VOTING NOW OPEN TO MEMBERS ONLY UNTIL TUESDAY, JULY 18
WINNERS TO BE ANNOUNCED IN OCTOBER DURING BREAKOUT WEST IN KELOWNA, BC
KELOWNA, BC – July 4, 2023 – Today, the Western Canadian Music Alliance is excited to reveal the 2023 Western Canadian Music Award nominees. The winners of the awards in both the Artistic and Industry categories will be revealed during BreakOut West, which will take place this year in Kelowna BC from October 11-15. Please see below for the full list of nominees, and stay tuned for more announcements about this year’s specialty award recipients, as well as details on the winner reveal celebrations.
“We are excited to announce and celebrate the 2023 Western Canadian Music Awards nominees,” exclaims BreakOut West Executive Director, Michael Dawson. “On behalf of Breakout West and the Western Canadian Music Alliance we would like to (offer) congratulations to all of the nominees and thank all of the artists and industry who submit. Your hard work, talent, and integrity is an inspiration.”
Voting is now open to members of all western Provincial and Territorial Music Industry Associations. (SaskMusic note: SaskMusic Individual, Band, and Corporate members automatically receive WCMA voting privileges) Only MIA members will be sent an email regarding login information to vote (beginning today – Tuesday, July 4). If any members do not receive an email, please check your junk/spam folder and then contact (your) Music Association regarding (your) membership. Voting will conclude at 11:59 p.m. Pacific Time, on Tuesday, July 18. Stay tuned for more details around member voting and the Western Canadian Music Award winners this fall.
Now in its 21st year, BreakOut West continues to develop, support and honour the best of Western Canadian music, with its annual conference, festival and the Western Canadian Music Awar\ds. 2023 is shaping up to be an exciting year for the WCMAs, with nominee representation from all of the provincial and territorial Member Associations, and an outstanding showing from host-province acts, MAUVEY, and Snotty Nose Rez Kids, who top the list with four nominations each.
BreakOut West 2023 officially begins on Wednesday, October 11 with the start of its five-day career development conference and international industry program. Offering 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 2023 music festival will highlight 50+ artists performing at multiple venues across the host city. Festival wristbands are available now here.
Congratulations to all of the 2023 Western Canadian Music Award nominees!
2023 WESTERN CANADIAN MUSIC AWARDS ARTISTIC NOMINEES:
BreakOut Artist of the Year (Sponsored by FACTOR)
- Boslen – BC
- Katie Tupper – SK
- Leith Ross – MB
- Mariel Buckley – AB
- MAUVEY – BC
Children’s Artist of the Year
- Beppie – AB
- Ginalina – BC
- Ira Pettle – BC
- Mom Bop – BC
- Will et Seeka – BC
Classical Artist / Ensemble of the Year (Sponsored by Canadian Music Centre [CMC])
- Karl Stobbe – MB
- Krisztina Szabó – BC
- Mark Takeshi McGregor – BC
- Megumi Masaki – MB
- musica intima – BC
Classical Composer of the Year
- Christopher Tyler Nickel – Oboe d’amore Quintet, IV. Con fuoco – BC
- Jessica McMann – The Bear and the Wild Rose, Home, Muskwas Mountain Home – AB
- Katerina Gimon – Borealis, Roots Beneath – BC
- T Patrick Carrabré – Transformation, Orpheus 1 – BC
- Vincent Ho – Sandman's Castle, R1ddler – AB
Country Artist of the Year
- Gord Bamford – AB
- Hunter Brothers – SK
- JoJo Mason – BC
- Nice Horse – AB
- Whitehorse – MB
Electronic & Dance Artist of the Year
- Boogey The Beat – MB
- Khanvict – BC
- Modern Biology – BC
- RUMPUS – SK
- The Librarian – BC
Francophone Artist of the Year (sponsored by APCM (Association des professionnels de la chanson et de la musique)
- Andrina Turenne – MB
- Jérémie & The Delicious Hounds – MB
- Jocelyne Baribeau – MB
- Sala – MB
- Sympa César – AB
Global Artist of the Year
- Cristian de la Luna – AB
- El Leon & The Strangers – MB
- Gisela Romero – AB
- Onna Lou – MB
- Ruby Singh – BC
Indigenous Artist of the Year
- Blue Moon Marquee – BC
- Celeigh Cardinal – AB
- Jayli Wolf – BC
- PIQSIQ – BC
- Snotty Nose Rez Kids – BC
Instrumental Artist of the Year
- Adam Dobres – BC
- Elise Boeur & Adam Iredale-Gray – BC
- Glen Gillis – SK
