JUNO Week 2014: Moments, Lessons and Winners
JUNO Week 2014 – Winnipeg, Manitoba
So I’ve had more than a few days to settle down after JUNO Week, reflect, and finally take some time to write about it. You really do need a few days to get back into the swing of things after these events. If you’ve been, you know what I mean. I decided to take a road trip (15 hours) there and back alone because I thought it would be exciting (and honestly, it was) but someone please remind me next time to not do that.
Behind the scenes
To those of you reading this who have never been, JUNO Week is SO MUCH MORE than the JUNO Awards Broadcast that everyone see’s on Sunday evening CTV. First of all, you’ve got JUNO Fest, a 2 day music festival with about 100 acts playing at 20 venues all across the city (numbers are dependent on location – it’s a traveling event). Then you’ve got the JUNO Cup, where a bunch of retired NHL players play against a bunch of musicians (pretty cool, eh?). JUNO Fan Fare is the ‘groupie’ event. If you don’t work in the music industry you may want to hit that one up. Leading up to JUNO WeekEND, there’s a bunch of local events that include other art forms like dance and visual arts and public welcoming parties. Then there’s the JUNO Awards, which is actually a public event for those of you who thought it was a special private thing. The little known fact, though, is that majority of the awards are actually presented the evening before at a private gala.
Farther behind the scenes
Aside from the public events listed above, there are also ‘industry’ parties and ‘behind the scenes’ awards show where only industry people and signed artists are invited, unless you know somebody. To rhyme some off, you’ve got the JUNO Welcome Reception, the major label (Universal and Warner) parties, Gibson Guitar party, the private (sort of) hotel parties (eg. the basement of the Fairmont), and other related-industry parties. MuchFact hosted a sweet brunch that was supposed to end at 1pm, but actually ended at 5pm when the restaurant staff kicked everyone out for dinner change-over. I bet you’ve already guessed that these events are all open bar or stocked with fresh rolls of free drink tickets. It really doesn’t end.
But when it comes down to it, it truly is all about the music. Yes we’re there to meet new people, mingle with our industry friends, and perhaps snap a #selfie with our favourite artists, but it all revolves around the tunes.
Favourite JUNO Week moments
For me, a few of the most notable music moments happened at the Warner party. Fred Penner (the children’s music entertainer) performed a cover of ‘Stand By Me’ that had every single person singing along. There was a rumour going around that he knocked over a sign and yelled “I’m f**king Fred Penner!”… I’m still wondering if that was true. Either way he rocks. Chris Hadfield (the first Canadian to walk in space) performed. The Sheepdogs performed a rockin’ cover of “Takin’ Care of Business”. Gord Bamford played at approximately 4am (and pointed his finger at me – pretty sure I was the only female left in the room). Then there was the Gibson party, where Fred Penner also performed, Randy freaking Bachman performed and trust me I got as close as I could for that one. Everyone was raving about the showcase put on by Shauna de Cartier and Susan de Cartier (no they are not related and they have completely separate management/label companies), which featured Jim Cuddy and Ron Sexsmith, among others. The coolest part (other than being back-stage) was the house band that played for Cuddy and Sexsmith, The Brothers Landreth. Holy crap they were amazing. During Cuddy’s performance, he let the hunky-long-blonde-haired lead have his own guitar solo and it blew the crowd away.
As for notable moments during the Awards Broadcast; Walk Off The Earth (you know, 5 guys/girl – 1 guitar?), did a cool drum performance, Classified and Serena Ryder both swore on national TV (more than once), the entire audience (15,000 people) boo’d Justin Beiber when he won the Fan Choice Award (ironic, and rude), BTO (Bachman Turner Overdrive) performed “Takin’ Care of Business” together for the first time in 20 years (or something crazy like that), WITH The Sheepdogs to close out the show.
Some people have their not-so-hot opinions of the JUNO’s while watching at home, but in real life it’s f**king great.
The Difference
The main difference between this awards show/festival, in comparison to other Canadian one’s like ECMW, CMW, BOW/WCMA’s, and NXNE for example (Google them if you don’t know what they are), is that it doesn’t have a conference/educational portion to it. Meaning, no one has to get up for panels, workshops, roundtables, mentor sessions, listening sessions; nothing. Meaning, the parties go real late.
