

Saint John, New Brunswick Saint John is a seaport city of the Atlantic Ocean located on the Bay of Fundy in the province of New Brunswick, Canada. Saint John is the oldest incorporated city in Canada, established by royal charter on May 18, 1785, during the reign of Ki ...
. The competitive bid process in
New Brunswick New Brunswick (french: Nouveau-Brunswick, , locally ) is one of the thirteen provinces and territories of Canada. It is one of the three Maritime provinces and one of the four Atlantic provinces. It is the only province with both English and ...
sparked community involvement and drew over 2200 delegates. New initiatives were an industry awards brunch, the Warner Roots Room for acoustic performances, the UniSon bilingual concert, and the bluegrass stage that attracted an estimated 5,000 fans. In addition to the national
CBC Television CBC Television (also known as CBC TV) is a Canadian English-language broadcast television network owned by the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation, the national public broadcaster. The network began operations on September 6, 1952. Its French-l ...
broadcast of the awards show, the
MuchMusic Much (an abbreviation for its full name MuchMusic) is a Canadian English language specialty channel owned by BCE Inc. through its Bell Media subsidiary that airs programming aimed at teenagers and young adults. MuchMusic launched on August 31 ...
ECMA Rock stage got a prime-time special on ''Much,'' and CBC Radio's ''
Definitely Not the Opera ''Definitely Not the Opera'' (or simply ''DNTO'') was a magazine-style radio program focusing on aspects of pop culture and storytelling, that aired on CBC Radio One on Saturday afternoons from 1994 until 2016. The show's running time varied ove ...
'' broadcast live from the main stage. The Dr.
Helen Creighton Mary Helen Creighton, CM (September 5, 1899 – December 12, 1989) was a prominent Canadian folklorist. She collected over 4,000 traditional songs, stories, and beliefs in a career that spanned several decades, and she published many books and ar ...
Lifetime Achievement Award was presented to famed fiddler Ned Landry.


2003 East Coast Music Awards

Halifax, Nova Scotia Halifax is the capital and largest municipality of the Canadian province of Nova Scotia, and the largest municipality in Atlantic Canada. As of the 2021 Census, the municipal population was 439,819, with 348,634 people in its urban area. The ...
. The conference celebrated its 15-year anniversary with the City of Stages, or 14 live stages. Approximately 2000 delegates attended. The Soundwaves Program brought music to 30,000 students throughout the region, and corporate sponsorship and support for ECMA reached new heights. An Urban Music Series featuring hip-hop, R&B and the Black Vibes Showcase were initiated. ECMA 2003 brought international bookings to several East Coast artists as European music industry professionals were in attendance. At the
18th Gemini Awards The Academy of Canadian Cinema & Television's 18th Gemini Awards were held on October 20, 2003, to honour achievements in Canadian television. The awards show, which was hosted by Seán Cullen, took place at the John Bassett Theatre and was bro ...
, the awards show was nominated for Best Music, Variety Program or Series.


2004 East Coast Music Awards

St. John's, Newfoundland and Labrador St. John's is the capital and largest city of the Canadian province of Newfoundland and Labrador, located on the eastern tip of the Avalon Peninsula on the island of Newfoundland. The city spans and is the easternmost city in North America ...
. A strategic partnership was developed with the Atlantic Film Festival, and film and TV elements were introduced to the conference. A number of East Coast recording artists negotiated contracts for national licensing and distribution deals. The ECMA Songwriters Circle was broadcast live across the country on
CBC Radio CBC Radio is the English-language radio operations of the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation. The CBC operates a number of radio networks serving different audiences and programming niches, all of which (regardless of language) are outlined below ...
and across
Atlantic Canada Atlantic Canada, also called the Atlantic provinces (french: provinces de l'Atlantique), is the region of Eastern Canada comprising the provinces located on the Atlantic coast, excluding Quebec. The four provinces are New Brunswick, Newfoundlan ...
on
CBC Television CBC Television (also known as CBC TV) is a Canadian English-language broadcast television network owned by the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation, the national public broadcaster. The network began operations on September 6, 1952. Its French-l ...
. The Government of Newfoundland & Labrador noted that the awards represented a regional economic impact of $6 million.


