Photo by courtesy of / courtoisie de CBC Music/CARAS. Nuela Charles.

Nuela Charles, Tyler Shaw, Patrick Watson, The Reklaws to play final edition of JUNOs 365 Songwriters’ Circle series

Story by Howard Druckman | Tuesday June 23rd, 2020

CBC and The Canadian Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences (CARAS) present the fifth and final instalment of the JUNOs 365 Songwriters’ Circle virtual series, adapted for an online audience after the popular “Jewel of the JUNOs” event was cancelled in Saskatoon due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Presented by SOCAN in association with Music Publishers Canada, the series of five online events will end on Friday, June 26, 2020, with some of Canada’s best songwriters telling the intriguing stories behind the songs, and performing from their homes. The last episode will feature Nuela Charles, Tyler Shaw, Patrick Watson, and The Reklaws.

The JUNOS 365 Songwriters’ Circle is available free in Canada on CBC Gem and globally on CBC Music’s Facebook and YouTube pages and cbcmusic.ca/junos.  For more information, click here.

Photo by courtesy/courtoisie. Ron Hynes.

ECMA announces re-scheduled broadcast of 2020 East Coast Music Awards

Story by Howard Druckman | Tuesday June 23rd, 2020

Six-time East Coast Music Award (ECMA) winner and legendary songwriter Ron Hynes will be posthumously inducted into the Canadian Songwriters Hall of Fame, in a special ceremony during the 2020 ECMAs gala – which has now been re-scheduled to take place as a pre-recorded, two-hour broadcast, on Saturday, July 11, starting at 9:00 p.m. AT / 9:30 p.m. NT on CBC TV in Atlantic Canada, and on CBC Gem across the country. With support from the SOCAN Foundation and peermusic, the tribute to Hynes will bring together longtime members of his backing band, and colleague artists including Shaye, Joel Hynes, and Lennie Gallant.

The 2020 ECMAs are hosted by Mary Walsh, and feature uniquely captured performances by Tim Baker, Rose Cousins, Wintersleep, Damnhait Doyle, Matt Mays, Neon Dreams, Motherhood, Eastern Owl, Zamani, Jacobus, and Shanneyganock. The re-scheduling follows the cancellation of the 32nd annual edition of event – originally scheduled to take place from April 29 to May 03 – due to COVID-19.

“We were devastated to cancel our week of events in St. John’s this Spring in the wake of the pandemic, including our much anticipated Awards Show at Mile One Stadium,” said Andy McLean, CEO of the ECMA. “However, we knew from that moment we wanted to find a unique way to celebrate our local talent and the well-deserving winners of this year’s East Coast Music Awards. Over the past several weeks, our team has worked hard to tape incredible performances and put together a wonderful show so that – across the Atlantic provinces and now across the whole country – we can come together to champion the vibrancy and resiliency of the East Coast music community, and tip our hats to the beautiful city of St. John’s.”

Nine East Coast Music Awards will be given away over the course of the broadcast. The remaining award winners will be announced the day before, on Friday, June 10, via ECMA’s social media channels. For a full list of ECMA 2020 nominees, click here.

Photo by courtesy/courtoisie. Left to right/De gauche à droite : Tory Lanez, Alessia Cara.

JUNO Awards 2020 winners to be announced online June 29th

Story by Howard Druckman | Thursday June 18th, 2020

Following the cancellation of the 2020 JUNO Awards in Saskatoon due to COVID-19, winners will now be announced in 42 categories during a virtual event on Monday, June 29, 2020, starting at 7:00 p.m. ET, on the free CBC Gem streaming service, CBC Music’s Facebook, YouTube and Twitter pages, and for audiences around the world at www.CBCMusic.ca/junos.

Alessia Cara, scheduled to host The JUNO Awards Broadcast in Saskatoon, leads the nominations this year with a total of six, including Single, Album, Artist, and Pop Album of the Year. Tory Lanez received five nominations, including Artist, Rap Recording, and two in the R&B/Soul Recording of the Year. Both are nominated for the JUNO Fan Choice Award. Artists with three nominations include Alexandra Stréliski, Bryan Adams, bülow, Loud Luxury, NAV, and Shawn Mendes.

Performers will include iskwē, Neon Dreams, and The Dead South, and presenters will include Jessie Reyez, Measha Brueggergosman, Nuela Charles, Shoshona Kish, and Finn Wolfhard.

“We’re thrilled to finally announce the 2020 JUNO winners and recognize all of the incredibly talented artists who’ve been waiting patiently since we had to, unfortunately, cancel JUNO Week in Saskatoon,” said Allan Reid, President & CEO, CARAS/The JUNO Awards & MusiCounts. “Thanks to the amazing support of our broadcast and content partner CBC and our presenting partner TD, along with all of our funders and partners, we’re able to celebrate the best in Canadian music this year through this special virtual JUNOS event.”