The 2025 Juno Awards will include awards for Reggae Recording, Christian/Gospel album and finally Children's album.
CARAS, the Canadian Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences (CARAS), has reportedly reversed a planned decision to shelve those three categories, as well as the award for international album, the fate of which remains unknown.
Earlier in September, The Canadian Press received a letter revealing the planned suspension of the four charges, part of a yet-to-be-announced “broader series of updates.”
The backlash was swift from the music industry and beyond, with many citing concerns that reggae recording and Christian/gospel albums, in particular, are categories that honor genres led by black musicians.
“There's a lot of anger among us reggae people,” Juno nominee Jason Wilson he said The Canadian Pressadding that removing the reggae award could only “sound the alarm of racism”.
“While (the Junos) may be saying the right things about inclusion, in the same breath they're ditching reggae and gospel. How can this be reconciled?' Wilson said.
Politicians also spoke, including a federal member of parliament Michael Coteau — also Ontario's former culture minister — advocating for the restoration of the reggae, Christian/gospel and children's album categories. “Revisit this very bad decision,” Coteau told X. Councilman Josh Matlow also added his voice to the chorus.
President and CEO of the Juno Awards Alan Reid announced the decision to reinstate the charges on Tuesday, September 17.
“I want to personally address the recent discussions surrounding the changes we've been considering for the 2025 Awards,” Reed wrote on Instagram. “Over the past year, CARAS has undergone an extensive review process of all award categories, taking into account data such as consumption, number of submissions and other metrics,” explained Reid. “Given feedback from the community, CARAS will not be putting these three categories on hold this year.”
Talking to the Toronto Starjournalist and cultural commentator Dalton Higgins (who previously called the decision to eliminate reggae “a slap in the face to the black community” and “a public relations nightmare of epic proportions”) stressed that CARAS should not consider eliminating these categories without consulting the communities that contribute to these.
“To not engage the Jamaican community or the wider Caribbean community in a healthy two-way dialogue,” Higgins said, “we felt like we were taking 20 steps backwards.”
This isn't the first time artists have called out the Junos for issues of recognition and representation, including past boycotts by hip-hop artists Rascalz and Drake.
More information on the 2025 Juno Awards category changes will be announced on Sept. 23, Reed explained in his post.
The 2025 Junos will be held in Vancouver. -Rosie Long Decter
Jeremy Dutcher became the first two-time winner of the Polaris Music Award
Jeremy Dutcher has won the Polaris Music Award. Again!
The Neqotkuk (Tobique First Nation) Indigenous singer and songwriter became the first two-time winner in the history of the music award, which celebrated its 19th edition this week (September 17) at Massey Hall in Toronto.
With the album Motewolonuwok, Dutcher beat nine other albums to make the list: Cindy Lee's; Diamond JubileeNOBRO's Release your pussyTOBI's PanicDijahSB's The flower she knewby Alison Russell The ReturnerBambii's Infinity Clubof Elisapie InuktitutThe beaches I blame my ex and Charlotte Cardin's 99 Nights.
Dutcher wins the $50,000 prize donated by the Slaight Family Foundation, which goes to the best Canadian album of the year, as determined by an expert jury based solely on artistic merit.
“Six years ago, I released my first record [and] this award changed my life,” he said. “I have endless gratitude to this music community. No albums on this list were heard together. That speaks to the range of music in this place.”
The night included performances from most of the nominated artists, with creative replacements for those unable to perform: Beaches' Jordan Miller playing with teen band Thunder Queens, a string section playing alongside a taped performance by Charlotte Cardin, by Cindy Lee. video premiere and a ballet inspired by Allison Russell's “Eve Was Black.”
Read on for highlights from the 2024 Polaris Award Gala here. -Richard Trapunsky
Shaboozey honored at Toronto concert as 'A Bar Song (Tipsy)' hits 16 weeks at No. 1 on Billboard Canadian Hot 100
Shaboozey has the longest-running No. 1 hit on the Billboard Canadian Hot 100 this year with “A Bar Song (Tipsy), and last week he celebrated it in a big way.
At his concert at Danforth Music Hall on Friday (September 13), he welcomed Billboard Canada'small Richard Trapunsky, Mo Ghoneim and Jackson Turner on stage to present him with a plaque for the achievement.
“That's crazy, that's crazy,” he said, holding up the plaque in triumph as the crowd cheered. “You did it first!”
Shaboozey played the hit three times in a row during his encore, with the audience clearly loving every second.
The song has spent 16 weeks atop the Canadian Hot 100, surpassing last year's 15 weeks for Miley Cyrus' hit “Flowers.” Lil Nas X currently holds the record at 19 weeks for “Old Town Road.” Shaboozey only needs three weeks to tie it and another four to beat it.
“Let's see if we can do it,” the country star said in his green room before the show, sitting backstage next to a portrait of Charley Crockett.
“A Bar Song (Tipsy)” reached No. 1 in Canada before the US Hot 100, where it is currently sitting at 10 weeks at No. 1.
“I guess you have a lot of drinkers here, huh?” he joked, when asked why the song resonated in Canada. “It just shows that you like to have fun. Every day is a celebration when people hear this song.”
The song is an ode to forgetting your troubles with a double shot of whiskey interspersed with rapper J-Kwon's 2004 song “Tipsy.” An addictive country song that plays with hip-hop elements and is easy to sing along to, “A Bar Song (Tipsy)” has proven to unite different types of listeners and is played on a variety of different radio formats.
Obviously, it also has a lot of staying power. – RT
Lisa Grossi has been appointed Director of National Radio Promotion & Media Relations at Warner Music Canada
Warner Music Canada announced his appointment Lisa Gross in the position of director, national radio broadcasting & media relations.
Grossi joins the company from Bell Media, where she served as national music director for Virgin Radio & Move Radio, as well as music director and assistant program director for CHUM 104.5. She becomes the first woman to head Warner Music Canada's promotion department.
“Music is my passion. I live and breathe it,” Grossi says. “Growing up, it was my dream to work for a record label and I'm so excited that this is now a reality. I am excited to be joining Warner Music Canada to help bring new artists to the fore and to have continued success with their roster of established artists.”
Grossi has over 18 years of experience as a radio programmer, and the company is heralding her appointment as a step in bringing “Warner Music Canada's radio team into the future.”
Madelaine Napoleone, vice president of marketing, says, “Lisa is a highly respected leader in the radio industry, bringing a fresh perspective on how we can strengthen our partnership with radio both now and in the future. I am also proud to share that with her appointment, we are the only major label in Canada to have an all-female radio team.”
Lisa Grossi was recently celebrated in Billboard Canada's Women in Music Industry Spotlight. She gave this advice to the next generation of women in the industry: “Trust your gut. Tell your truth. Be authentic. Always give your honest opinion even if it's not the popular opinion.”
That advice has led her into new territory as she moves into the new role at Warner. –Kerry Dull
from our partners at https://www.billboard.com/pro/juno-awards-reggae-gospel-criticism-polaris-shaboozey-canada-news/