2005 East Coast Music Awards

Sydney, Nova Scotia Sydney is a former city and urban community on the east coast of Cape Breton Island in Nova Scotia, Canada within the Cape Breton Regional Municipality. Sydney was founded in 1785 by the British, was incorporated as a city in 1904, and dissolv ...
. This was the first major event held at the new Membertou Trade and Convention Centre and the Sydney Marine Terminal. The conference included a new international program (50+ delegates) and successful partnering with
Cape Breton University , "Diligence Will Prevail" , mottoeng = Perseverance Will Triumph , established = 1951 as Xavier Junior College 1968 as NSEIT 1974 as College Of Cape Breton 1982 as University College of Cape Breton 2005 as Cape Breton ...
. The lifetime achievement award was presented to legendary fiddler
Buddy MacMaster Hugh Alan "Buddy" MacMaster (October 18, 1924 – August 20, 2014) was a Canadian fiddler. He performed and recorded both locally and internationally, and was regarded as an expert on the tradition and lore of Cape Breton fiddle music. Early l ...
. The ECMA began moving towards a master class format, presenting classes in songwriting, export readiness and musical scoring for gaming and television. The success of the Soundwaves was parlayed into a new program, Sound-off, a band competition among schools across Cape Breton.


2006 East Coast Music Awards

Charlottetown Charlottetown is the capital and largest city of the Canadian province of Prince Edward Island, and the county seat of Queens County. Named after Queen Charlotte, Charlottetown was an unincorporated town until it was incorporated as a city in ...
,
Prince Edward Island Prince Edward Island (PEI; ) is one of the thirteen Provinces and territories of Canada, provinces and territories of Canada. It is the smallest province in terms of land area and population, but the most densely populated. The island has seve ...
. For the first time, organizers held the gala dinner and industry awards ceremony on Saturday night. The Songwriters' Circle and the Rogers Television Yamaha 72-Hour Jam were featured events; the CBC moved the televised broadcast from Sunday night to Monday night. At the 2006 Gemini Awards, the event's hosts--
Trailer Park Boys ''Trailer Park Boys'' is a Canadian mockumentary sitcom television series created by Mike Clattenburg that began airing in 2001 as a continuation of his 1999 film bearing the same name. The show follows the misadventures of a group of trailer pa ...
Mike Smith, Robb Wells and John Paul Tremblay, were nominated for Best Performance or Host in a Variety Program or Series.


2007 East Coast Music Awards

Halifax,
Nova Scotia Nova Scotia ( ; ; ) is one of the thirteen provinces and territories of Canada. It is one of the three Maritime provinces and one of the four Atlantic provinces. Nova Scotia is Latin for "New Scotland". Most of the population are native Eng ...
. For the first time, the event was introduced as the East Coast Music Awards, Festival and Conference. The four-day conference had 50+ international music industry delegates. The show marked the recent passing of East Coast legends John Allan Cameron,
Dutch Mason Dutch Mason, (19 February 1938 – 23 December 2006) was a Canadian musician from Halifax, Nova Scotia. He was inducted into the Canadian Jazz and Blues Hall of Fame, and was inducted into the Order of Canada in 2005. Career Dutch started p ...
and
Denny Doherty Dennis Gerrard Stephen Doherty (November 29, 1940 – January 19, 2007) was a Canadian singer. He was a founding member of the 1960s musical group the Mamas and the Papas for which he was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1998. ...
. The three
Trailer Park Boys ''Trailer Park Boys'' is a Canadian mockumentary sitcom television series created by Mike Clattenburg that began airing in 2001 as a continuation of his 1999 film bearing the same name. The show follows the misadventures of a group of trailer pa ...
returned as hosts. ECMAfest brought the downtown Halifax to life with many official and partnered stages.


