The head of the East Coast Music Association says she's working to address concerns some in the local music community are raising over a slate of recent changes.Natalie MacMaster performs during the East Coast Music Awards in Halifax on Thursday, May 4, 2023. The Canadian Press/Darren Calabrese
The leader of the East Coast Music Association (ECMA) is taking steps to address concerns raised by the local music community regarding recent changes to the organization. ECMA’s CEO, Blanche Israël, is focused on rebuilding trust among members after an online petition surfaced last week, demanding clarity on various modifications related to the annual East Coast Music Awards and its accompanying festival.
As of Monday, the petition on Change.org had gathered over 580 signatures, with many members expressing feelings of “uneasy and confused” due to a perceived lack of consultation regarding significant alterations to the awards application process. Among the changes, the new submission guidelines place less emphasis on streaming data and require musicians to provide a written rationale for their nomination considerations.
Additional changes included merging two award categories—video director and visual artist of the year—into a new category for content creators, while the award for audio engineer of the year was removed entirely. The petition also highlighted that experienced contractors with valuable institutional knowledge have been sidelined despite their longstanding involvement.
Sheri Jones, an artist manager and founding director of ECMA, criticized the organization for making crucial decisions without proper input from its members and leadership. She emphasized the importance of transparency and called for the ECMA board and CEO to share a detailed strategic plan outlining their goals and priorities. "You don’t make these kinds of changes without consultation and communication," Jones stated.
Israël, who began her role as CEO earlier this year, brings nearly 20 years of experience as a cellist and a background as a cultural strategist. She indicated that her goals include promoting diversity, equity, and inclusion within the ECMA. Part of the motivation for revising genre categories was to make the awards more accessible, allowing musicians to submit a single track instead of a full album. However, these submissions must be accompanied by two contextual releases to show artistic activity.
Addressing the reduced emphasis on streaming data for nominations, Israël explained that the move aims to support independent artists, allowing them to define their success on their own terms. She noted the challenges independent artists face, particularly with streaming services that pay very little per stream.
In response to the petition, Israël issued a statement addressing some concerns and shared an ECMA questionnaire, inviting members to reach out with their questions. She expressed a commitment to transparency and open communication. However, Jones argued that merely having open-door policies does not address the fundamental issues. She reiterated the need for structured consultation and a strategic plan approved by the board.
Despite the recent challenges, Jones remains optimistic about the local music community, hoping for unity in support of the region's artists. The next ECMA Awards are scheduled to take place in St. John’s, Newfoundland and Labrador, from May 7 to 11, 2025.
