2020 Virtual Western Canadian Music Awards

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