2008 East Coast Music Awards

Fredericton Fredericton (; ) is the capital city of the Canadian province of New Brunswick. The city is situated in the west-central portion of the province along the Saint John River, which flows west to east as it bisects the city. The river is the do ...
,
New Brunswick New Brunswick (french: Nouveau-Brunswick, , locally ) is one of the thirteen provinces and territories of Canada. It is one of the three Maritime provinces and one of the four Atlantic provinces. It is the only province with both English and ...
. The focus this year was on Aboriginal musical talent, via the Aboriginal Partnered Showcase. The music awards gala was held at the
Aitken Centre The Aitken University Centre is located on the campus of the University of New Brunswick in Fredericton, New Brunswick. Constructed in 1976, it is the home of the UNB Varsity Reds hockey and hosted UNB basketball games until the construction of t ...
, and Steven Page from the
Barenaked Ladies Barenaked Ladies is a Canadian rock band formed in 1988 in Scarborough, Ontario. The band developed a following in Canada, with their self-titled 1991 cassette becoming the first independent release to be certified gold in Canada. They reach ...
hosted the entire event (coining the term "Barenaked East Coast Music"). This year's event was not televised; instead, a TV special was broadcast with scenes of venues, awards presentations and hotel antics. The year's big winner was Joel Plaskett Emergency who won seven awards, most centering on his acclaimed concept release '' Ashtray Rock''. The Dr.
Helen Creighton Mary Helen Creighton, CM (September 5, 1899 – December 12, 1989) was a prominent Canadian folklorist. She collected over 4,000 traditional songs, stories, and beliefs in a career that spanned several decades, and she published many books and ar ...
Lifetime Achievement Award was presented to the
Acadia Acadia (french: link=no, Acadie) was a colony of New France in northeastern North America which included parts of what are now the Maritime provinces, the Gaspé Peninsula and Maine to the Kennebec River. During much of the 17th and early ...
n group 1755. New this year was the Stompin' Tom Award, dedicated to the unsung heroes of Atlantic music.
Stompin' Tom Connors Charles Thomas "Stompin' Tom" Connors, OC (February 9, 1936 – March 6, 2013) was a Canadian country and folk singer-songwriter. Focusing his career exclusively on his native Canada, he is credited with writing more than 300 songs and has rele ...
created the concept for this award in 1993 to pay homage to musicians that have made long-term contributions to the East coast music industry, and artists from each Maritime province were honoured--Ivan and Vivian Hicks (New Brunswick), The Ducats (Newfoundland and Labrador), The Tremtones (Prince Edward Island), Oakley (Mainland Nova Scotia), and Aldun MacVicar (Cape Breton). A 2009 study found that, in 2007 and 2008, the ECMA generated a local economic impact of $8 million, not including sales by artists and companies.


