Artists & Industry from Manitoba Earn 31 Western Canadian Music Awards Nominations

Strong Showing in BreakOut, Live Music, Songwriters, Afrobeats, Francophone, Producer, Community Excellence, and Artist Development

There are plenty of chances to sing about the music community in Manitoba when Winnipeg hosts the Western Canadian Music Awards (WCMAs) and the BreakOut West Festival & Conference this fall. Local artists and music companies are up for 31 awards in 21 artistic and industry categories, recognizing those making a significant impact in Western Canada’s music scene and beyond. 

This year's nominees from Manitoba earned three of five nominations for BreakOut Artist of the Year and Impact in Live Music, and two nominations for Afrobeats Artist of the Year, Francophone Artist of the Year, Producer of the Year, and Songwriter(s) of the Year, as well as industry categories for Community Excellence and Impact in Artist Development. 

Boy Golden, aka Liam Duncan, is a triple nominee with nods for BreakOut Artist of the Year, Producer of the Year, and Songwriter of the Year. 

Burnstick, which features Jason and Nadia Burnstick, has also earned BreakOut Artist of the Year, Producer of the Year, and Songwriter of the Year. 

Field Guide is a double nominee with nods for BreakOut Artist of the Year and Rock Album of the Year.

Kelly Bado has also earned two nominations this year for Francophone Artist of the Year and Global Artist of the Year. Bado won in both these categories in 2021, the Francophone category in 2020, and the Global (formerly “World Music”) category in 2018.

DXXN and Tommyphyll picked up nominations in the new Afrobeats Artist of the Year category, introduced this year by the WCMAs.

Manitoba’s classical community garnered nominations in two categories, Classical Artist or Ensemble of the Year for the Manitoba Chamber Orchestra (MCO) and Classical Composer of the Year for Glenn Buhr’s work with Ariel Barns and the MCO.

Rounding out the artistic nominees are Andrina Turenne (Francophone Artist of the Year), Begonia (Pop Artist of the Year), Big Dave McLean (Blues Artist of the Year), Danielle Savard (Spiritual Artist of the Year), Holy Void (Metal & Hard Music Artist of the Year), Jade Turner (Country Artist of the Year), Leaf Rapids (Roots Artist of the Year), and Winnipeg Jazz Orchestra (Jazz Artist of the Year).

Music companies and entrepreneurs have made a strong showing in the industry categories. Birthday Cake Records is up for Impact in Artist Development and Impact in Music Marketing. Private Ear Recording’s John Paul Peters earned a nomination for the Audio Engineering Award. Paquin Artists Agency is up for Impact in Artists Development and Impact in Live Music. Music events sākihiwē festival and Soul Supreme earned Community Excellence Award nominations. Winnipeg venues Times Change(d) High & Lonesome Club and the West End Cultural Centre earned nominations for Impact in Live Music. 

The winners of the 2025 Western Canadian Music Awards and Industry Awards will be announced this fall in Winnipeg during BreakOut West, which continues to develop, support and honour the best of Western Canadian music, with its annual conference and music discovery showcase festival, September 24 - 28, 2025. Now in its 23rd year, BreakOut West's five-day career development conference and international industry program offers immersive content, international market deep dives, one-on-one mentor meetings, workshops and more, the conference is a landmark event for both artists and industry alike, looking to gain insight into the ever-changing musical landscape, and make invaluable connections. Featuring the best in emerging talent from across western Canada, as well as select international and Pan-Canadian acts, the 2025 music festival will highlight 50+ artists performing at multiple venues across the Winnipeg. 

Voting is open until June 18 at 11:59 PM PDT to all members of the music industry associations from the West, including Manitoba Music, SaskMusic, Alberta Music, MusicBC, Music NWT, and Music Yukon.

2025 Western Canadian Music Awards Artistic Nominees

Afrobeats Artist of the Year
DXXN – MB
Rooky Kamiz – SK
Tk The Artist – BC
Tommyphyll – MB
Zochi – SK

Blues Artist of the Year
Big Dave McLean – MB
Blue Moon Marquee – BC
David Gogo – BC
Marcus Trummer – AB
The Harpoonist – BC

BreakOut Artist of the Year (Sponsored by FACTOR)
Boy Golden – MB
Burnstick – MB
Field Guide – MB
Jake Vaadeland – SK
Wyatt C. Louis – AB

Children’s Artist of the Year
Beppie – AB
Ginalina – BC
Kym Gouchie – BC
Oh Clementine – BC
Will & Seeka – BC / AB

Classical Artist or Ensemble of the Year
Luminous Voices – AB
Manitoba Chamber Orchestra – MB
Turning Point Ensemble – BC
Vancouver Chamber Choir – BC
Vancouver Symphony Orchestra – BC

Classical Composer of the Year
Carmen Braden – Crooked by Nature “Ispiciwin – Luminous Voices and Timothy Shantz” – NT
Glenn Buhr – Violoncello Concerto no.2 (7 Couplets) “Glenn Buhr Violoncello Concerti 1 & 2 – Ariel Barns with the Manitoba Chamber Orchestra” – MB
Jeffrey Ryan – Afghanistan: Requiem for a Generation “Afghanistan: Requiem for a Generation – Vancouver Symphony Orchestra, conducted by Bramwell Tovey” – BC
Nova Pon – Symphonies of Mother and Child “Nova Pon – Symphonies of Mother and Child” – BC
Vincent Ho – Gryphon Realms “Land’s End Ensemble – Mr. Tambourine Man / Gryphon Realms” – AB

