The East Coast Music Association announced today that they’ll be going ahead with a celebration of east coast musicians and industry professionals with a broadcasted version of the 2020 East Coast Music Awards.
With the March 16 decision to cancel the 2020 East Coast Music Award Show and Conference in St. John’s, Newfoundland, the music industry was left reeling. With the COVID-19 pandemic shutting down nearly every aspect of live music performances there was very little question that the choice was absolutely necessary. What remained to be seen was how to approach a celebration of the east coast music industry under these circumstances.
The solution: a two-hour broadcast of performances and award presentations via CBC TV in Atlantic Canada and on CBC Gem.
“We were devastated to cancel our week of events in St. John’s this Spring in the wake of the pandemic, including our much anticipated Awards Show at Mile One Stadium,” says Andy McLean, CEO of the ECMA. “However, we knew from that moment we wanted to find a unique way to celebrate our local talent and the well-deserving winners of this year’s East Coast Music Awards. Over the past several weeks, our team has worked hard to tape incredible performances and put together a wonderful show so that – across the Atlantic provinces and now across the whole country – we can come together to champion the vibrancy and resiliency of the East Coast music community, and tip our hats to the beautiful city of St. John’s.”
The 2020 East Coast Music Awards will, of course, be hosted by Canadian icon Mary Walsh, and will feature performances by Tim Baker, Rose Cousins, Wintersleep, Damhnait Doyle, Matt Mays, Neon Dreams, Motherhood, Eastern Owl, Zamani, Jacobus, and Shanneyganock.
The show will also include a tribute to legendary east coast songwriter, the late, great Ron Hynes in celebration of his induction into the Canadian Songwriters Hall of Fame. The tribute will bring back together his longtime members of his backing band, along with Shaye, Joel Hynes, and Lennie Gallant.
During the broadcast, nine East Coast Music Awards will be presented: Album of the Year, the Bucky Adams Memorial Award, Francophone Recording of the Year, Indigenous Artist of the Year, Roots/Traditional Recording of the Year, Solo Recording of the Year, Songwriter of the Year, Fans’ Choice Entertainer of the Year, and Fans’ Choice Video of the Year. The Dr. Helen Creighton Lifetime Achievement Award – an Honorary Award that recognizes artists who have had a profound and lasting effect on the Atlantic Canadian Music Industry – will also be presented.
The 2020 East Coast Music Awards show will be broadcast at 9:00 PM AT / 9:30 NT on CBC TV in Atlantic Canada and on CBC Gem across the country. The show will also be available on-demand on CBC Gem following the broadcast.
Friday, July 10th (Time TBD)
Tune-in Friday, July 10th to the ECMA Facebook Page or Youtube Channel for a special feature on all of the award winners, honorary recipients and to remember those we’ve lost in the East Coast music community.
Saturday, July 11th (9 p.m. AT / 9:30 NT)
ECMA is thrilled to announce a special pre-recorded broadcast of the 2020 East Coast Music Awards presented by TD. Taking place on Saturday, July 11, the celebratory two-hour special airs at 9 p.m. AT / 9:30 NT on CBC TV in Atlantic Canada and on CBC Gem across the country. The show will also be available on-demand on CBC Gem following the broadcast.
For a full list of the 2020 East Coast Music Award nominees click here.