Today, the Western Canadian Music Alliance is honoured to announce the outstanding artists and music industry professionals that have been nominated for 2020 Western Canadian Music Awards. The full list of nominees can be found below, with the winners in both the artistic and industry categories to be revealed on September 25 during a special livestreamed event.
Now in their 18th year, the Western Canadian Music Awards annually honour and celebrate the best industry and artistic talent coming out of western Canada. This year once again saw representation from all seven Member Associations, with numerous artists and industry members earning multiple nominations, including four nods to the National Music Centre, three nominations each for Nuela Charles, William Prince, and the West End Cultural Centre, and a whopping 15 acts with double nominations.
Voting is now open to members of all western Provincial and Territorial Music Industry Associations. All members will be sent an email regarding login information to vote (beginning today – Tuesday, June 23). If any members do not receive an email, please contact their Music Association. Voting will conclude at midnight, Pacific Time, on Monday, July 6.
Details on the format of the 2020 BreakOut West events will be announced in the coming weeks.
2020 WESTERN CANADIAN MUSIC AWARDS ARTISTIC NOMINEES
Blues Artist of the Year
Big Dave McLean – MB
Harpdog Brown – AB
Kat Danser & The Tall Tales – AB
Kenny ‘Blues Boss’ Wayne – BC
Wide Mouth Mason – BC
BreakOut Artist of the Year
Alexandria Maillot – BC
Ariel Posen – MB
Begonia – MB
The Funk Hunters – BC
The Small Glories – MB
Children’s Artist of the Year
Beppie – AB
Ginalina – BC
The Kerplunks – BC
The Pianimals – MB
Will’s Jams – BC
Classical Artist or Ensemble of the Year
Sponsored by Canadian Music Centre (CMC)
Land’s End Ensemble with Ben Reimer and Karl Hirzer – AB
Manitoba Chamber Orchestra – MB
Margaret Carey – MB
Mark Takeshi McGregor – BC
The Vancouver Island Symphony – BC
Classical Composer of the Year
Carmen Braden – NT
Dorothy Chang – BC
Marcus Goddard – BC
Stephen Chatman – BC
Vincent Ho – AB
Country Artist of the Year
Dan Davidson – AB
Don Amero – MB
Hunter Brothers – SK
Jess Moskaluke – SK
The Dungarees – AB
Electronic & Dance Artist of the Year
Khanvict – BC
Miles Away – BC
RIELL – AB
Rumpus – SK
SkiiTour – BC
Francophone Artist of the Year
Beauséjour – MB
Kelly Bado – MB
Loig Morin – BC
Ponteix – SK
Renelle Ray – AB
Global Artist of the Year (formerly World Artist of the Year)
Buckman Coe – BC
Casimiro Nhussi – MB
Mazacote – BC
Orchid Ensemble – BC
The Mariachi Ghost – MB
Indigenous Artist of the Year
Sponsored by Aboriginal Peoples Television Network
Blue Moon Marquee – BC
Burnstick – MB
Celeigh Cardinal – AB
Riit – NV
Snotty Nose Rez Kids – BC
Instrumental Artist of the Year
Apollo Suns – MB
Christine Hanson – AB
Joe Porter – AB
Mike Morrisseau – AB
Pierre Schryer & Adam Dobres – BC
Jazz Artist of the Year
Audrey Ochoa – AB
Karl Schwonik – AB
Kent Sangster’s Obsessions Octet – AB
Regina Jazz Society – SK
Sandro Dominelli – AB
Metal & Hard Music Artist of the Year
CRNKSHFT – BC
Dizzy Mystics – MB
Hellrazer – AB
Neck of the Woods – BC
Sleepwraith – AB
Pop Artist of the Year
Alexandria Maillot – BC
Luca Fogale – BC
Martin Kerr – AB
Nuela Charles – AB
Riit – NV
Producer of the Year
deadmen – MB
John Paul Peters – MB
Ryan Dahle – BC
Ryan Worsley – BC
Steve Bays – BC
R&B Artist of the Year (formerly Urban Artist of the Year)
Hooper Turnt Sanger – BC
Iamtheliving – BC
Josh Sahunta – AB
Krystle Dos Santos – BC
Sebastian Gaskin – MB
Rap & Hip Hop Artist of the Year
Bdice – BC
Kimmortal – BC
Moka Only – BC
Snotty Nose Rez Kids – BC
Super Duty Tough Work – MB
Recording of the Year
Frazey Ford – BC
Hunting – BC
Nuela Charles – AB
Royal Canoe – MB
William Prince – MB
Rock Artist of the Year
Sponsored by Torque Brewing
Joey Landreth – MB
Mise en Scene – MB
Mobina Galore – MB
The Jerry Cans – NV
The Radiant – SK
Roots Artist of the Year
Del Barber – MB
Kacy & Clayton – SK
Leaf Rapids – MB
The Small Glories – MB
William Prince – MB
Songwriter(s) of the Year
Sponsored by The Society of Composers, Authors and Music Publishers of Canada (SOCAN)
Celeigh Cardinal – AB
Del Barber – MB
Kacy Anderson & Clayton Linthicum – SK
Nuela Charles – AB
William Prince – MB
Spiritual Artist of the Year
Danielle Savard – MB
Dee Daniels – BC
Fresh IE – MB
Jay Semko – SK
Katrina Van Humbeck – MB
Video Director of the Year
Sponsored by Manitoba Film and Music
Brock Davis Mitchell – Nuela Charles, Long Way Down – AB
Dustin Wilson, Zach Wilson – The Dead South, Diamond Ring – SK
Farhad Ghaderi – Jordan Klassen, Virtuous Circle – BC
Jorge Requena – The Mariachi Ghost, Cuerpo Mortal – MB
Travis Nesbitt – The Dungarees, Don’t Make Em Like They Used To – AB
Visual Media Composer of the Year
Daniel Janke, Subconscious Password – YT
The Mariachi Ghost, Octavio is Dead! – MB
Tom Koroluk, Get Over It – MB
Wolf Willow, Etthén Heldeli: Caribou Eaters – SK
2020 WESTERN CANADIAN MUSIC AWARDS INDUSTRY NOMINEES
Audio Engineering Award
Ben Kaplan – BC
John Paul Peters – MB
Ryan Worsley – BC
Sheldon Zaharko – BC
Steve Bays – BC
Community Excellence Award
National Music Centre – AB
Red Tent – MB
The Vancouver Island Symphony – BC
West End Cultural Centre – MB
Winnipeg Music Project – MB
Excellence in Visual Design
Bronwin Parks, Feisty Creative – BC
Logan Tanner & Ron Baldoza, Trifecta Sound Co. – SK
Logan Thackray, Fallen Tree Records – AB
Shalom Toy, Cosmic Cavern Design – AB
Shan & Co. – AB
Impact in Artist Development
Birthday Cake Media – MB
Chronograph Records – AB
National Music Centre – AB
Regina Jazz Society – SK
West End Cultural Centre – MB
Impact in Live Music
Sponsored by Canadian Live Music Association
National Music Centre – AB
Squamish Constellation Festival – BC
West End Cultural Centre – MB
Winnipeg Folk Festival – MB
Winterruption YEG – AB
Impact in Music Marketing
Chronograph Records – AB
National Music Centre – AB
Susan Busse – SK
The Village Idiots – MB
Winnipeg Folk Festival – MB