2009 East Coast Music Awards

Corner Brook Corner Brook ( 2021 population: 19,333 CA 29,762) is a city located on the west coast of the island of Newfoundland in the province of Newfoundland and Labrador, Canada. Corner Brook is the fifth largest settlement in Newfoundland and Labrador. ...
,
Newfoundland and Labrador Newfoundland and Labrador (; french: Terre-Neuve-et-Labrador; frequently abbreviated as NL) is the easternmost province of Canada, in the country's Atlantic region. The province comprises the island of Newfoundland and the continental region ...
. The hosts for the event were Damhnait Doyle and
Jian Ghomeshi Jian Ghomeshi (born June 9, 1967) is a British-born Persian-Canadian broadcaster, writer, musician, producer and former CBC personality. From 1990 to 2000, he was a vocalist and drummer in the Thornhill-based folk-pop band Moxy Früvous. In ...
of CBC Radio One's ''Q''. The show began with a skit featuring Premier Danny Williams and included the posthumous awarding of the Dr.
Helen Creighton Mary Helen Creighton, CM (September 5, 1899 – December 12, 1989) was a prominent Canadian folklorist. She collected over 4,000 traditional songs, stories, and beliefs in a career that spanned several decades, and she published many books and ar ...
Lifetime Achievement Award to the Corner Brook country and western pioneer
Dick Nolan Rick Nolan is a Minnesota politician. Richard Nolan may also refer to *Dick Nolan (American football) (1932–2007), American football player, father of Mike Nolan, former head coach of San Francisco 49ers *Dick Nolan (musician) (1939–2005), Cana ...
. Multiple award-winners were
Hey Rosetta! Hey Rosetta! is a Canadian seven-piece indie rock band from St. John's, Newfoundland and Labrador and led by singer/songwriter Tim Baker. Known for their energized live shows, the band created a large, layered sound by incorporating piano, viol ...
,
Jill Barber Jill Barber (born February 6, 1980) is a Canadian singer-songwriter. Originally associated with the folk-pop genre, she has performed vocal jazz and pop music on her more recent albums.Gordie Sampson Gordon Francis Sampson (born July 30, 1971) is a Canadian singer-songwriter and producer from Big Pond, Nova Scotia. Beginning his career as a performer on his hometown island of Cape Breton, both in bands and on his own, Sampson has gone on to ...
and Matt Andersen. The show featured the reunion of
Rawlins Cross Rawlins Cross is a Celtic band that formed in 1988 in Atlantic Canada. With members from Newfoundland, Nova Scotia, Prince Edward Island and Ontario, the band took its name from an intersection in St. John's, Newfoundland. Formation and ea ...
, and introduced the ECMA Fan's Choice Award, presented to Nova Scotia rapper Classified.


2010 East Coast Music Awards

Sydney, Nova Scotia Sydney is a former city and urban community on the east coast of Cape Breton Island in Nova Scotia, Canada within the Cape Breton Regional Municipality. Sydney was founded in 1785 by the British, was incorporated as a city in 1904, and dissolv ...
. This year, the awards were the
Bell Aliant Bell Aliant is a brand name used by Bell Canada for Telecommunications in Canada, telecommunications services in Atlantic Canada. Prior to 2015, Bell Aliant Inc. (formerly Aliant Inc.) was a separate company providing telecom services in the Atl ...
2010 East Coast Music Awards presented by RBC at
Centre 200 Centre 200 is Cape Breton's primary sports and entertainment facility, located in Sydney, Nova Scotia. It is home to the QMJHL's Cape Breton Eagles. Besides ice hockey, the arena hosts many other events, such as rock concerts, figure skating, an ...
. Multiple award-winners were
Catherine MacLellan Catherine MacLellan is a Canadian folk singer-songwriter, based in Prince Edward Island. Early life The daughter of Canadian songwriter Gene MacLellan, MacLellan was born in Burlington, Ontario but raised in Summerside, Prince Edward Island. ...
,
In-Flight Safety In-Flight Safety is a Canadian indie rock band formed in 2003. In-Flight Safety was nominated for a 2007 Juno Award for Video of the Year for "Coast Is Clear". They are currently based in Halifax, Nova Scotia. The group consists of vocalist ...
, The Motorleague and
Joel Plaskett William Joel MacDonald Plaskett (born April 18, 1975) is a Canadian rock musician and songwriter based in Halifax, Nova Scotia. He was a member of Halifax alternative rock band Thrush Hermit in the 1990s. Plaskett performs in a number of genres ...
, who won six awards, including Sennheiser Entertainer of the Year. The Rankin Family was honoured with the Director’s Special Achievement Award for their extraordinary contribution to East Coast music, and the Dr.
Helen Creighton Mary Helen Creighton, CM (September 5, 1899 – December 12, 1989) was a prominent Canadian folklorist. She collected over 4,000 traditional songs, stories, and beliefs in a career that spanned several decades, and she published many books and ar ...
Lifetime Achievement Award was posthumously awarded to Scott Turner, whose son Trevor Turnball played four of his songs.