Country Artist of the Year
Dan Davidson – AB
Hunter Brothers – SK
Jade Turner – MB
Jess Moskaluke – SK
JoJo Mason – BC

Electronic & Dance Artist of the Year
ASKO – AB
Gl0bal – BC
Rose Motion – AB
RUMPUS – BC
WHIPED CREAM – BC

Francophone Artist of the Year (Sponsored by APCM – Association des professionnels de la chanson et de la musique)
Andrina Turenne – MB
Étienne Fletcher – SK
Kelly Bado – MB
Missy D – BC
Ponteix – SK

Global Artist of the Year
Caleb Hart – BC
Kelly Bado – MB
Locarno – BC
Raagaverse – BC
Ruby Singh’s Vox.Infold II – BC

Indigenous Artist of the Year
Celeigh Cardinal – AB
Ghostkeeper – AB
Shawnee Kish – AB
Snotty Nose Rez Kids – BC
Wyatt C. Louis – AB

Instrumental Artist of the Year
Amero – AB
Astrocolor – BC
BrassTactics – AB
Joel Jeschke – AB
Rubim de Toledo – AB

Jazz Artist of the Year
Jon Bentley – BC
Montuno West – AB
Peggy Lee & Cole Schmidt – BC
Raagaverse – BC
Winnipeg Jazz Orchestra – MB

Metal & Hard Music Artist of the Year
Anciients – BC
Art of Attrition – AB
Holy Void – MB
Thirteen Goats – BC
Torrefy – BC

Pop Artist of the Year
Begonia – MB
Fionn – BC
L’omelette – AB
Nell Smith – BC
RIELL – AB

Producer of the Year
David Ziehr – BC
Jason & Nadia Burnstick – MB
Kevvy – BC
Liam Duncan – MB
Ryan Worsley – BC

R&B Artist of the Year
AHSIA – BC
Bukola – BC
Katie Tupper – SK
NADUH – BC
TOVA & vbnd – SK

Rap & Hip Hop Artist of the Year
MELODNA – SK
Missy D – BC
Mouraine – AB
Snotty Nose Rez Kids – BC
Tomi Lumiere – AB

Recording of the Year
Dump Babes – SK
Nell Smith – BC
Skinny Dyck – AB
Snotty Nose Rez Kids – BC
The Dead South – SK

Rock Album of the Year
Bad Buddy – AB
Dear Rouge – BC
Field Guide – MB
Jade Elephant – AB
The Royal Foundry – AB

Roots Artist of the Year
Celeigh Cardinal – AB
Jake Vaadeland – SK
Kyle McKearney – AB
Leaf Rapids – MB
Wyatt C. Louis – AB

Songwriter(s) of the Year (Sponsored by The Society of Composers, Authors and Music Publishers of Canada – SOCAN)
Boy Golden - Here To Stay "Boy Golden - Here To Stay" – MB
Jason Burnstick & Nadia Burnstick - Made of Sin "Burnstick - Made of Sin" – MB
Kyle McKearney/Noeline Hoffman/James Jannetty - Tomorrow "Kyle McKearney - Tomorrow" – AB
Sam Lynch - Hurt "Sam Lynch - Outline" – BC
Yung Trybez/Young D (Snotty Nose Rez Kids) - RED FUTURE "Snotty Nose Rez Kids – RED FUTURE" – BC

Spiritual Artist of the Year
BLVRS – BC
Danielle Savard – MB
Elenee – SK
Ruby Singh’s Vox.Infold II – BC
Terrance Richmond – BC

Video Director of the Year (Sponsored by Manitoba Film & Music)
Gino Bikovesso - Sargeant X Comrade "Escape The Matrix Pt. 1" – AB
Jay Bulckaert - Gnarwhal "The War / Nothing More" – NT
Peter Faint - Matías Roden "Close Your Eyes" – BC
Sterling Larose - Snotty Nose Rez Kids "BBE" – BC
Zachary Vague - Dear Rouge "Goon" – BC

2025 Western Canadian Music Awards Industry Nominees

Audio Engineering Award                     
Andy Schichter - Park Sound Studio – BC
Jamie Kuse - Nova Studios – BC
John Paul Peters - Private Ear Recording – MB
Neil James Cooke-Dallin - Burning Rainbow – BC
Ryan Worsley - Echoplant Sound – BC

Community Excellence Award                         
Music Mile Society of Calgary – AB
National Music Centre – AB
sākihiwē festival – MB
Soul Supreme – MB
TD Music Artist in Residence at MacEwan University Program – AB

Excellence in Visual Design                                 
Brandon William Fletcher - Faked Potatoes – BC
Bronwin Parks - Feisty Creative – BC
Dave Von Bieker - Small Enough – AB
Gabrielle Giroux - Encore Graphics – SK
Jenna Clarahan – AB                       

Impact in Artist Development                           
Birthday Cake Records – MB
Monstercat – BC
National Music Centre – AB
Paquin Artists Agency – MB
Tiny Kingdom Music – BC                                   

Impact in Live Music (Sponsored by Canadian Live Music Association)
Folk On The Rocks – NT
Midnight Agency Inc. – BC
Paquin Artist Agency – MB
Times Change(d) High & Lonesome Club – MB
West End Cultural Centre – MB
Winterruption YEG ltd – AB                                   

Impact in Music Marketing                 
Birthday Cake Records – MB
Chronograph Records – AB
Jeff Ojeda – BC
National Music Centre – AB
Scott Morin - Mascot Music – AB