Artists & Industry from Manitoba Earn 46 Western Canadian Music Awards Nominations

Manitoba’s music industry is in the spotlight at this year’s Western Canadian Music Awards. Artists and music companies are up for 46 awards in 25 categories that recognize those making a significant impact in Western Canada’s music scene and beyond. The winners will be revealed during a special live streamed event on September 25.

This year's nominees from Manitoba span genres and sectors, with a number of double and triple nominees, several Indigenous-identifying artists in multiple categories, and strong showings in roots, rock, and spiritual categories. The Manitoba-based live music sector has also earned several nods in a variety of categories recognizing community, marketing, and artist development.

JUNO-winning singer/songwriter William Prince, who recently earned a coveted spot on the Polaris Music Prize Long List, is up for three awards this year, including Recording of the Year, Songwriter of the Year, and Roots Artist of the Year.

The Mariachi Ghost has earned two nods, including Global Artist of the Year and Visual Media Composer of the Year for "Octavio is Dead!". Front man Jorge Requena is up for Video Director of the Year for the band's "Cuerpo Mortal".

The West End Cultural Centre garnered three nods this year for Community Excellence Award, Impact in Artist Development, and Impact in Live Music.

JUNO-nominated powerhouse duo The Small Glories is a double nominee with nominations for BreakOut Artist of the Year and Roots Artist of the Year.

Roots artist Del Barber, also a JUNO nominee this year, is up for Songwriter of the Year and Roots Artist of the Year.

Private Ear Recording's John Paul Peters has landed two nominations this year for Producer of the Year and the Audio Engineering Award.

The Winnipeg Folk Festival is up for Impact in Live Music and Impact in Music Marketing.

Indigenous-identifying artists have a strong showing in the nominees list, including Prince's three nods, plus nominations for Burnstick (Indigenous Artist of the Year), Dizzy Mystics (Metal & Hard Music Artist of the Year), Don Amero (Country Artist of the Year), Sebastian Gaskin (R&B Artist of the Year), The Pianimals (Children's Artist of the Year), as well as industry nominee and music-maker collective Winnipeg Music Project (Community Excellence Award).

Three Manitoba acts are up for BreakOut Artist of the Year, including singer/songwriter/guitarist Ariel Posen, Polaris long listed pop powerhouse Begonia, and The Small Glories. 

Manitoba acts dominate this year's Roots Artist of the Year category, with dark roots duo Leaf Rapids joining Prince, Barber, and The Small Glories. 

Roots rocker and The Bros. Landreth front man Joey Landreth, indie rock pair Mise en Scene, and punk duo Mobina Galore are all vying for Rock Artist of the Year.

The Spiritual Artist of the Year category includes three Manitoba-based artists: JUNO-nominated hip hop artist/producer Fresh IE, singer/songwriter Danielle Savard, and jazz vocalist Katrina Van Humbeck. 

Country duo Beauséjour and pop/R&B/soul artist Kelly Bado are up for Francophone Artist of the Year. 

Other artistic nominees include psychedelic jazz rockers Apollo Suns, JUNO-nominated blues legend Big Dave McLean, African dancer, choreographer, dance instructor and musician Casimiro Nhussi, classical ensemble Manitoba Chamber Orchestra, violist Margaret Carey, indie popsters Royal Canoe, and Polaris long listed hip hop collective Super Duty Tough Work.

Industry award nominees include label/publisher/management company Birthday Cake Media,; producer duo deadmen aka Matt Peters an Matt Schellenberg from Royal Canoe; volunteer-run Red Tent that provides education about anti-oppression, safer spaces, and consent culture; video and live stream production team and promoters The Village Idiots, composer/producer Tom Koroluk, and podcast/radio show Winnipeg Music Project. 

Many of this year’s Manitoba nominees have participated in Manitoba Music’s professional, market, and Indigenous music development programs during their careers, accessing assistance to develop their business skills, showcase in new markets, and make critical industry contacts. Manitoba Music’s programs are supported by the Province of Manitoba, FACTOR through the financial support of the Government of Canada and Canada's private radio broadcasters, and Manitoba Film & Music.

Artists from outside of Manitoba who have participated in export programs for Western Canada run by Manitoba Music also have a strong showing this year. Nominees who have participated in the Indigenous Music West export program include Celeigh Cardinal from Alberta (Indigenous Artist of the Year, Songwriter of the Year), Riit from Nunavut (Indigenous Artist of the Year, Pop Artist of the Year), and Snotty Nose Rez Kids from BC (Indigenous Artist of the Year, Rap & Hip Hop Artist of the Year). Francophone Music Program participants Loig Morin from BC and Ponteix from Saskatchewan are up for Francophone Artist of the year. Both programs are made possible through the support of Western Economic Development Canada.

Now in its 18th year, the Western Canadian Music Awards celebrate exciting industry and artistic talent coming out of Western Canada. Voting is now open to all members of the music industry associations from the west, including Manitoba Music, SaskMusic, Alberta Music, MusicBC, Music NWT, and Music Yukon, and runs until July 6. Details on the format of the 2020 BreakOut West events will be announced in coming weeks. 

ARTISTIC NOMINEES 

Blues Artist of the Year
Big Dave McLean 

BreakOut Artist of the Year
Ariel Posen 
Begonia 
The Small Glories 

Children’s Artist of the Year
The Pianimals 

Classical Artist or Ensemble of the Year
Manitoba Chamber Orchestra 
Margaret Carey 

Country Artist of the Year
Don Amero 

Francophone Artist of the Year
Beauséjour 
Kelly Bado 

Global Artist of the Year 
Casimiro Nhussi
The Mariachi Ghost 

Indigenous Artist of the Year
Burnstick 

Instrumental Artist of the Year
Apollo Suns 

Metal & Hard Music Artist of the Year
Dizzy Mystics 

Producer of the Year
deadmen 
John Paul Peters 

R&B Artist of the Year 
Sebastian Gaskin 

Rap & Hip Hop Artist of the Year
Super Duty Tough Work 

Recording of the Year
Royal Canoe 
William Prince 

Rock Artist of the Year
Joey Landreth 
Mise en Scene 
Mobina Galore 

Roots Artist of the Year
Del Barber 
Leaf Rapids 
The Small Glories 
William Prince

Songwriter(s) of the Year
Del Barber 
William Prince 

Spiritual Artist of the Year
Danielle Savard 
Fresh IE 
Katrina Van Humbeck 

Video Director of the Year
Jorge Requena - The Mariachi Ghost, Cuerpo Mortal 

Visual Media Composer of the Year
The Mariachi Ghost, Octavio is Dead! 
Tom Koroluk, Get Over It 

INDUSTRY NOMINEES

Audio Engineering Award
John Paul Peters 

Community Excellence Award
Red Tent 
West End Cultural Centre 
Winnipeg Music Project 

Impact in Artist Development
Birthday Cake Media 
West End Cultural Centre 

Impact in Live Music
West End Cultural Centre 
Winnipeg Folk Festival 

Impact in Music Marketing
The Village Idiots 
Winnipeg Folk Festival 

For a complete list of 2020 WCMA nominees, please visit breakoutwest.ca.