MusicNL (also spelled Music NL, previously known as the Music Industry Association of Newfoundland and Labrador, abbreviated MIANL) is a trade association for the music industry for the Canadian province of Newfoundland and Labrador. The 2006 MusicNL awards were presented in Stephenville. Danny Williams, the province's premier, presented the Lifetime Achievement Award at the 2007 MusicNL awards gala. In 2008, the MusicNL awards gala was held in Gander.
In 2011, the MusicNL awards were announced in St. John's between October 24 and 30. East of Empire was nominated for three awards, but didn't win either of them. At the 2012 gala, indie pop quartet Repartee won the awards in all five of the categories for which it was nominated. Tom Power, a CBC Radio host, introduced Repartee at the gala.
Award winners by year
The following is a list of winners of the MusicNL Awards, organized by year. Category names and sponsor designations have changed over time. They are given here as they were used in the corresponding year.
2025 The 2025 MusicNL Awards Gala was held on November 15, 2025, at the St. John's Convention Centre in St. John's, as part of MusicNL Week (November 12–16, 2025).
Category Winner 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 Lifetime Achievement Dave Panting
2024 Music Celebration Week was held September 4–7, 2024, in St. John's; the Awards Gala took place September 7 at the St. John's Convention Centre, hosted by comedian Matt Wright.
Category Winner Album of the Year Rum Ragged – Gone Jiggin Alternative Artist of the Year With Violet Celtic/Traditional Artist of the Year Rum Ragged Classical Artist of the Year Iris Trio Country Artist of the Year Justin Fancy Fan's Choice Entertainer of the Year Jason Benoit L'Artiste Francophone de L'Année Port-Aux-Poutines Folk/Roots Artist of the Year Kellie Loder Global Music Artist of the Year Ana Luísa Ramos Group of the Year With Violet Indigenous Artist of the Year Summer Bennett Instrumental Artist of the Year Maria Cherwick & Jockey Special Jazz Artist of the Year Ana Luísa Ramos; Adrian House Loud Artist of the Year The Order of the Precious Blood Music Video of the Year Rum Ragged (dir. Roger Maunder) Pop Artist of the Year Rachel Cousins Rap/Hip-Hop Artist of the Year Albert Dalton Rising Star of the Year Andrew Rodgers; Len O'Neill Rock Artist of the Year Nick Earle & the Reckless Hearts Side Musician of the Year Hunter Madden Solo Artist of the Year Valmy Ron Hynes Songwriter of the Year Kellie Loder Lifetime Achievement Shanneygannock
2023 Music Celebration Week was held October 18–21, 2023, in St. John's; the Awards Gala took place October 21 at Holy Heart Theatre.
Category Winner Album of the Year Nico Paulo – Nico Paulo; Jing Xia – The Numinous Journey Alternative Artist of the Year Youngtree and the Blooms Celtic/Traditional Artist of the Year The Navigators Classical Artist of the Year Bill Brennan Country Artist of the Year Mallory Johnson Electronic Artist of the Year It Could Be Franky Fan's Choice Entertainer of the Year Jason Benoit L'Artiste Francophone de L'Année Port-Aux-Poutines Folk/Roots Artist of the Year Darcy Scott Global Music Artist of the Year Baraka Group of the Year With Violet Indigenous Artist of the Year Jason Benoit Instrumental Artist of the Year XIA-3 Jazz Artist of the Year Duane Andrews and the Hot Club of Conception Bay Loud Artist of the Year Da Slyme Music Video of the Year Rum Ragged – "Let Me Fish Off Cape St. Mary's" (dir. Cecil Johnson) Pop Artist of the Year Nico Paulo Rap/Hip-Hop Artist of the Year Albert Dalton Rising Star of the Year XIA-3 Rock Artist of the Year Fairgale Side Musician of the Year Clare Follett Solo Artist of the Year Jing Xia Ron Hynes Songwriter of the Year Nico Paulo Lifetime Achievement Buddy Wasisname and the Other Fellers
2022 Music Celebration Week was held in Corner Brook; the Industry Award reception was held October 28 at the Corner Brook Civic Centre, and Music Awards were presented October 29 at the Corner Brook Arts and Culture Centre.
Category Winner Album of the Year Nick Earle & The Reckless Hearts – No More Hiding Alternative Artist of the Year Swimming Celtic/Traditional Artist of the Year Rosemary Lawton Classical Artist of the Year Deantha Edmunds Country Artist of the Year Youngtree & The Blooms Electronic Artist of the Year Alex Byrne Entertainer of the Year Justin Fancy Folk/Roots Artist of the Year Kubasonics Global Music Artist of the Year Florian Hoefner Group of the Year Quote the Raven Indigenous Artist of the Year Deantha Edmunds Instrumental Artist of the Year Florian Hoefner Loud Artist of the Year Slowpoke Music Video of the Year Rosemary Lawton – "Little Fires" Pop Artist of the Year Rachel Cousins Rap/Hip-Hop Artist of the Year King Sway Rising Star of the Year Jing Xia Rock Artist of the Year Nick Earle & The Reckless Hearts Side Musician of the Year Dan George Solo Artist of the Year Rachel Cousins Ron Hynes Songwriter of the Year Kelly McMichael Lifetime Achievement Don & Kathy Weary (Sound Symposium)
2021 Music Celebration Week was held November 29 – December 5, 2021, in St. John's; the Awards Gala was held December 4 at Holy Heart Theatre.
