2020 Virtual Western Canadian Music Awards
September 27, 2020
Western Canadian Music Alliance announced the recipients of the 2020 Western Canadian Music Awards, in both the Artistic and Industry categories.
The winners were announced during a livestreamed broadcast on BreakOut West’s Facebook, where viewers were treated to performances by Krystle Dos Santos (R&B Artist of the Year) and The Mariachi Ghost (Global Artist of the Year and Visual Media Composer of the Year).
Honourees included Winnipeg’s own, Gerry Atwell, who was presented with the 2020 Heritage Award, and William Prince, who took home three awards, including Recording of the Year, which was accompanied by a $2,000 honourarium, courtesy of Stingray Music’s Stingray Rising Star program. 2020 once again saw nominee representation from all four western Canadian provinces and three territories, as well as an outstanding showing from female/female-identifying artists who took home 50% of the awards in the Artistic categories.
Congratulations to Alberta dance-pop artist, Riell who took home Electronic & Dance Artist of the Year, Edmonton’s alternative soul singer/songwriter, Nuela Charles who won Pop Artist of the Year, and Calgary’s National Music Centre who grabbed both the Community Excellence and Impact in Artist Development Awards!
The awards event kicks off the virtual BreakOut West: Home Edition conference which opened with an Indigenous Welcome Ceremony at noon and will host music industry panels and networking events over the next 14 days.
2020 WESTERN CANADIAN MUSIC AWARDS ARTISTIC WINNERS
Blues Artist of the Year
Big Dave McLean – MB
BreakOut Artist of the Year – Sponsored by CBC Manitoba
Begonia – MB
Children’s Artist of the Year
Ginalina – BC
Classical Artist or Ensemble of the Year – Sponsored By Canadian Music Centre (CMC)
Mark Takeshi McGregor – BC
Classical Composer of the Year – TIED
Carmen Braden – NT
Stephen Chatman – BC
Country Artist of the Year
Jess Moskaluke – SK
Electronic & Dance Artist of the Year
RIELL – AB
Francophone Artist of the Year – Sponsored by APCM (Association des professionnels de la chanson et de la musique)
Kelly Bado – MB
Global Artist of the Year (formerly World Artist of the Year)
The Mariachi Ghost – MB
Indigenous Artist of the Year – Sponsored By APTN
Snotty Nose Rez Kids – BC
Instrumental Artist of the Year
Apollo Suns – MB
Jazz Artist of the Year
Regina Jazz Society – SK
Metal & Hard Music Artist of the Year
Dizzy Mystics – MB
Pop Artist of the Year
Nuela Charles – AB
Producer of the Year
John Paul Peters – MB
R&B Artist of the Year
Krystle Dos Santos – BC
Rap & Hip Hop Artist of the Year
Snotty Nose Rez Kids – BC
Stingray Rising Star for Recording of the Year
William Prince – MB
Rock Artist of the Year – Sponsored by Torque Brewing
The Jerry Cans – NV
Roots Solo Artist of the Year
William Prince – MB
Songwriter(s) of the Year – Sponsored By The Society of Composers, Authors and Music Publishers of Canada (SOCAN)
William Prince – MB
Spiritual Artist of the Year
Dee Daniels – BC
Video Director of the Year – Sponsored by Manitoba Film & Music
Farhad Ghaderi – Jordan Klassen, Virtuous Circle – BC
Visual Media Composer of the Year
The Mariachi Ghost – MB