MUSIC CATEGORIES
- Recording of the Year
- Enregistrement de l’année
- SOCAN Song of the Year
- Chanson SOCAN de l’année
- Video of the Year · Vidéo de l’année
MVP CATEGORIES
- Breakthrough Artist of the Year · Révélation de l’année
- Champion of the Year · Champion·ne de l’année
- Innovator of the Year · Innovataire de l’année
- Music Industry Professional of the Year · Professionnel·le de l’industrie de la musique de l’année
INDUSTRY CATEGORIES
- Venue of the Year · Salle de spectacle de l’année
- Festival | Event of the Year · Festival | Événement de l’année
ELIGIBILITY 2025
The eligibility period for the 2025 Prix MNB Awards is April 1, 2024 to April 30, 2025, inclusive.
Except for the Recording of the Year and Enregistrement de l’année, all entrants must be Music·Musique NB (MNB) members at the time of application to be considered eligible.
Eligible entrants must have lived in New Brunswick during the full eligibility period. For groups, at least fifty percent (50%) of members must have lived in New Brunswick during the full eligibility period.
Any mention of artist in this document refers to individual artists or groups. Any mention of organization refers to associations, businesses or similar entities.
Instrumental recordings are eligible. Compilation recordings and lyric videos are ineligible for nomination.
The Music·Musique NB Board of Directors reserves the right to ask clarifying questions and to revoke any entries or nominations at any time if it is discovered that an entrant has not met any of the eligibility requirements and/or is in violation of the Music·Musique NB Member Code of Conduct.
For all awards, an entry may be made on behalf of an individual, business or group. However, all eligibility criteria must still be met. Upon receiving an entry made on behalf of an individual, business or group, Music·Musique NB will contact the party in question to confirm their details, eligibility and willingness to accept the entry made on their behalf.
All submission requirements must be met. Incomplete entries are not accepted. Any occurrences of questionable eligibility are dealt with at the discretion of the Music·Musique NB Board of Directors. No refunds will be given for ineligible entries or entries made to categories which do not open.
Music·Musique NB encourages submissions from members of diverse communities, including Indigenous people, people of colour, people with disabilities, people from the LGBTQ+ community, and people who identify with other intersectional and equity-seeking groups.
DEADLINE
Entries must be filled out online and received by 23:59PM (Atlantic) on Thursday, April 30, 2025. For all categories in which a recording is being considered, a physical copy must be sent to the MNB office (140, rue Botsford Street, suite 30, Moncton, NB, E1C 4X4). If the recording is only released in a digital format, a download code must be provided.
JURORS
Jurors are selected from artists and professionals across New Brunswick and Canada in accordance with MNB’s Policy for Jury Selection. Each juror is required to sign a conflict of interest form as well as identify any potential conflicts when adjudicating.
Each category is considered “open” and included in the jurying process once a minimum of three (3) eligible entries have been received. For Recording of the Year and Enregistrement de l’année, eight (8) to twelve (12) nominations will be selected, based on the jury evaluation process. For all other categories, three (3) to five (5) nominations will be selected, based on the jury evaluation process. In the case where there is a tie in the jury process to determine the nominations, both tied entries will be included in the nomination list.
Please note that MNB Staff is excluded from being jurors for the Prix MNB Awards juries and are not involved in choosing nominees or winners.
MUSIC CATEGORIES
The following awards recognize a New Brunswick recording, song (recognizes the songwriter – not the singer) or video of distinction. Entries will be evaluated on originality, quality of songwriting, composition and lyrics, artistic merit, performance, and audio and production quality.
- Recording of the Year
- Enregistrement de l’année
- Song of the Year
- Chanson de l’année
- Video of the Year · Vidéo de l’année
Entrants may submit for any number of Music Categories for which they are eligible. Only one submission per category per artist is accepted. The Music Categories are evaluated by a jury.
Entrants must provide proof that the release date of the recording, song or video occurred within the eligibility period.
Accepted proof: Screen capture of a Facebook event, show poster, article detailing the release, online platform indicating the release date, such as Bandcamp or Apple Music, etc.
A recording must contain a minimum of five (5) tracks OR is a minimum of twenty (20) minutes of music. At least seventy-five percent (75%) of the tracks on a recording must be previously unreleased by the artist. Compilations or re-releases are not eligible.
Lyric videos are not eligible.