It’s pure celebration.
The Real Winners
The biggest similarity to other festivals/awards shows (and the music industry in general) is that everyone, and I mean everyone (well, mostly) you meet is a nice human being. The industry teaches you to network your face off, be a good person, and respect others (or at least try to) at all times – something other industries don’t always understand.
We are all BRANDS. You are a brand. I am a brand. Our favourite bands are brands. We are all unique products of man-kind different from any other. If we all learn to treat our own name (the way we portray ourselves and the way our names are shared) like we want our favourite brands to be treated, we’d all be better people. Make people KNOW about you, help people LIKE you, TRUST you, BUY you, and REFER you to others. Remember this anytime you ever meet anyone. It WILL come back around.
Most people in the music world understand these basic self-marketing principals (mostly because we’re in the business of marketing people in the first place). And frankly many other industries (and people in general) could use a lesson on the power of kindness and respect and marketing yourself properly. Take it from the winners. Below is a long list of bands who branded themselves (with much help from their teams) in a way that got them to the JUNO list. A lot of the bands who were nominated but didn’t win an award openly call themselves ‘losers’. In my eyes, they’re all winners; and if you market yourself properly and treat people (your fans) right, you’re a winner too.
And the award goes to…
2014 JUNO Award Nominees and Winners
Just in case you haven’t had a chance to see who the nominees and winners are, I wanted to share that with you here as well. Visit The JUNO Awards website for artist bios.
Plus, Rdio put together a fun little playlist of the awards winners for you.
JUNO Fan Choice Award (Presented by TD)
Arcade Fire *Arcade Fire Music*Universal
Avril Lavigne *Epic*Sony
Céline Dion *Columbia*Sony
Drake *Cash Money*Universal
Hedley *Universal
Justin Bieber *Island Def Jam*Universal
Michael Bublé *Reprise*Warner
Robin Thicke *Interscope*Universal
Serena Ryder *Serenader Source*Universal
Walk Off the Earth *Columbia*Sony
Single of the Year
Arcade Fire Arcade Fire Music*Universal
Reflektor
Classified Half Life*Universal
Inner Ninja
Michael Bublé Reprise*Warner
It’s a Beautiful Day
Serena Ryder Serenader Source*Universal
What I Wouldn’t Do
Tegan and Sara Warner Bros.*Warner
Closer
International Album of the Year
Bruno Mars Atlantic*Warner
Unorthodox Jukebox
Eminem Interscope*Universal
The Marshall Mathers LP 2
Imagine Dragons KIDinaKORNER*Universal
Night Visions
One Direction Simco*Sony
Take Me Home
P!nk RCA*Sony
The Truth About Love
Album of the Year (Sponsored by Music Canada)
Arcade Fire Arcade Fire Music*Universal
Reflektor
Celine Dion Columbia*Sony
Loved Me Back to Life
Drake Cash Money*Universal
Nothing Was the Same
Michael Bublé Reprise*Warner
To Be Loved
Serena Ryder Serenader Source*Universal
Harmony
Artist of the Year
Celine Dion Columbia*Sony
Drake Cash Money*Universal
Michael Bublé Reprise*Warner
Robin Thicke Interscope*Universal
Serena Ryder Serenader Source*Universal
Group of the Year
Arcade Fire Arcade Fire Music*Universal
Blue Rodeo Blue Rodeo Productions*Warner
Hedley *Universal
Tegan and Sara Warner Bros.*Warner
Walk Off the Earth Columbia*Sony
Breakthrough Artist of the Year (Sponsored by FACTOR and Radio Starmaker Fund)
Brett Kissel BAK2BAK*Warner
Florence K Red Blues*Universal
Tim Hicks Open Road*Universal
Tyler Shaw *Sony
Wake Owl Rezolute*Universal
Breakthrough Group of the Year (Sponsored by FACTOR and Radio Starmaker Fund)
