Jeremy Dutcher & Classified 2025 East Coast Music Awards Nominees: Full List of Nominations

The East Coast Music Association (ECMA) has announced the nominees for the 37th East Coast Music Awards, as well as the host and performance lineup for the awards gala.

Leading the nominations list this year with eight nominations apiece are platinum-selling hip-hop veteran Classified and acclaimed Indigenous vocalist, pianist and composer Jeremy Dutcher.

They are followed by singer-songwriter Kellie Loder, Juno-nominated reggae artist Jah'Mila, alt-pop singer-songwriter Maggie Andrew and popular roots duo Vishtèn, each nominated in five categories.

Last year, Dutcher, a member of Neqotkuk (Tobique First Nation) made Polaris Music Prize history by becoming its first repeat winner. That honour (and the $50K prize) was for his album Motewolonuwok,which also earns him a nomination as Classical Composer of the Year at the ECMAs. Dutcher has won multiple ECMA Awards in previous years.

Also no stranger to success at the East Coast Music Awards is Classified (Luke Boyd), who has won multiple awards as both a recording artist and producer. He is one of the most-nominated artists in ECMA history, having been cited more than 30 times in the last two decades, winning five times. He also has multiple Much Music Video Awards and a Juno to his credit.

Classified will also perform East Coast Music Awards Gala, taking place Thursday, May 8 at the Mary Brown’s Centre, in St. John's, Newfoundland. Joining him as performers will be Shanneyganock, Jah'Mila with KAYO, Vishtèn, Kellie Loder, Kilautup Songuniga: Strength of the Drum, Goldie Boutilier, Brett Matthews, DeeDee Austin, Mick Davis & Thin Love, Loviet, Measha Brueggergosman-Lee and The Ennis Sisters.

Newfoundland born and raised roots musician and CBC radio host Tom Power will host. He was recently recognized with a Spirit of Folk Award at the International Folk Awards ceremony, part of the recent Folk Alliance International conference in Montreal.

The gala is featured as part of this year’s East Coast Music Awards: Festival & Conference, taking place in St. John’s, from May 7–11. Tickets for the awards galsare on sale now at ECMA.com, where the event will also be live streamed.

The lead-up to this year's ECMA Awards has been the subject of some controversy. Back in January, the ECMA issued a press release stating that "the board has conducted a thorough review of our leadership and operations, leading to the decision to part ways with CEO Blanche Israël."

2025 East Coast Music Award & Industry Award nominees

African Canadian Artist of the Year | Artiste afro-canadienne ou afro-canadien de l’année

• Baraka “Galaxy”
• Jah'Mila “Never Fail”
• KAYO “Get Me Right ft JRDN (Prod. NULO)”
• Maggie Andrew “About Us”
• Measha Brueggergosman-Lee “Zombie”

Album of the Year | Album de l’année

• Classified “Luke's View”
• Jah'Mila “Woman of the Sun”
• Maggie Andrew “DAY JOB”
• Quote The Raven “Map The Dark”
• The Irish Descendants “The Irish Descendants Christmas”
• Vishtèn Connexions “Expansion”

Artiste acadien(ne) ou francophone de l’année | Acadian or Francophone Artist of the Year

• Jacques Surette “Conséquences”
• Joey Robin Haché “Jerrycan”
• Les Hay Babies “Soyez fiers”
• Sirène et Matelot “Coeur chaviré”
• Suzie LeBlanc “Nous partirons”

Blues Release of the Year | Sortie blues de l’année

• 11th & Duke “The Phoenix”
• Campbell & Johnston “Find Your Way”
• Connor Fox “Ain't No Time”
• Lookout Tower “Dust Jackets”
• Stompbox “Just Don't Know It Yet (She's My Girl)”

Breakthrough Artist of the Year | Révélation de l’année

• Brett Matthews “If I Die Today (Feat. Classified)”
• Callum Gaudet “Ghosts”
• Clare Siobhan “Flare”
• Jacques Surette “Conséquences”
• Loviet “Broken Lips”
• Rachel Cousins “Hell & High Water”

Children’s Artist of the Year | Artiste jeunesse de l’anné

• Art Richard “Bonjour Canada”
• Heather Feather “Ants in My Pants”
• Micaela Comeau (Wuzzô) “I'm Made From Stardust”
• Miss Kris “The Day Has Just Begun”
• Mr Super Dude X KinderChartin' “Sticker on My Toe”

Classical Composer of the Year | Compositrice ou compositeur classique de l’année

• Bekah Simms “Foreverdark”
• Florian Hoefner “Bird Island Suite: IV. Song for the Song of the Leach's Storm Petrel”
• India Gailey “Butterfly Lightning Shakes the Earth: I. SKY”
• Jeremy Dutcher “Motewolonuwok”
• Julia Mermelstein “Bending, breaking through”

Classical Release of the Year | Sortie classique de l’année

• Blackwood with India Gailey “Benedicite”
• India Gailey “Problematica”
• Measha Brueggergosman-Lee “Blizzard”
• SHHH!! Ensemble “Causes, 1.1 Negative Energy”
• Suzie LeBlanc “pour une Amérique engloutie”