2011 East Coast Music Awards

Charlottetown Charlottetown is the capital and largest city of the Canadian province of Prince Edward Island, and the county seat of Queens County. Named after Queen Charlotte, Charlottetown was an unincorporated town until it was incorporated as a city in ...
,
Prince Edward Island Prince Edward Island (PEI; ) is one of the thirteen Provinces and territories of Canada, provinces and territories of Canada. It is the smallest province in terms of land area and population, but the most densely populated. The island has seve ...
. The East Coast Music Association changed format this year. The number of awards was down to 28, and they were presented on different days, and at different venues and concerts around the city, culminating with the Bell Aliant 2011 East Coast Music Awards Gala presented by RBC. This was the first year of A Sound Celebration, which brings together pop stars and musicians from orchestras. This year, it was PEI artists Jenn Grant, Meaghan Blanchard,
Paper Lions Paper Lions (formerly the Chucky Danger Band) is a Canadian indie rock band, formed and based in Charlottetown, Prince Edward Island. They have toured around Canada, and have released several albums, including 2016's ''Full Colour''. History In ...
, Richard Wood,
Vishtèn Vishtèn is a Canadian folk music group from Prince Edward Island and the Magdalen Islands, whose style is rooted in Acadian music.Symphony Nova Scotia.


2012 East Coast Music Awards

Moncton Moncton (; ) is the most populous city in the Provinces and territories of Canada, Canadian province of New Brunswick. Situated in the Petitcodiac River Valley, Moncton lies at the geographic centre of the The Maritimes, Maritime Provinces. The ...
,
New Brunswick New Brunswick (french: Nouveau-Brunswick, , locally ) is one of the thirteen provinces and territories of Canada. It is one of the three Maritime provinces and one of the four Atlantic provinces. It is the only province with both English and ...
. This year saw the launch of the ECMA Breakout Stage, a new program for emerging artists that uses workshops and performances to foster new artists. ECMA partnered with the Province of New Brunswick and the local Capitol Theatre to host a First Nation’s showcase. A Sound Celebration brought together musicians from Atlantic Simphonia, Symphony New Brunswick and the
New Brunswick Youth Orchestra The New Brunswick Youth Orchestra, NBYO for short, (french: L’orchestre des jeunes du Nouveau-Brunswick, OJNB) is a youth orchestra based in Saint John, New Brunswick, Canada. Founded in 1965, the orchestra has approximately 80 members from acr ...
,
Chris Colepaugh Chris Colepaugh is a blues-rock musician and front man of the band Chris Colepaugh and the Cosmic Crew. The band was founded in Moncton, New Brunswick, Canada, in 1996. A busy touring band, Chris Colepaugh and the Cosmic Crew won the East Coast M ...
, David Myles, Samantha Robichaud and Matt Andersen. Multiple winners were Anderson, Myles,
Hey Rosetta! Hey Rosetta! is a Canadian seven-piece indie rock band from St. John's, Newfoundland and Labrador and led by singer/songwriter Tim Baker. Known for their energized live shows, the band created a large, layered sound by incorporating piano, viol ...
, Keith Mullins and Scott MacMillan. Jimmy Rankin led with eight nominations but won the Fans’ Choice Video of the Year award. Roch Voisine was presented with the Director's Special Achievement Award; Voisine was also the host of the gala, which was streamed live from
Casino New Brunswick Casino New Brunswick is located in the Magnetic Hill Area of Moncton, New Brunswick, Canada. Casino Complex On May 8, 2008, Sonco Gaming New Brunswick Limited Partnership was selected as the successful proponent for the New Brunswick Destinatio ...
.
Catherine McKinnon Catherine McKinnon (born May 14, 1944) is a Canadian actress and folk/pop singer. Early life and education Born in Saint John, New Brunswick, McKinnon began as a child performer, making her debut radio broadcast at age eight and her television ...
was presented with The Dr.
Helen Creighton Mary Helen Creighton, CM (September 5, 1899 – December 12, 1989) was a prominent Canadian folklorist. She collected over 4,000 traditional songs, stories, and beliefs in a career that spanned several decades, and she published many books and ar ...
Lifetime Achievement Award.


