Nova Scotia’s music community took a bow this weekend as Music Nova Scotia announced the winners of the 2025 Music Nova Scotia Music & Industry Awards. Wrapping up Nova Scotia Music Week in Yarmouth this past weekend, the awards ceremony honoured 31 recipients across 23 music and eight industry categories.
This year’s big winners included Mo Kenney, KAYO, Terra Spencer and Halifax Jazz Festival, each taking home two awards.
Kenney earned SOCAN Songwriter of the Year and Music Video of the Year for From Nowhere, while Spencer was named Entertainer of the Year and took Folk/Roots Recording of the Year for Sunset. Hip-hop artist KAYO claimed both DJ of the Year and Hip Hop/Rap Recording of the Year for Extended Trip, and the Halifax Jazz Festival won Artistic Development Award and Live Sector Award.
Among other winners, Jah’Mila was named African Nova Scotian Artist of the Year, India Gailey with Symphony Nova Scotia & Karl Hirzer received Classical Recording of the Year for Butterfly Lightning Shakes the Earth, and Lucy MacNeil earned Traditional Recording of the Year for Angels Whisper. Rising artist Mat Elliott took New Artist Recording of the Year for South Endings, while Kristen Martell received the Prix de l’Acadie.
On the industry side, Breagh Isabel was honoured with the Recording Sector Award, Sara Martin earned the Sound, Tech and Production Award, and George d’Eon was recognized as Volunteer of the Year.
A complete list of winners follows:
MUSIC AWARDS
African Nova Scotian Artist of the Year: Jah’Mila
Americana/Bluegrass Recording of the Year: Charlie A’Court – San Palarino
Blues Recording of the Year: Campbell & Johnston – Paisley Hearts
Children’s Artist of the Year: Razzmatazz
Classical Recording of the Year: India Gailey with Symphony Nova Scotia & Karl Hirzer – Butterfly Lightning Shakes the Earth
Country Recording of the Year: Bill Ricky – Bill Ricky
DJ of the Year: KAYO
Electronic Artist of the Year: Rich Aucoin
Entertainer of the Year: Terra Spencer
Folk/Roots Recording of the Year: Terra Spencer – Sunset
Hip Hop/Rap Recording of the Year: KAYO – Extended Trip
Indigenous Artist of the Year: Alan Syliboy & The Thundermakers
Jazz Recording of the Year: Sam Wilson – Wintertides
Loud Recording of the Year: The Orchids – The Orchids
Music Video of the Year: Mo Kenney – From Nowhere (directed by Nicole Cecile Holland and Sarah Swire)
Musician of the Year: Siobhan Martin
New Artist Recording of the Year: Mat Elliott – South Endings
Pop Recording of the Year: Pillow Fite – Hard Feelings, Soft Promises
Prix de l’Acadie: Kristen Martell
R&B/Soul Artist of the Year: JupiterReign
Rock Recording of the Year: Eric Stephen Martin – Paper Chains
SOCAN Songwriter of the Year: Mo Kenney
Traditional Recording of the Year: Lucy MacNeil – Angels Whisper
INDUSTRY AWARDS
Artistic Development Award: Halifax Jazz Festival
Educator of the Year: Avery Dakin
Emerging Industry Professional of the Year: Anna Brown
Live Sector Award: Halifax Jazz Festival
Media Arts Award: CKDU-88.1FM Society
Recording Sector Award: Breagh Isabel
Sound, Tech and Production Award: Sara Martin
Volunteer of the Year: George d’Eon