- Hello Moth – AB
- Jasmine Jazz – BC
Jazz Artist of the Year
- Chris Andrew – AB
- Jocelyn Gould – MB
- Melody Diachun – BC
- Up and Over Trio – AB
- Winnipeg Jazz Orchestra – MB
Metal & Hard Music Artist of the Year
- Gnarwhal – NT
- Grimelda – SK
- KEN mode – MB
- New Jacobin Club – SK
- Osyron – AB
Pop Artist of the Year
- Begonia – MB
- Josh Ramsay – BC
- Kaeley Jade – AB
- Louise Burns – BC
- MAUVEY – BC
Producer of the Year
- Boogey The Beat – MB
- deadmen – MB
- Jill Barber, Erik P. H. Nielsen – BC
- Kevvy – BC
- Louise Burns – BC
R&B Artist of the Year
- Jérémie & The Delicious Hounds – MB
- Katie Tupper – SK
- Kuba Oms – BC
- Major Funk – YT
- ZENON – AB
Rap & Hip Hop Artist of the Year
- Arlo Maverick – AB
- Boslen – BC
- Cartel Madras – AB
- Dill the Giant – MB
- Snotty Nose Rez Kids – BC
Recording of the Year
- Dear Rouge – BC
- MAUVEY – BC
- Snotty Nose Rez Kids – BC
- Whitehorse – MB
- William Prince – MB
Rock Artist of the Year
- Dan Mangan – BC
- Hotel Mira – BC
- Kris Anders – BC
- The Royal Foundry – AB
- The Zolas – BC
Roots Artist of the Year
- Jake Vaadeland – SK
- Jill Barber – BC
- Mariel Buckley – AB
- The Bros. Landreth – MB
- William Prince – MB
Songwriter(s) of the Year (Sponsored by The Society of Composers, Authors and Music Publishers of Canada [SOCAN])
- Alexa Dirks and Matt Peters – Begonia, Butterfly – MB
- Leith Ross – We'll Never Have Sex – MB
- Ryan Dyck – Skinny Dyck, TV Blue – AB
- William Prince – When You Miss Someone – MB
- Young D, Yung Trybez – Snotty Nose Rez Kids, Hot Planet – BC
- Spiritual Artist of the Year
- Andrea Menard – BC
- Cikwes – AB
- Dee Daniels – BC
- Stirling John – AB
- Two Late To The Party – AB
Video Director of the Year (Sponsored by Manitoba Film & Music)
- Jayli Wolf – Holding On – BC
- Lester Lyons-Hookham – Dan Mangan Fire Escape – BC
- Mayumi Yoshida – Different Than Before – BC
- Michael Linton – Mariel Buckley, Neon Blue – MB
- Ryan Steel – Begonia, Married by Elvis – MB
2023 WESTERN CANADIAN MUSIC AWARDS INDUSTRY NOMINEES:
Audio Engineering Award
- Andy Schichter – BC
- Cam Loeppky – MB
- Eric Cinnamon – AB
- Johnny Gasparic – AB
- Sheldon Zaharko – BC
Community Excellence Award
- Advance Music Canada – BC
- Folk On The Rocks – NT
- Good + Plenty Arts Collective – MB
- Hitmakerz – NV
- National Music Centre – AB
Excellence in Visual Design
- Feisty Creative – BC
- Lyle Bell – AB
- MAUVEY and Bree Laryea – BC
- Roberta Landreth – MB
- Sonny Assu – BC
Impact in Artist Development
- Birthday Cake Media – MB
- Chris Wynters – AB
- Paquin Artists Agency – MB
- Tiny Kingdom – BC
- UWIDO – BC
Impact in Live Music (Sponsored by Canadian Live Music Association)
- Folk On The Rocks – NT
- JazzYYC – AB
- National Music Centre – AB
- Paquin Artists Agency – MB
- West End Cultural Centre – MB
Impact in Music Marketing
- All Good Promotion & Marketing – AB
- Birthday Cake Media – MB
- Chronograph Records – AB
- National Music Centre – AB
- West End Cultural Centre – MB
About the Western Canadian Music Alliance / BreakOut West:
The Western Canadian Music Alliance is a pan western organization created by the Alliance Member Music Industry Associations (MIA’s) of British Columbia, Alberta, Saskatchewan, Manitoba, The Northwest Territories, the Yukon Territory, and in partnership with Nunavut, to promote and celebrate western Canadian music. WCMA, with the financial support of each provincial and territorial government partner, FACTOR, the Government of Canada and of Canada's private radio broadcasters, WCMA annually hosts their core artist and industry development event, BreakOut West. The event is held in a different western Canadian city on a rotational basis and is the prime music industry event in western Canada. BreakOut West 2023 will be held October 11 – 15 in Kelowna, BC, and includes a five-day music conference, three-night multi-genre music festival and special events. The 2023 Western Canadian Music Artistic Awards and Industry Awards will be announced in October 2023.
WCMA’s head office is in Winnipeg. We recognize the ancestral lands, from Treaty One Territory, the original lands of Anishinaabeg, Cree, Oji-Cree, Dakota, and Dene peoples, and the homeland of the MeĢtis Nation.
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