2013 East Coast Music Awards

Halifax,
Nova Scotia Nova Scotia ( ; ; ) is one of the thirteen provinces and territories of Canada. It is one of the three Maritime provinces and one of the four Atlantic provinces. Nova Scotia is Latin for "New Scotland". Most of the population are native Eng ...
. Over 1,100 musicians applied to perform on the event's 10 stages. There were 39 categories this year; winners were Lone Cloud, Cam Smith, Matt Mays, Charlie A`Court, Donna & Andy,
Derek Charke Derek Charke (; born 1974) is a Canadian classical composer and flutist. Career In 2012, Derek Charke won the Juno Award for Classical Composition of the Year, Juno Award for Classical Composition of the Year for his work, "Sepia Fragments." The ...
, Helen Pridmore and Wesley Ferreira, RyLee Madison, English Words,
The Stanfields The Stanfields are a Canadian rock music group, based in Halifax, Nova Scotia.
,
George Canyon George Canyon (born Frederick George Lays, August 22, 1970) is a Canadian country music singer. He was the runner up on the second season of ''Nashville Star'' in 2004. He grew up in Fox Brook, Pictou County, Nova Scotia before he moved west to ...
, Rose Cousins (who co-hosted the event with David Myles),
Vishtèn Vishtèn is a Canadian folk music group from Prince Edward Island and the Magdalen Islands, whose style is rooted in Acadian music.Jenn Grant,
Radio Radio "Radio Radio" is a song written by Elvis Costello and performed by Elvis Costello and the Attractions. The song originated as a Bruce Springsteen-inspired song called "Radio Soul" that Costello had written in 1974. In 1977, Costello reworked ...
,
Joel Plaskett William Joel MacDonald Plaskett (born April 18, 1975) is a Canadian rock musician and songwriter based in Halifax, Nova Scotia. He was a member of Halifax alternative rock band Thrush Hermit in the 1990s. Plaskett performs in a number of genres ...
,
Ben Caplan Ben Caplan is a Canadian folk musician from Halifax, Nova Scotia. He often performs with his band The Casual Smokers, and his first full-length studio album, ''In the Time of the Great Remembering'', was released on October 20, 2011. His second r ...
,
Tim Chaisson Timothy Chaisson (born September 6, 1986) is a Canadian singer/songwriter from Souris, Prince Edward Island. He is a member of Juno Award winning group, The East Pointers. Early years Tim Chaisson is a member of the extended Chaisson family, ...
,
The Once The Once is a folk trio based in St. John's, Newfoundland, Canada. The group features Geraldine Hollett on lead vocals and vocalist-instrumentalists Phil Churchill and Andrew Dale playing a variety of instruments. The group performs a mix of orig ...
,
Dave Gunning Dave Gunning is a Canadian folk singer-songwriter born in Pictou County, Nova Scotia. Gunning credits the first live concert he ever observed, a 1981 double bill of John Allan Cameron and Stan Rogers, to be a major driving force in shaping the ...
,
Natalie MacMaster Natalie MacMaster (born June 13, 1972) is a Canadian fiddler from Troy, Inverness County, Nova Scotia who plays Cape Breton fiddle music. MacMaster has toured with the Chieftains, Faith Hill, Carlos Santana, and Alison Krauss, and has recorded ...
,
Gypsophilia Gypsophilia was a Canadians, Canadian jazz band from Nova Scotia. The band is composed of Ross Burns, Alec Frith, Nick Wilkinson (guitars), Gina Burgess (violin), Adam Fine (double bass), Matt Myer (trumpet), and Sageev Oore (piano, keyboards, ac ...
, The Halifax Pop Explosion, Lakewind Sound Studios, Sound Engineers Jamie Foulds and David Hillier, Manager Louis Thomas, producer Daniel Ledwell, Fred’s Records, Radio host Jimmie Inch, graphic designer Jud Haynes, CBC Mainstreet Nova Scotia and The Carleton Music Bar & Grill. The event also featured a video tribute to country music legend
Stompin' Tom Connors Charles Thomas "Stompin' Tom" Connors, OC (February 9, 1936 – March 6, 2013) was a Canadian country and folk singer-songwriter. Focusing his career exclusively on his native Canada, he is credited with writing more than 300 songs and has rele ...
, who died a few days before the event.


