Leading nominee Jeremy Dutcher withdraws from East Coast Music Awards amid leadership turmoil

By Canadian Press on March 12, 2025.

Jeremy Dutcher says he’s withdrawing his eight nominations from the East Coast Music Awards in solidarity with other musicians who are boycotting the event.

The Polaris and Juno winner told The Canadian Press he no longer wants to participate in this year’s awards ceremony as questions swirl about the organization’s direction following the ousting of CEO Blanche Israel in January.

The East Coast Music Association, a non-profit formed to support local artists and run the awards show, has been embroiled in turmoil for months over its future direction.

After Israel tried to implement structural changes, a petition by founding ECMA director Sheri Jones alleged members and other leaders were not adequately consulted. Jones’s petition calling for transparency and better communication garnered 648 signatures.

Israel was ultimately dismissed by the board of directors and replaced with former CEO Andy McLean on an interim basis earlier this year.

But many, including Dutcher, supported Israel’s attempt to reform the awards application process and diversify the East Coast music genres that are represented. Dutcher was this year’s leading nominee alongside Halifax hip-hop artist Classified.

When the ECMA nominees were announced in February, some musicians asked to be removed from contention, including Dartmouth, N.S. singer-songwriter Mo Kenney and rap acts Wolf Castle of the Pabineau First Nation and Stephen Hero of St. John, N.B. So far, the ECMA website has not been updated to reflect those requests.

Other performers have pulled out of the ECMA’s annual showcase of East Coast talent, including Halifax duo Moira & Claire and rock trio June Body.

A representative for the ECMA said no one was immediately available to comment.

The East Coast Music Awards are scheduled for May 8 as part of a five-day conference in St. John’s.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published March 12, 2025.

David Friend, The Canadian Press