Western Canadian Music Awards Reveals 2025 Nominees

The Western Canadian Music Alliance are excited to announce the nominees for the 2025 Western Canadian Music Awards. The winners of the awards in both the Artistic and Industry categories will be revealed during BreakOut West, taking place September 24-28 in Winnipeg, MB. The list of nominees is below. More to come about this year’s specialty award recipients, as well as details on the awards.

BreakOut West Executive Director, Michael Dawson, exclaims:

“We are honoured to announce and celebrate the 2025 Western Canadian Music Awards nominees. On behalf of BreakOut West and the Western Canadian Music Alliance we would like to congratulate all of the nominees and thank all of the artists and industry who submitted for consideration. We remain in awe of your talent, creativity, and work ethic.”

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 Barnes 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
WHIPPED 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 Artist 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