A Tribe Called Red Tribal Spirit/Pirates Blend*Sony
Autumn Hill Wax*Universal
Born Ruffians Paper Bag*Fontana North
Courage My Love Homeskool Prom*Warner
July Talk Sleepless*Universal
Songwriter of the Year (Sponsored by SiriusXM Canada)
Arcade Fire Arcade Fire Music*Universal
“After Life”, “Here Comes the Night Time”, “Reflektor” – Arcade Fire
Henry Cirkut Walter Capitol*Universal/Mr. 305*Polo Grounds/RCA*Sony
“Roar” – Katy Perry/”Timber” – Pitbull/”Wrecking Ball” – Miley Cyrus
Ron Sexsmith Warner
“Deepens With Time”, “Nowhere to Go”, “Snake Road” – Ron Sexsmith
Serena Ryder Serenader Source*Universal/Independent
“Stompa”, “What I Wouldn’t Do” – Serena Ryder/”When You Know ft. Serena Ryder” – Matt Epp & The Amorian Assembly
Tegan and Sara Quin Warner Bros*Warner
“Closer”, “I Was a Fool”, “Now I’m All Messed Up” – Tegan and Sara
Country Album of the Year
Brett Kissel BAK2BAK*Warner
Started With a Song
Dean Brody Open Road*Universal
Crop Circles
Gord Bamford Cache*Sony
Country Junkie
Small Town Pistols 604*Universal
Small Town Pistols
Tim Hicks Open Road*Universal
Throw Down
Adult Alternative Album of the Year
A.C. Newman Last Gang*Universal
Shut Down the Streets
Basia Bulat Secret City*Universal
Tall Tall Shadow
Hayden Arts & Crafts*Universal
Us Alone
Ron Sexsmith Warner
Forever Endeavour
The Sadies Outside
Internal Sounds
Alternative Album of the Year (Sponsored by Long & McQuade)
Arcade Fire Arcade Fire Music*Universal
Reflektor
Rah Rah Hidden Pony*Universal
The Poet’s Dead
Royal Canoe Nevado*Fontana North
Today We’re Believers
The Darcys Arts & Crafts*Universal
Warring
Yamantaka//Sonic Titan Paper Bag*Fontana North
Uzu
Pop Album of the Year (Sponsored by TD)
Hedley Universal
Wild Life
Michael Bublé Reprise*Warner
To Be Loved
Robin Thicke Interscope*Universal
Blurred Lines
Tegan and Sara Warner Bros.*Warner
Heartthrob
Walk Off the Earth Columbia*Sony
R.E.V.O.
Rock Album of the Year (Sponsored by Musicians’ Rights Organization Canada)
Headstones Frostbyte*Universal
Love + Fury
Matt Mays Sonic*Warner
Coyote
Matthew Good Frostbyte*Universal
Arrows of Desire
Monster Truck Dine Alone*Universal
Furiosity
Three Days Grace RCA*Sony
Transit of Venus
Vocal Jazz Album of the Year
Amy McConnell & William Sperandei Independent
Stealing Genius
Erin Propp with Larry Roy Independent
Courage, My Love
Matt Dusk eOne
My Funny Valentine – The Chet Baker Songbook
Mike Rud Independent
Notes On Montréal ft. Sienna Dahlen
Sonia Johnson, Charles Biddle Jr., Annie Poulain Effendi*Select
Triades
Contemporary Jazz Album of the Year
Brandi Disterheft Justin Time*Universal
Gratitude
Christine Jensen Jazz Orchestra Justin Time*Universal
Habitat
Darcy James Argue’s Secret Society New Amsterdam*Naxos
Brooklyn Babylon
Earl MacDonald Death Defying*Independent
Mirror of the Mind
Marianne Trudel–Trifolia Independent*Select
Le refuge
Traditional Jazz Album of the Year
Carn Davidson 9 Addo
Nine
John MacLeod & His Rex Hotel Orchestra Exquisite
Our Second Set
Mike Downes Addo
Ripple Effect
Phil Dwyer and Don Thompson Triplet*Outside
Look for the Silver Lining
The Ian MacDougall 12-tet Barbarian*Independent
The Ian McDougall 12tet LIVE
Instrumental Album of the Year
Colin Stetson Constellation*Outside
New History Warfare Vol.3: To See More Light
Esmerine Constellation*Outside
Dalmak
Mahogany Frog MoonJune*Planetworks
Senna
Petr Cancura RootsToBoot*Independent
Down Home
The Peggy Lee Band Drip Audio*Fontana North
Invitation
FRANCOPHONE ALBUM OF THE YEAR (SPONSORED BY FESTIVAL DU VOYAGEUR)
Alex Nevsky Audiogram*Select
Himalaya mon amour
Damien Robitaille Audiogram*Select
Omniprésent
Daniel Belanger Audiogram*Select
Chic de ville
Karim Oullet Abuzie*D.E.P.