Country Release of the Year | Sortie country de l’année

• Brett Matthews “If I Die Today (feat. Classified)”
• Carolina East “I'm Not Scared”
• Julie Aubé “I Found Mine”
• Justin Fancy “She Just Is”
• Mallory Johnson “suitcase”

Dance Release of the Year | Sortie dance de l’année

• Alex Byrne “When We Dance”
• Bad Friends “Mmam”
• Cloverdale “Believe In The Music”
• PINEO & LOEB “Chrome”
• Summer Bennett “Just a Phase - Dave Aude Remix”
• The Volta “Lights Out”

Electronic Release of the Year | Sortie électronique de l’année

• Ben Diamond “Something Sawed”
• DenMother “Ghost Gear”
• Rich Aucoin “Sonica”
• Rozalind MacPhail “In Perfect Time”
• SHHH!! Ensemble “Causes, 1.1 Negative Energy”

Folk Release of the Year | Sortie folk de l’année

• Noah Malcolm “Cereal”
• Old Man Luedecke “My Status Is The Baddest (feat. Bahamas)”
• Rum Ragged “The Road to Lushes Bight (Island Stock)”
• Terra Spencer “Real Love (featuring Ian Sherwood)”
• Vishtèn Connexions “Kouma”

Fusion Release of the Year | Sortie multi-genre de l’année

• Alan Syliboy & The Thundermakers “The Dream Canoe”
• Capital 6 “Not My One”
• Ian Foster “Gossamer”
• India Gailey “Problematica”
• Jeremy Dutcher “Pomawsuwinuwok Wonakiyawolotuwok”
• Vishtèn Connexions “Kouma”

Global Music Release of the Year | Sortie monde de l’année

• Ana Luísa Ramos “Clouds”
• Dee Hernandez “Just Friends”
• KAYO “Lightning In A Bottle”
• Richard Wood “CareBear Forever”
• Zay Nova “Keep Your Head Above the Water”

Group of the Year | Groupe de l’année

• Moira & Claire “no hesitation”
• Neon Dreams “The Art of Letting Go”
• Rum Ragged “The Road To Lushes Bight (Island Stock)”
• The Once “Oh You”
• The Town Heroes “Hockey Fights”

Indigenous Artist of the Year | Artiste autochtone de l’année

• Deantha Edmunds “Angmalukisaa: IV. Rings 4 (Arr. for Voice & String Orchestra by Robert Carli)”
• DeeDee Austin “Tell Me ( Why Am I So Different)”
• Jeremy Dutcher “Ancestors Too Young”
• Summer Bennett “Just A Phase”
• Wolf Castle “Gravity / Levity”

Instrumental Release of the Year | Sortie instrumentale de l’année

• Blackwood with India Gailey “Passages”
• Iris Trio “Bird Island Suite: IV. Song for the Song of the Leach's Storm Petrel”
• Mark Fewer “The Simple Life (Arr. for Violin & String Orchestra by Andrew Downing)”
• Sam Wilson “the moon song”
• Shaun Ferguson “Sound Mind”
• Symphony Nova Scotia “Piano Concerto in One Movement: Andantino - Allegretto”

Jazz Release of the Year | Sortie jazz de l’année

• Amirault Brothers “St-Antoine's March”
• Capital 6 “Not My One”
• Measha Brueggergosman-Lee “Zombie”
• Natasha Blackwood “Good Machines”
• Sam Wilson “the moon song”

Loud Release of the Year | Sortie loud de l’année

• BLEVK “Ascension”
• Elevate The Virus “Famine”
• Les Moontunes “Elephant Wizard”
• Omnivide “Cosmic Convergence”
• The Order of the Precious Blood “Suffer & Die”

Pop Release of the Year | Sortie pop de l’année

• chasing luma “is this as good as it gets?”
• Logan Richard / Moira & Claire “Unrequited Love Blues”
• Maggie Andrew “About Us”
• Mat Elliott “Church Street”
• Noah Malcolm “January”

Producer of the Year | Réalisatrice ou réalisateur de l’année

• AA Wallace “Archiviste”
• Ben B. Creelman “Bad Habit”
• Classified “Luke's View”
• Cloverdale “Believe In The Music”
• Jeremy VanSlyke “Alikeness”

R&B / Soul Release of the Year | Sortie R&B/soul de l’année

• aRENYE, NULO “City On Fire (feat. Kayo & BASYL)”
• Bakers Duz'n “Lesson #1 (Radio Edit)”
• Dee Hernandez “Blessed”
• Jah'Mila “Never Fail”
• Mat Elliott “Church Street”

Rap / Hip-Hop release of the Year | Sortie rap/hip-hop de l’année

• Classified “Sure Enough”
• DK “something real”
• HARMZ “Family Highs”
• Stephen Hero “Can't Stop (working) ft. Aquakultre”
• Wolf Castle “Gravity / Levity”

