Kelly McMichael Dominates 2025 MusicNL Awards with Two Major Wins

Kelly McMichael emerged as the standout winner at the 2025 MusicNL awards, held on March 7, taking home both the Album of the Year and Alternative Artist of the Year awards. The annual gala, celebrated in St. John’s, recognized the exceptional talent within Newfoundland and Labrador’s music scene. Other notable winners included Deantha Edmunds, Nick Earle & The Reckless Hearts, XIA-3, and Quote the Raven, each securing two awards during the event.

This year’s MusicNL week was marked by a series of networking events, showcases, and presentations, bringing local musicians together to celebrate their craft. According to Tamara Kater, Executive Director of MusicNL, the awards serve a vital role in highlighting the achievements of local artists. “They are able to celebrate themselves and the work that they’ve done,” Kater stated in an interview with CBC. “To get nominated alone is just really a statement about the work that you’ve done.”

Major Award Winners and Categories

The following is a summary of the key awards presented during the gala:

– **Album of the Year**: Kelly McMichael – *After The Sting Of It*
– **Alternative Artist of the Year**: Kelly McMichael
– **Classical Artist of the Year**: Deantha Edmunds
– **Country Artist of the Year**: Mallory Johnson
– **Electronic Artist of the Year**: Andrew Gosse
– **Fan’s Choice Entertainer of the Year**: Justin Fancy
– **Folk Artist of the Year**: Quote the Raven
– **Global Music Artist of the Year**: XIA-3
– **Group of the Year**: Nick Earle & The Reckless Hearts
– **Indigenous Artist of the Year**: Deantha Edmunds
– **Instrumental Artist of the Year**: XIA-3
– **International Touring Artist of the Year**: Rum Ragged
– **Jazz Artist of the Year**: Natasha Blackwood
– **L’Artiste Francophone de L’Année**: Port-Aux-Poutines
– **Loud Artist of the Year**: Smoke Signals
– **Music Video of the Year**: Quote the Raven – “Already Gone”
– **Pop Artist of the Year**: With Violet
– **R&B Artist of the Year**: Zaynab Wilson
– **Rising Star of the Year**: Evan Watts Smith
– **Rock Artist of the Year**: Nick Earle & The Reckless Hearts
– **Ron Hynes Songwriter of the Year**: Mick Davis and Thin Love
– **Side Musician of the Year**: Hunter Madden
– **Solo Artist of the Year**: Nico Paulo
– **Sound on Screen of the Year**: Ian Foster
– **Traditional Artist of the Year**: Jim Payne and Fergus O’Byrne

Industry awards were also part of the celebration, recognizing significant contributions to the music community. Some of the winners include:

– **Artist Manager of the Year**: Hilda Cousins
– **Event of the Year**: HeavyNFLD Fest
– **Graphic Artist of the Year**: Andrew Boyd and Scott Sheppard
– **Industry Professional of the Year**: Ben Chapman-Smith
– **Music Media Person of the Year**: Glenn Pardy – NL Live
– **Events Music Educator of the Year**: Amy Collyer-Holmes
– **Outstanding Company of the Year**: Lawnya Vawnya
– **Recording Engineer/Producer of the Year**: Michelle LaCour
– **Venue of the Year**: The Majestic Theatre
– **Volunteer of the Year**: Out of the Fog – Hosts

Special Honors and Acknowledgments

The night also featured several honorary awards celebrating lifetime achievements and contributions to the industry. Among the honorees were:

– **Lifetime Achievement**: Dave Panting, Denis Parker
– **Industry Builder**: June Hiscock
– **Unsung Hero**: Paul “Boomer” Stamp

The MusicNL awards not only celebrate individual accomplishments but also forge connections within the local music community, reinforcing the importance of artistic expression in Newfoundland and Labrador. As the event concluded, it left participants inspired and motivated for the future of their craft.