MVP (MOST VALUABLE PLAYER) CATEGORIES
The following awards are considered MVP awards, and they recognize a New Brunswick artist, industry professional, individual or organization which has made a significant impact on the NB music industry during the eligibility period. Entries will be evaluated on impact on the music industry, as a whole and in the province, and significant achievements and activities during the eligibility period. In the case of an artist, the quality and originality of a sound recording may be taken into consideration.
- Breakthrough Artist of the Year · Révélation de l’année
- Champion of the Year · Champion·ne de l’année
- Innovator of the Year · Innovataire de l’année
- Music Industry Professional of the Year · Professionnel·le de l’industrie de la musique de l’année
Entrants may submit for any number of MVP (Most Valuable Player) Categories for which they are eligible.
While it is not mandatory, due to the unique nature of the material submitted, entrants are encouraged to submit their supporting information in both official languages. The MVP Categories are evaluated by a jury.
BREAKTHROUGH ARTIST OF THE YEAR · RÉVÉLATION DE L’ANNÉE
Recognizes an artist based on their activity and/or a recording, who has earned significant recognition locally or regionally, and who achieved significant career progress and improvement for the first time during the eligibility period. This artist does not have more than one official recording, has not yet realized wider exposure and cannot have previously won a Prix MNB Award.
To support the pitch (500 words or 3-min video), consider providing a concert schedule, notable releases, media coverage, notable social media attention, awards & accolades, and any other info that will help jurors learn more about the entrant.
This artist might not be a household name yet, but they deserve to be. Their contributions to the New Brunswick music scene in the past year demonstrate the promise of a bright musical career to come.
CHAMPION OF THE YEAR · CHAMPION·NE DE L’ANNÉE
Recognizes an individual or organization that has made a significant contribution to the vitality and resilience of the New Brunswick music industry, and/or has had a positive impact on the music community.
To support the pitch (500 words or 3-min video), consider providing testimonials, and any other info that will help jurors learn more about the entrant.
This unsung ally makes a positive impact on the music community. Think about a festival organizer who consistently books New Brunswick bands in their programming, an artist who goes above and beyond to help their fellow musicians, a podcaster who makes a point of including New Brunswick music in their show, a music fan who consistently supports their local venues, etc.
This category was created to recognize that the music industry has many moving parts, and not all of those are visible to the public.
INNOVATOR OF THE YEAR · INNOVATAIRE DE L’ANNÉE
Recognizes an individual or organization that is pushing the envelope, either creatively or on their business side. They demonstrate innovation in their music genre, in the promotion of music, in their programming, in the use of new technologies or platforms, etc.
To support the pitch (500 words or 4-min video), consider providing links to their online presence, media coverage, notable social media attention, or other material to show how the entrant is innovative.
This individual or organisation is all about avant-garde music, innovative programs to promote artists, or using ground-breaking technologies in promoting/creating music.
This entrant makes keeping up with the fast-paced technology look easy! Perhaps their music is something that the public hasn’t heard before. They might be creating their music using unconventional technologies. They might be an organisation committed to supporting the next generation of artists. Think outside the box for this one!
MUSIC INDUSTRY PROFESSIONAL OF THE YEAR · PROFESSIONNEL·LE DE L’INDUSTRIE DE LA MUSIQUE DE L’ANNÉE
Recognizes an individual Music Industry Professional who works in the fields of recording & sound (engineer, sound technician), management, booking, record labels, distribution, media (radio host, podcaster, TV show personality, journalist, blogger, etc.), or any other fields in the New Brunswick music industry.
To support the pitch (500 words or 3-min video), consider providing notable projects, media coverage, notable social media attention, awards & accolades, and any other info that will help jurors learn more about the entrant.
INDUSTRY CATEGORIES
Festivals and Venues that are members of Music·Musique NB are automatically entered in the nomination process. No other application is needed.
The nominees are chosen and are voted on by MNB members.
- Venue of the Year · Salle de spectacle de l’année
- Festival | Event of the Year · Festival | Événement de l’année
VENUE OF THE YEAR · SALLE DE SPECTACLE DE L’ANNÉE
Recognizes a New Brunswick music venue (bars, pubs, theatres, community halls, etc.) which has made a significant impact on the NB music industry and which consistently features and promotes New Brunswick artists, and is supportive of the NB music community.
FESTIVAL | EVENT OF THE YEAR · FESTIVAL | ÉVÉNEMENT DE L’ANNÉE
Recognizes a New Brunswick-based music festival or event which has made a significant impact on the NB music industry and which consistently features New Brunswick artists, and is supportive of the NB music community.