Release of the Year | Sortie de l’année

• Alan Syliboy & The Thundermakers “The Dream Canoe”
• Classified “Amnesia”
• Jah'Mila “Never Fail”
• Jeremy Dutcher “Skicinuwihkuk”
• Kellie Loder “When It Comes To You”
• The Once “The Bend”

Rock / Alternative Release of the Year | Sortie rock/alternatif de l’année

• Absolute Losers “By Fright”
• Maggie Andrew “DAY JOB”
• Mo Kenney “Evening Dream”
• Sluice “Agis comme du monde”
• The Town Heroes “In Your Head”

Roots Release of the Year | Sortie folklore de l’année

• Jeremy Dutcher “Skicinuwihkuk”
• Jessica Rhaye, Bill Preeper, Sandy MacKay “Rocky Hills”
• Quote The Raven “Already Gone”
• Terra Spencer “East to West”
• Vishtèn Connexions “Gaillard featuring De Temps Antan”

Solo Artist of the Year | Artiste solo de l’année

• Classified “Amnesia”
• Ian Foster “Gossamer”
• Jeremy Dutcher “Take my Hand”
• Kellie Loder “When It Comes To You”
• Kylie Fox “Alberta”
• Rich Aucoin “Sonica”

Songwriter of the Year | Compositrice ou compositeur de l’année

• Classified “Wonder”
• Jeremy Dutcher “Skicinuwihkuk”
• Kellie Loder “When It Comes To You”
• Natasha Blackwood “Pleading Guilty”
• Old Man Luedecke “The Raven and The Dove”
• Terra Spencer “Real Love (featuring Ian Sherwood)”

Traditional Release of the Year | Sortie traditionnelle de l’année

• Alan Syliboy & The Thundermakers “Whale Hunting Song”
• Lucy MacNeil “Radio Sweethearts”
• Rachel Davis & Darren McMullen “The Quartermaster”
• Rum Ragged “Paddy Hyde”
• Vishtèn Connexions “Gaillard featuring De Temps Antan”

Vocal Release of the Year | Sortie vocale de l’année

• Chœur Louisbourg “L'appel”
• Halifax Camerata Singers “Yôtin (The Wind)”
• Halifax Gay Men's Chorus “Maybe”
• Laura Roy “Lucy”
• Measha Brueggergosman-Lee “Pur ti miro”

Fans' Choice Awards

Fans’ Choice Entertainer of the Year | Choix du public - Artiste de l’année

• Alan Syliboy & The Thundermakers
• Andrew Rodgers
• Daniel James McFadyen
• Dylan Menzie
• Ian Foster
• Justin Fancy
• Kellie Loder
• Lennie Gallant
• Mallory Johnson
• Rum Ragged
• The Once

Fans’ Choice Video of the Year | Choix du public - Vidéoclip de l’année

• Classified “Amnesia” (Directed by: Classified)
• David Myles “Devil Talking” (Directed by: Griffin O'Toole)
• Jah'Mila “East Coast Family” (Directed by: Jeff Miller)
• Jeremy Dutcher “Pomawsuwinuwok Wonakiyawolotuwok” (Directed by: tranquilo)
• Kellie Loder “Can't Go Back” (Directed by: Ashlea Wessel) [wess - el]
• Maggie Andrew “About Us” (Directed by: MooseCanFly)
• Neon Dreams “The Art of letting Go” (Directed by: Dan Lewis Cole & Frank Kadillac)
• Old Man Luedecke “She Told Me Where To Go” (Directed by: Pangalactic Pictures Inc)
• Quote The Raven “Already Gone” (Directed by: Cody Westman)
• The Town Heroes “Hockey Fights” (Directed by: Matt Corkum)

*Public voting for the Fan’s Choice awards opens today, Wednesday, February 26 until Friday, March 14, 2025. Cast your vote at: ECMA.com

Industry Awards

Artist Management of the Year | Gérance de l’année

• Derrick Sturge (Pharos Music Inc.)
• Evan Newman
• Hurricane Music Artist Management
• Jayden Duplessis
• Todd Mercer

Content Creator of the Year | Créatrice ou créateur de l’année

• Classified
• Jud Haynes
• Kristan Toczko
• Richard Lann
• Scott Legge

Event of the Year | Événement de l’année

• Congrès mondial acadien 2024
• Goolaholla!
• Halifax Jazz Festival
• Nova Scotia Music Week
• The 2024 JUNOS

Innovator of the Year | Innovatrice ou innovateur de l’année

• Ariel Sharratt
• Chelsi Madonna
• Ian Foster
• John D.S. Adams
• Micah Smith

Media Person of the Year | Représentante ou représentant des médias de l’année

• Chuck Boudreau
• Darcy Walsh
• Greg Smith
• Richard Lann
• Zach Snow

Venue of the Year | Salle de spectacle de l’année

• Marigold Cultural Centre
• Sanctuary Arts Centre
• Shore Club
• The Carleton
• The Ship Pub

Awards Breakdown by ECMA Region

Newfoundland & Labrador: 54
Cape Breton: 8
New Brunswick: 36
Nova Scotia: 95
Prince Edward Island: 15