Minister congratulates 2004 ECMA award recipients

Tourism, Culture and Recreation Minister Paul Shelley today congratulated the winners from the 2004 East Coast Music Awards held in St. John�s last evening. Newfoundland and Labrador artists received a total of 10 awards, including the coveted Entertainer of the Year Award. The ECMA Conference and Gala Awards took place in St. John�s from February 12-15.

"As the minister responsible for culture in the province, it was a proud moment last evening to witness the success of Newfoundland and Labrador artists at the 2004 ECMA awards right here in our own province," said Minister Shelley. "I congratulate Crush, Damhnait Doyle, Ron Hynes and the Ennis Sisters on receiving awards, Ryan�s Fancy on receiving the Dr. Helen Creighton Lifetime Achievement Award for their contribution to the Atlantic Canadian music industry, and the 21 Newfoundland and Labrador groups/individuals who were nominated. I also commend the ECMA host committee for their tireless efforts in ensuring that ECMA 2004 was a resounding success."

Newfoundland and Labrador�s band Crush were the big winners at the ECMA awards last evening. The group took home a total of five ECMAs, including Group of the Year, NewCap Rock Recording of the Year, Single of the Year, SOCAN Songwriter of the Year and the coveted Telegram / Transcontinental Entertainer of the Year Award, the only award voted on by the general public.

Other Newfoundland and Labrador winners include Damhnait Doyle, who took home Female Artist of the Year and Pop Recording of the Year; Ron Hynes, who received the Country Recording of the Year and the FACTOR Album of the Year; and The Ennis Sisters, who took home the award for Roots/Traditional Group Recording of the Year.

"The ECMAs not only showcase the talent in our own province and the rest of Atlantic Canada, but represent significant business and professional development opportunity for the 1,000 people employed in the music industry in Newfoundland and Labrador," said Minister Shelley. "In addition, hosting the event here in our province represents an estimated economic value of approximately $6 million to the local economy."

The East Coast Music Awards were established in Halifax, Nova Scotia in 1989. Since then, the conference and awards show has grown to become the premier music event in Atlantic Canada. The last time the EMCA was held in Newfoundland and Labrador was 1999.

Media contact: Tansy Mundon, Communications, (709) 729-0928.

2004 02 16                                        12:05 p.m.