(March 20, 2025 – Halifax/Kjipuktuk) Nova Scotia Music Week (NSMW) 2025 will take place in Yarmouth/Kespukwitk from October 23-26, 2025. Music Nova Scotia is pleased to open both showcasing applications and award nominations for this year’s event!

After receiving feedback from the membership, MNS has made a significant change to open both the awards and showcasing applications at the same time, allowing for better communication between juries. Additionally, consultation was prioritized over the last year regarding the eligibility, criteria, and name of the African Nova Scotian Artist of the Year Award. The African Nova Scotian/Black Advisory Body, a joint group serving both Music Nova Scotia and the African Nova Scotian Music Association, met and advised that further community consultation was needed before the name or the eligibility of the award changed. This consultation will take place over the next 12 months to ensure the award continues to best serve the community it represents. For NSMW 2025, the eligibility and name will remain the same as previous years. All artists submitting to African Nova Scotian Artist of the Year are also welcome and encouraged to apply to their genre categories as well at no additional cost.

Applications will be open for three weeks. Below, you will find the official manuals for submitting to the MNS Awards and Showcasing opportunities. These guides are essential for navigating the submission processes for the Music and Industry Awards and NSMW showcase stages.

Timeline

• Applications Open: Thursday, March 20, 2025, at 11:00 AM AT

• Deadline: Thursday, April 10, 2025, at 11:59 PM AT

Eligibility

To qualify for the MNS Music & Industry Awards or NSMW Showcasing stages, applicants must meet the following criteria. Additional eligibility requirements may apply depending on the specific application.

• Be a current member of Music Nova Scotia.

• Be a resident of Nova Scotia (see definition below).

• For groups/bands: At least 50% of members must be Nova Scotia residents.

• Must have released an eligible Single, EP, or Full-Length Record within the eligibility time period for awards or showcasing, unless where specified otherwise.
  
  

Nova Scotia Resident Definition:

• A person living in Nova Scotia for at least one year by April 11, 2025, or

• A person born in Nova Scotia who pays taxes in the province.

To renew or join Music Nova Scotia, click here. For any questions regarding membership, please contact MNS’ Membership & Admin Coordinator, Shevy Price: shevy@musicnovascotia.ca.

How to Apply

1. Applications must be submitted online through our official application form.

2. Each submission must include:

• A link to the artist’s most recent or upcoming music (e.g., Soundcloud, Bandcamp, Spotify).

3. A submission fee (HST included), payable via:

• Stripe

• E-transfer: Send to payment@musicnovascotia.ca (Password: NSMW2025).

Note: Incomplete, late, or incorrectly formatted submissions will not be considered.

Click the photos below to access each application manual: