Music Awards
The Western Canadian Music Awards Reception celebrates the best of artistic talent in western Canada.
2023 Artistic and Specialty Award Nominees
BreakOut Artist of the Year (Sponsored by FACTOR)
Boslen - BC
Katie Tupper - SK
Leith Ross - MB
Mariel Buckley - AB
MAUVEY – BC
Children’s Artist of the Year
Beppie - AB
Ginalina - BC
Ira Pettle - BC
Mom Bop - BC
Will et Seeka - BC
Classical Artist / Ensemble of the Year (Sponsored by Canadian Music Centre [CMC])
Karl Stobbe - MB
Krisztina Szabó - BC
Mark Takeshi McGregor - BC
Megumi Masaki - MB
musica intima - BC
Classical Composer of the Year
Christopher Tyler Nickel - Oboe d’amore Quintet "IV. Con fuoco" - BC
Jessica McMann - The Bear and the Wild Rose - Home "Muskwas Mountain Home"-AB
Katerina Gimon - Borealis "Roots Beneath" - BC
T Patrick Carrabré - Transformation "Orpheus 1" - BC
Vincent Ho - Sandman's Castle "R1ddler" – AB
Country Artist of the Year
Gord Bamford - AB
Hunter Brothers - SK
JoJo Mason - BC
Nice Horse - AB
Whitehorse - MB
Electronic & Dance Artist of the Year
Boogey The Beat - MB
Khanvict - BC
Modern Biology - BC
RUMPUS - SK
The Librarian - BC
Francophone Artist of the Year (sponsored by APCM (Association des professionnels de la chanson et de la musique)
Andrina Turenne - MB
Jérémie & The Delicious Hounds - MB
Jocelyne Baribeau - MB
Sala - MB
Sympa César - AB
Global Artist of the Year
Cristian de la Luna - AB
El Leon & The Strangers - MB
Gisela Romero - AB
Onna Lou - MB
Ruby Singh - BC
Indigenous Artist of the Year
Blue Moon Marquee - BC
Celeigh Cardinal - AB
Jayli Wolf - BC
PIQSIQ - BC
Snotty Nose Rez Kids - BC
Instrumental Artist of the Year
Adam Dobres - BC
Elise Boeur & Adam Iredale-Gray - BC
Glen Gillis - SK
Hello Moth - AB
Jasmine Jazz - BC
Jazz Artist of the Year
Chris Andrew - AB
Jocelyn Gould - MB
Melody Diachun - BC
Up and Over Trio - AB
Winnipeg Jazz Orchestra - MB
Metal & Hard Music Artist of the Year
Gnarwhal - NT
Grimelda - SK
KEN mode - MB
New Jacobin Club - SK
Osyron - AB
Pop Artist of the Year
Begonia - MB
Josh Ramsay - BC
Kaeley Jade - AB
Louise Burns - BC
MAUVEY - BC
Producer of the Year
Boogey The Beat - MB
Deadmen - MB
Jill Barber, Erik P. H. Nielsen - BC
Kevvy - BC
Louise Burns - BC
R&B Artist of the Year
Jérémie & The Delicious Hounds - MB
Katie Tupper - SK
Kuba Oms - BC
Major Funk - YT
ZENON - AB
Rap & Hip Hop Artist of the Year
Arlo Maverick - AB
Boslen - BC
Cartel Madras - AB
Dill the Giant - MB
Snotty Nose Rez Kids - BC
Recording of the Year
Dear Rouge - BC
MAUVEY - BC
Snotty Nose Rez Kids - BC
Whitehorse - MB
William Prince – MB
Rock Artist of the Year
Dan Mangan - BC
Hotel Mira - BC
Kris Anders - BC
The Royal Foundry - AB
The Zolas – BC
Roots Artist of the Year
Jake Vaadeland - SK
Jill Barber - BC
Mariel Buckley - AB
The Bros. Landreth - MB
William Prince - MB
Songwriter(s) of the Year (Sponsored by The Society of Composers, Authors and Music Publishers of Canada) SOCAN
Alexa Dirks and Matt Peters - Begonia "Butterfly" - MB
Leith Ross - "We'll Never Have Sex" - MB
Ryan Dyck - Skinny Dyck "TV Blue" - AB
William Prince - "When You Miss Someone" - MB
Young D, Yung Trybez - Snotty Nose Rez Kids "Hot Planet" – BC
Spiritual Artist of the Year
Andrea Menard - BC
Cikwes - AB
Dee Daniels - BC
Stirling John - AB
Two Late To The Party - AB
Video Director of the Year (Sponsored by Manitoba Film & Music)
Jayli Wolf - "Holding On" - BC
Lester Lyons-Hookham - Dan Mangan "Fire Escape" - BC
Mayumi Yoshida - “Different Than Before” - BC
Michael Linton - Mariel Buckley "Neon Blue" - MB
Ryan Steel - Begonia "Married by Elvis" – MB
The Western Canadian Music Awards are funded in part by the six provincial and territorial governments of western Canada. BreakOut West and the Western Canadian Music Awards are generously funded by FACTOR, Musicaction, the Government of Canada and Canada’s private radio broadcasters, along Whitehorse host partners, and event sponsors and funders, notably the Government of Yukon.