2014 East Coast Music Awards

Charlottetown Charlottetown is the capital and largest city of the Canadian province of Prince Edward Island, and the county seat of Queens County. Named after Queen Charlotte, Charlottetown was an unincorporated town until it was incorporated as a city in ...
,
Prince Edward Island Prince Edward Island (PEI; ) is one of the thirteen Provinces and territories of Canada, provinces and territories of Canada. It is the smallest province in terms of land area and population, but the most densely populated. The island has seve ...
. The Awards Gala was hosted by
Seamus O'Regan Seamus Thomas Harris O'Regan (born January 18, 1971) is a Canadian politician who served as the Minister of Natural Resources from 2019 to 2021. A member of the Liberal Party, O'Regan has represented St. John's South—Mount Pearl in the Hou ...
. Old Man Luedecke and
Dave Gunning Dave Gunning is a Canadian folk singer-songwriter born in Pictou County, Nova Scotia. Gunning credits the first live concert he ever observed, a 1981 double bill of John Allan Cameron and Stan Rogers, to be a major driving force in shaping the ...
were multiple winners.
Rita MacNeil Rita MacNeil (May 28, 1944 – April 16, 2013) was a Canadian singer from the community of Big Pond on Nova Scotia's Cape Breton Island. Her biggest hit, "Flying On Your Own", was a crossover Top 40 hit in 1987 and was covered by Anne Murray t ...
, who died in 2013, was honoured with the Directors' Special Achievement Award. The Dr. Helen Creighton Lifetime Achievement Award went to The Chaisson Trio, the Industry Builder Award to Grady Poe, and the Musician's Achievement Award to Jay Smith, who also died in 2013. The Stompin' Tom Award was awarded to Flo Sampson, Alan Dowling, Kellie Walsh, Susan Hunter and Bob Mersereau.


2015 East Coast Music Awards

St. John's, Newfoundland and Labrador St. John's is the capital and largest city of the Canadian province of Newfoundland and Labrador, located on the eastern tip of the Avalon Peninsula on the island of Newfoundland. The city spans and is the easternmost city in North America ...
. As an experiment, this year's awards gala, hosted by Jonny Harris, was held on the Thursday night, rather than the Sunday. Multiple award-winners were The Town Heroes, Chelsea Amber, and
Hey Rosetta! Hey Rosetta! is a Canadian seven-piece indie rock band from St. John's, Newfoundland and Labrador and led by singer/songwriter Tim Baker. Known for their energized live shows, the band created a large, layered sound by incorporating piano, viol ...
.


