Classified led the honours count with five – in the categories of Producer, Solo Artist, Release (“Amnesia”), Rap/Hip-Hop Release (“Sure Enough”), and Country Release (for his feature on Brett Matthews’s “If I Die Today”) of the Year – at the 2025 East Coast Music Awards (ECMAs), held in St. John’s, NL, most of which were presented in a gala at the Mary Brown’s Centre on Thursday, May 8, 2025.
Vishtèn earned the trophies for Album (for Vishtèn Connexions’ Expansion), Folk, and Fusion Release of the Year (both for “Kouma”), while Kellie Loder won the Fans Choice Award for both Entertainer and Video of the Year (for “Can’t Go Back”). Maggie Andrew garnered the honours for African Canadian Artist of the Year, and Rock/Alternative Release of the Year (for “DAY JOB”).
During the gala awards show, Otto Kelland’s “Let Me Fish Off Cape St. Mary’s” was inducted into the Canadian Songwriters Hall of Fame (CSHF); the Ennis Sisters were honoured with the Dr. Helen Creighton Lifetime Achievement Award; and Chris Ryan took home the Musician’s Achievement Award. Access the complete list of winners.
In addition to presenting Old Man Luedecke with the Songwriter of the Year Award (for “The Raven and The Dove”), SOCAN was out in full force during the 2025 ECMAs.
We hosted our annual SOCAN Song House writing camp, led by our East Coast Ambassador Carleton Stone, with expert songwriter Donovan Woods as mentor. The event gathered 12 Atlantic Canadian songwriters to experience the joys, challenges, and creative growth of writing songs together. The participants were Summer Bennett, Noah Malcom, Dee Hernandez, KAYO, Joe Henry, Justin Fancy, Kelly McMichael, Maggie Andrew, Rachel Cousins, Logan Richard, Jay Heart, Claire Siobhan.
Mick Davis
SOCAN held a Songwriting Masterclass on Friday, May 9, at the host hotel, the Delta St. John’s, where Stone conducted a conversation with Woods, about finding inspiration, his solo writing process, how he co-writes with others, and more, giving attendees valuable insight into the craft of writing a great song.
SOCAN presented our ever-popular Songwriters Circle, at the JAG Soundhouse, on Sunday, May 11, hosted by Stone and Kellie Loder. The circle featured compelling songs, intimate stories, and standout performances from Woods, Luedecke, Kelly McMichael, Jah’Mila, Ben Chase, and Quote The Raven.
On Saturday, May 10, at the Blue Water restaurant, the SOCAN Creative team presented Mick Davis with No. 1 Song Award to celebrate “Vibrations” reaching the top of the CBC Music Top 20 on Sept. 12, 2024. Davis is the sole writer of the song, which is performed by he and his band, Thin Love.
SOCAN Creative Executive, Black Music, Lord Quest participated in a “Rights and Royalties” panel; along with Stone, he also participated in one-on-one meetings, face-to-face, with conference attendees; and, along with SOCAN Foundation’s Holly Hudson, he held a “SOCAN and SOCAN Foundation 101” session. Andrea Kokonis, SOCAN’s Chief Legal Officer and General Counsel, participated in a panel on AI, hosted by SAC (the Songwriters Association of Canada). Our SOCAN 100 Connection reception drew about 60 members, including Neon Dream, Paige Penny. and many other SOCAN members and East Coast music representatives.