NLIS 6
February 17, 2003
(Tourism, Culture and Recreation)

 

Minister congratulates ECMA nominees and winners

Julie Bettney, Minister of Tourism, Culture and Recreation, today congratulated Newfoundland and Labrador�s nominees and winners for the 2003 East Coast Music Awards (ECMAs). The ECMAs were held Sunday in Halifax, Nova Scotia.

This province had a strong showing at the event, with a total of 30 nominations. Of those nominations, Newfoundland and Labrador artists received the following: Great Big Sea won five awards in the categories of Entertainer of the Year, Album of the Year, Group of the Year, Pop Group of the Year, and Video of the Year. The Flummies from Labrador won for best aboriginal recording, while Terry Kelly picked up the win in the roots/traditional artist category. Crush received The Single of the Year for their song Here.

"Music remains one of the most substantial examples of artistic expression in our province. Newfoundland and Labrador is home to very high-caliber entertainment that is being recognized worldwide," said Minister Bettney. "I congratulate the many artists in the province who received ECMA nominations and awards."

Complementing the many awards handed out on Sunday night was the announcement that singer/songwriter Mark Bragg is the winner of CBC�s The Great Canadian Music Dream competition for the Atlantic region. Bragg will now represent Atlantic Canada at the national finals to be broadcast from Hamilton on February 26. Bragg's independent CD is entitled The Reckless Kind.

"The music industry is vital to this province. It plays an important role in the economy of the province, it is a critical ingredient of our tourism industry and it is fundamental to the cultural mosaic that defines our province," said the minister. "I am very proud of the artists who represented our province at this year�s ECMAs."

In 2004, the ECMAs will be hosted by this province.

Media contact: Melony O�Neill, Communications, (709) 729-0928.

2003 02 17                                        4:20 p.m.


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