Category Winner Album of the Year Sherman Downey – New Beautiful Alternative Artist of the Year Clare Follett Celtic/Traditional Artist of the Year Maria Cherwick Classical Artist of the Year Ofra Harnoy Country Artist of the Year Carolina East Electronic Artist of the Year Virginia Fudge Folk/Roots Group of the Year Quote the Raven Global Music Artist of the Year Ofra Harnoy Group of the Year Quote the Raven Indigenous Artist of the Year Jason Benoit Instrumental Artist of the Year Duane Andrews Jazz/Blues Artist of the Year Ana Luísa Ramos Music Video of the Year Mallory Johnson & Twin Kennedy – "Wise Woman" Pop Artist of the Year Rachel Cousins Rap/Hip-Hop Artist of the Year Winnie Churchill Rising Star of the Year Matthew Hender Rock Artist of the Year Kelly McMichael Side Musician of the Year Maria Cherwick Solo Artist of the Year Kelly McMichael Ron Hynes Songwriter of the Year Kellie Loder Fans' Choice Entertainer of the Year Rum Ragged Lifetime Achievement The Flummies
2020 Presented virtually as "MusicNL Week 2020–2021" from February 1–7, 2021, due to the COVID-19 pandemic; the Music and Honorary Awards show was broadcast February 7 from the Canadian AV Sound Stage in St. John's, hosted by Petrina Bromley and The Once's Phil Churchill.
Category Winner Album of the Year Rum Ragged – The Thing About Fish Alternative Artist of the Year Adam Baxter Celtic/Traditional Artist of the Year Rum Ragged Classical Artist of the Year Atlantic String Quartet Country Artist of the Year Justin Fancy Electronic Artist of the Year Alex Byrne Fan's Choice Entertainer of the Year Rum Ragged Folk/Roots Artist of the Year Rube & Rake Group of the Year Nick Earle & The Reckless Hearts Indigenous Artist of the Year Silver Wolf Band Inspirational Artist of the Year Kathy Stock Instrumental Artist of the Year Wade Tarling Jazz/Blues Artist of the Year Beauwater Loud Artist of the Year Qyn Music Video of the Year The Heavy Horses – "Weight in My Lungs" Pop Artist of the Year Rachel Cousins Rap/Hip-Hop Artist of the Year Albert Dalton Rising Star of the Year Justin Fancy Rock Artist of the Year Nick Earle & The Reckless Hearts Side Musician of the Year Dan George Solo Artist of the Year Sherman Downey Ron Hynes Songwriter of the Year Sherman Downey
2019 Awards presented during MusicNL Week in St. John's the week of January 27, 2020, at St. John's City Hall, following an eight-day state of emergency caused by a major snowstorm on January 17, 2020.
Category Winner Album of the Year Jenina MacGillivray – Marion Alternative Artist of the Year Youngtree & The Blooms Celtic/Traditional Artist of the Year Rosemary Lawton Country Artist of the Year Carolina East Electronic Artist of the Year Galaa Fan's Choice Entertainer of the Year Dion Todd Female Artist of the Year Jenina MacGillivray Folk/Roots Artist of the Year Rum Ragged Group of the Year Quote the Raven Indigenous Artist/Group of the Year Eastern Owl Male Artist of the Year Nick Earle Music Video of the Year Rum Ragged – "Ladies Man" Pop Artist of the Year It Could Be Franky Rap/Hip-Hop Artist of the Year JYAY Rising Star of the Year Nick Earle Rock Artist of the Year Nick Earle Ron Hynes Songwriter of the Year Peter Smith (Youngtree & The Blooms – "She Found Me") Side Musician of the Year Dan George Lifetime Achievement Gary Graham
2018 The 26th MusicNL Awards and Gala was held October 14, 2018, in Twillingate.
Category Winner Album of the Year Fortunate Ones – Hold Fast Male Artist of the Year Mark Bragg Female Artist of the Year Sherry Ryan Fan's Choice/Entertainer of the Year The Swinging Belles Songwriter of the Year Mark Bragg Group of the Year Rum Ragged Rising Star of the Year Rube & Rake Pop Artist of the Year Fortunate Ones Alternative Artist of the Year Mark Bragg Video of the Year Fortunate Ones – "Northern Star" Traditional Artist of the Year Rum Ragged Folk/Roots Artist of the Year Rube & Rake Jazz/Blues Artist of the Year Earle and Coffin Rap/Hip-Hop Artist of the Year ChessClub Rock Artist of the Year Mick Davis and Thin Love Country Artist of the Year Carolina East Electronic Artist of the Year Game Boy Instrumental Artist/Group of the Year Ouroboros Lifetime Achievement Ralph O'Brien
2017 The 25th Anniversary Show was held October 15, 2017, at the St. John's Convention Centre, hosted by Alan Doyle.
Category Winner Album of the Year Janet Cull – Real Tough Love Alternative Artist of the Year Steve Maloney Celtic/Traditional Artist of the Year Rum Ragged Country Artist of the Year Steve Maloney Fans' Choice Entertainer of the Year The Kubasonics Female Artist of the Year Janet Cull Folk/Roots Artist of the Year The Kubasonics Group of the Year The Kubasonics Instrumental Artist of the Year Fretboard Journey Male Artist of the Year Mick Davis Pop/Rock Artist of the Year Janet Cull Rap/Hip-Hop Artist of the Year JYAY Rising Star of the Year Clare Follett; Town House Ron Hynes Songwriter of the Year Steve Maloney Electronic Artist of the Year Happy Beats Music Video of the Year Kellie Loder – "Boxes" Jazz/Blues Artist of the Year Earle & Coffin Side Musician of the Year Darren "Boobie" Browne Lifetime Achievement Glen Tilley
2016 MusicNL Week was held October 13–16, 2016, in Bonavista; the Awards Gala was held October 16.