History of EDIA at ECMA
History of Equity, Diversity, Inclusion and Accessibility at ECMA
ECMA has long recognized the importance of Equity, Diversity, Inclusion and Accessibility (EDIA) in fostering a more representative and inclusive industry. While the heavy lifting started five years ago, more than two decades ago ECMA took its first steps by responding to concerns from members to create music award categories celebrating underrepresented groups. These early actions laid the groundwork for a more intentional approach to EDIA.
The following timeline highlights key milestones in ECMA’s ongoing commitment to EDIA to foster a more inclusive and representative industry.
1995 – 2002 Acadian Recording of the Year created; change to Francophone Recording of the Year in 2016 and since 2017 has been Enregistrement Francophone De L'Année
1996 – 2016- Aboriginal Recording of the Year created; changed to Indigenous Recording of the Year in 2017
Pre-2014 – MOU with Alliance nationale de l'industrie musicale (ANIM) to collaborate on enhancing the visibility of the ECMA within the Acadian and Francophone communities of the Atlantic Provinces
2016 – ECMA adopted a policy that ensures high profile coverage of awards that promote underrepresented musicians. The Indigenous, Francophone and African Canadian awards are presented at the Thursday Gala broadcast across Canada and streamed around the world.
2021– African Canadian Artist of the Year category re-established after several years of absence from the awards roster. The award was first established in 1998.
2021– Bucky Adams Award (named for the legendary African Nova Scotian blues and jazz saxophone player and is awarded to an African Canadian music trailblazers) was elevated and added to the suite of prestigious board honorary awards which include the Stomping Tom Conners and Dr. Helen Creighton Award
2021– ECMA officially adopted practices to guarantee designated spots for women in all performance related programming including showcases, songwriter’s circle, the Award Show as well as conference delegates and workshop presenters
2021– African Canadian Music Committee established to collaborate on enhancing engagement of African Canadian musicians and music industry professionals within the ECMA and the wider Atlantic music community
2021 Partnership with BDRB (Breaking Down Racial Barriers) to host a four-part series on Anti-Black racism in the East Coast Music Industry. ECMA is also a signatory to the BDRB National Charter to eradicate Anti-Black racism in the music industry.
2021 – ECMA adopted and implemented a Code of Conduct that formally addressed EDIA principles.
2022 – Partnership with KL Management to provide support to the ECMA Export Buyers Program which included mentorship of Black showcasing artists to become export ready and recruitment of Black delegates to bring East Coast Music to large international festivals
2022 – Partnership with St. Mary’s First Nation in Fredericton to promote engagement and inclusion of Indigenous artists and community members as part of the ECMAs New Brunswick. This included a full day of programming dedicated to Indigenous (Cultural Day)
2022 – Partnership with ANSMA to establish a stronger and more formal relationship aimed at featuring ANSMA’s Black Vibes Showcase more prominently at all future ECMAs
2022 – ECMA created a new Vice President of Equity Diversity Inclusion and Accessibility (EDIA) on its board of directors. Entrenching this new role as part of the ECMA’s executive, signals the importance we place on EDIA in our governance model and in the music industry
2022 – Established partnerships with ADVANCE (Canada’s Black Music Collective) to support African Canadian musicians and music industry professionals, which continues today
2023 – Partnership with the Mi’kmaw Native Friendship Centre to present “Wijewinen,” four days of celebrating Indigenous culture as part of the ECMAs in Nova Scotia
2023 –Programmed and presented our first Indigenous musicians showcase stage to attract greater attention to east coast Indigenous musicians
2024 – Launched Queer Stage in partnership with local Pride organizations and sponsors as a public commitment to supporting and advocating for the 2SLGBTQIA+ community
Ongoing – Atlantic Music Industry Associations partnership to engage women in the award submission process
Ongoing – Board reflects diverse perspectives, reinforcing our commitment to EDIA and inclusivity
Ongoing – Awards shows and showcase programming takes into account the importance of gender representation
This is not a complete list of our efforts, but it highlights some of the significant steps we’ve taken on our EDIA journey over the years. Progress in EDIA requires sustained effort and time, and we have seen tangible results from these commitments. As ECMA continues this journey, we remain fully committed to working alongside our members and partners to drive meaningful and lasting change in our industry.
