ST. JOHN'S — The annual East Coast Music Awards opened in Newfoundland this week, marking the event's first return to St. John's in a decade.
A gala awards ceremony was set to take place Thursday night, with Enfield, N.S., rapper Classified leading the nominations with eight nods.
The awards show and five-day conference has faced turmoil since last fall when some association members complained about a lack of transparency and representation. The outcry prompted some musicians, including Wolastoqiyik tenor Jeremy Dutcher, to withdraw their nominations and boycott the event.
The situation has put musicians in Newfoundland and Labrador in a tough spot, said Maria Cherwick, a violinist, violist and fiddler based in St. John's.
"It’s significantly more difficult, time consuming and expensive for Newfoundland and Labrador musicians to get to the mainland or P.E.I. conferences," Cherwick said in a Facebook message. "I think a lot of folks are torn between a moral decision to boycott versus actually being able to afford to perform with their bands this year without incurring significant travel costs."
The East Coast Music Awards celebrate musicians from Atlantic Canada. The annual conference includes shows, workshops and industry networking events that can be crucial for musicians hoping to make connections and show off their work.
The awards show was last held in Newfoundland and Labrador in 2015. It were scheduled to be in St. John's in 2020, but the event was cancelled because of the COVID-19 pandemic.
In January, the East Coast Music Association ousted CEO Blanche Israel, which led some members to object, saying she had meaningfully moved the needle on much-needed diversity and inclusivity.
Weeks later, several musicians withdrew their nominations in protest, including Dutcher, who said he stood in solidarity with those calling for more clarity on the direction of the organization.
In March, the association responded by rolling out a six-point plan "for unity and progress." Among other things, the association pledged to create a member advisory group and a committee on equity and inclusion.
The non-profit was formed more than 30 years ago to support local artists and run the awards show, but critics have suggested it's fallen out of step with the times. Some claim organizers lean too heavily into folk and rock music, downplaying the region's burgeoning community of musicians who represent other music genres.
However, the ECMA hands out dozens of music awards that cover rap, dance, blues, country, francophone, Indigenous and African-Canadians.
This report by The Canadian Press was first published May 8, 2025.
The Canadian Press