2016 East Coast Music Awards

Sydney, Nova Scotia Sydney is a former city and urban community on the east coast of Cape Breton Island in Nova Scotia, Canada within the Cape Breton Regional Municipality. Sydney was founded in 1785 by the British, was incorporated as a city in 1904, and dissolv ...
. The Awards Gala was hosted by
Ashley MacIsaac Ashley Dwayne MacIsaac (born February 24, 1975) is a Canadian fiddler, singer and songwriter from Cape Breton Island. He has received three Juno Awards, winning for Best New Solo Artist and Best Roots & Traditional Album – Solo at the Juno A ...
and Heather Rankin.
Hey Rosetta! Hey Rosetta! is a Canadian seven-piece indie rock band from St. John's, Newfoundland and Labrador and led by singer/songwriter Tim Baker. Known for their energized live shows, the band created a large, layered sound by incorporating piano, viol ...
, Natalie MacMaster & Donnell Leahy, and Amelia Curran were multiple award-winners.


2017 East Coast Music Awards

Saint John, New Brunswick Saint John is a seaport city of the Atlantic Ocean located on the Bay of Fundy in the province of New Brunswick, Canada. Saint John is the oldest incorporated city in Canada, established by royal charter on May 18, 1785, during the reign of Ki ...
. This year, the East Coast Music Association received the National Arts Centre Award for Distinguished Contribution to Touring in the Performing Arts, for its long-standing commitment to promoting touring by musicians from Atlantic Canada, both at home and abroad. The awards show was hosted by the British comedian James Mullinger, who now lives in Atlantic Canada. Multiple award-winners were Classified,
Ria Mae Ria MacNutt, known professionally as Ria Mae, is a Canadian singer and songwriter from Halifax, Nova Scotia. Career As a child, Mae's family moved around Halifax, switching from school to school while she learned to write songs. Ria has describe ...
and Lennie Gallant.


2018 East Coast Music Awards

Halifax,
Nova Scotia Nova Scotia ( ; ; ) is one of the thirteen provinces and territories of Canada. It is one of the three Maritime provinces and one of the four Atlantic provinces. Nova Scotia is Latin for "New Scotland". Most of the population are native Eng ...
. This event marked the 30th Anniversary of the ECMAs. Multiple awards went to folk singer Rose Cousins. The Directors' Special Achievement Award was posthumously awarded to Kevin MacMichael; the Dr. Helen Creighton Lifetime Achievement Award was given to music promoter Lynn Horne. Allister MacGillivray's "Song For The Mira" was inducted into the Canadian Songwriters Hall of Fame.


2019 East Coast Music Awards

Charlottetown Charlottetown is the capital and largest city of the Canadian province of Prince Edward Island, and the county seat of Queens County. Named after Queen Charlotte, Charlottetown was an unincorporated town until it was incorporated as a city in ...
,
Prince Edward Island Prince Edward Island (PEI; ) is one of the thirteen Provinces and territories of Canada, provinces and territories of Canada. It is the smallest province in terms of land area and population, but the most densely populated. The island has seve ...
. Multiple awards went to Classified and
Jeremy Dutcher Jeremy Dutcher is a classically-trained Canadian Indigenous tenor, composer, musicologist, performer and activist, who previously lived in Toronto, Ontario and currently lives in Montréal, Québec. He became widely known for his first album '' ...
. Peter Chaisson won the Musician's Achievement Award and Music PEI Executive Director Rob Oakie won the Stompin' Tom Award. Lennie Gallant, whose song ''Peter's Dream'' was inducted into the Canadian Songwriters Hall of Fame, received the Directors' Special Achievement Award.


2020 East Coast Music Awards

St. John's, Newfoundland and Labrador St. John's is the capital and largest city of the Canadian province of Newfoundland and Labrador, located on the eastern tip of the Avalon Peninsula on the island of Newfoundland. The city spans and is the easternmost city in North America ...
. Because of the Covid-19 Pandemic, the event included socially-distanced festivities and concerts, and a pre-recorded awards broadcast. During the broadcast, Ron Hynes was posthumously inducted into the Canadian Songwriters Hall of Fame.


See also

* Music of Canada


References


External links

* {{Authority control Canadian music awards Awards established in 1989 1989 establishments in Nova Scotia