The 2025 Boston Music Awards were nothing short of a celebration of the city’s vibrant and diverse music scene, but here’s where it gets emotional: for many winners, this wasn’t just an award—it was a testament to their deep connection to Boston. ‘This means the world to us,’ Brennan declared while accepting the honor, emphasizing how Boston is woven into the very fabric of their identity. And this is the part most people miss: these awards aren’t just about music; they’re about community, pride, and the power of art to unite us.
Dropkick Murphys, who hadn’t clinched a Boston Music Award since 2012, made a triumphant return, snagging three wins, including Video of the Year and Song of the Year (1 million+ streams) for their politically charged anthem, ‘Who Will Stand With Us?’ from their album For the People. But here’s where it gets controversial: in an era of divisive politics, their win sparks a question—can music truly bridge societal divides? Let us know your thoughts in the comments.
Boston band Couch also had a stellar night, taking home two trophies despite being nominated in five categories. Meanwhile, the New Artist of the Year category continued its trend of spotlighting rising female hip-hop and R&B talent, with Lawrence artist ISHA! claiming the 2025 title. Her shoutout to ‘the Dominicans and the Haitians in the building’ was a powerful reminder of Boston’s cultural mosaic.
Rap dominated the album categories, with EXITFAME’s Last Shall Be First winning Album/EP of the Year. Backstage, EXITFAME reflected on his roots in Dorchester and Roxbury, saying, ‘What makes you stay here is the pride of that.’ Salem rapper Token, who won Album/EP of the Year (1 million+ streams) for I’m Not Supposed to Be Here, shared a vulnerable moment: ‘I was always insecure about growing up outside of Boston and being an internet kid.’ His win highlights the tension between digital fame and local identity—a debate worth exploring.
Paul Armstrong, owner and producer of the Boston Music Awards, praised this year’s winners for representing ‘the full spectrum of who makes music in Boston right now.’ He added, ‘When things feel heavy, art is often what helps us see a way forward.’ But here’s a thought: in a year marked by challenges, can awards ceremonies truly offer more than fleeting inspiration? Weigh in below.
The 2025 ceremony introduced five new categories, including the Margaret Stewart Lindsay Music Nonprofit of the Year, awarded to the Boston Music Project. Chris Schroeder, its executive director, aptly noted, ‘The arts truly are the cornerstone of humanity, especially right now.’ Another new category, Afro/Caribbean Artist of the Year, replaced the reggae/ska category, with Echezona taking the inaugural win.
Genre-specific winners spanned from Token (hip-hop) to Yanna G (R&B), Megan From Work (rock), and Hallelujah the Hills (alt/indie). The Boston Globe was also honored, with Victoria Wasylak named Journalist of the Year.
Full List of Winners:
- Artist of the Year: Dropkick Murphys
- New Artist of the Year: ISHA!
- Album/EP of the Year (1 million+ streams): Token – I’m Not Supposed to Be Here
- Album/EP of the Year: EXITFAME – Last Shall Be First
- Song of the Year (1 million+ streams): Dropkick Murphys – ‘Who’ll Stand With Us?’
- Song of the Year: Justin Clancy – ‘Holy’
- Video of the Year: Dropkick Murphys – ‘Who’ll Stand With Us?’
- Live Artist of the Year: Couch
- Afro/Caribbean Artist of the Year: Echezona
- Alt/Indie Artist of the Year: Hallelujah the Hills
- Americana Artist of the Year: Kier Byrnes & The Kettle Burners
- Blues Artist of the Year: GA-20
- Country Artist of the Year: Samantha Rae
- Dance/Electronic Artist of the Year: Freezepop
- DJ of the Year: DJ Real P
- Folk Artist of the Year: Tiny Habits
- Hip Hop Artist of the Year: Token
- Jazz Artist of the Year: Jared Sims
- Latin Artist of the Year: Lia Nicole
- Metal Artist of the Year: TREE
- Pop Artist of the Year: Couch
- Punk/Hardcore Artist of the Year: Haywire
- R&B Artist of the Year: Yanna G
- Rock Artist of the Year: Megan From Work
- Singer-Songwriter Artist of the Year: Ezra Furman
- Vocalist of the Year: Miranda Rae
- Spoken Word Artist of the Year: Yessmaa
- Music Festival of the Year: Boston Calling
- Music Night of the Year: SILK R&B Party
- Music Venue of the Year (1000+ capacity): MGM Music Hall at Fenway
- Music Venue of the Year (250+ capacity): The Sinclair
- Music Venue of the Year (Under 250 capacity): Deep Cuts
- Box Office Team of the Year: Big Night Live
- Production Manager of the Year: Marc Picard
- Live Audio Engineer of the Year: Jesse Vengrove
- Lighting Technician of the Year: Brittany Trymbulak
- Promoter of the Year: Bowery Boston
- Talent Buyer of the Year: Justine Faucher
- Graphic Designer of the Year: Liz Walshak
- Publication of the Year: The Boston Globe
- Journalist of the Year: Victoria Wasylak
- Photographer of the Year: Faith Nguyen
- Videographer of the Year: Nicole da Silva
- Artist Manager of the Year: Ikenna Ndugba
- Session Musician of the Year: Matt Zappa
- Recording Studio of the Year: The SoundLab Recording Studios
- Studio Producer of the Year: Akachi
- Studio Engineer of the Year: J. Rose
- Podcast of the Year: ‘CWTFB Radio’
- Radio DJ of the Year: DJ Pup Dawg
- The Margaret Stewart Lindsay Music Non-Profit of the Year: Boston Music Project.
For inquiries, contact Matt Juul at matthew.juul@globe.com or Ryan Yau at ryan.yau@globe.com. And remember, the conversation doesn’t end here—what did you think of this year’s winners? Are awards ceremonies still relevant in today’s music landscape? Let’s keep the dialogue going!