Fox
Pierre Lapointe Audiogram*Select
Punkt
CHILDREN’S ALBUM OF THE YEAR
Charlie Hope Little Maple Leaf*Challenge and Fun
Sing As We Go!
Gary Rasberry Razzletone*Summit
What’s the Big Idea?!?
Helen Austin Independent
Colour It
Marie-Claude Independent
Mon coffret à surprises
Splash’N Boots Independent
Coconuts Don’t Fall Far From the Tree
CLASSICAL ALBUM OF THE YEAR: SOLO OR CHAMBER ENSEMBLE
James Ehnes Chandos*Naxos
Prokofiev Complete Works for Violin
Jan Lisiecki Deutsche Grammophon*Universal
Chopin: Études Op. 10 & 25
Janina Fialkowska/The Chamber Players of Canada ATMA*Naxos
Concertos Nos. 13 & 14
Louis Lortie Chandos*Naxos
Liszt at The Opera
Stewart Goodyear Marquis*Universal
Beethoven: The Complete Piano Sonatas
CLASSICAL ALBUM OF THE YEAR: LARGE ENSEMBLE OR SOLOIST(S) WITH LARGE ENSEMBLE ACCOMPANIMENT
Angela Hewitt Hyperion*HM
Mozart: Piano Concertos Nos. 17 & 27
James Ehnes Britten & Shostakovich: Violin Concerti James Ehnes
Britten & Shostakovich: Violin Concerti
Nadina Mackie Jackson and Guy Few with Group of 27 MSR*Independent
Canadian Concerto Project, Volume One
Tafelmusik Baroque Orchestra Tafelmusik Media*Naxos
House of Dreams
Toronto Symphony Orchestra Independent
Rachmaninoff: Symphonic Dances & Stravinsky: The Rite of Spring
CLASSICAL ALBUM OF THE YEAR: VOCAL OR CHORAL PERFORMANCE
Group of 27, Eric Paetkau – Conductor, Shannon Mercer – Soprano Centaur*Naxos
Berlioz: Les nuits d’été – Palej : The Poet & the War, Rorate Coeli
Isabel Bayrakdarian MCO*HM
Ravel, Sayat-Nova & Kradjian: Troubadour & the Nightingale
Marie-Nicole Lemieux & Andre Gagnon Audiogram*Select
Lettres de Madame Roy à sa fille Gabrielle
Pacific Baroque Orchestra, Alexander Weimann, Owen Willets, Karina Gauvin, Allyson McHardy, Amanda Forsythe, Nathan Berg ATMA*Naxos
Handel: Orlando, HWV 31
Vancouver Chamber Choir Grouse*Independent
A Quiet Place: Music for Healing III
CLASSICAL COMPOSITION OF THE YEAR
Allan Gordon Bell Centrediscs*Naxos
Field Notes
James O’Callaghan Independent
Isomorphia for Orchestra and Electronics
R. Murray Schafer ATMA*Naxos
Quatuors à corder No. 12
Stephen Chatman Centrediscs*Naxos
Magnificat
Tim Brady ATMA*Naxos
Atacama: Symphonie No. 3
RAP RECORDING OF THE YEAR
Classified Half Life*Universal
Classified
Drake Cash Money*Universal
Nothing Was the Same
Rich Kidd Independent
In My Opinion
Shad Black Box*Universal
Flying Colours
SonReal Black Box*Universal
Everywhere We Go
DANCE RECORDING OF THE YEAR
Armin van Buuren & Trevor Guthrie Armada*Sony
This is What it Feels Like
deadmau5 Ultra*Sony
DVBBS & Borgeous Kanary*Universal
Tsunami
Jacynthe Whammo*Universal
Locked Down
Mia Martina CP*Universal
Heartbreaker
R&B/SOUL RECORDING OF THE YEAR
Joanna Borromeo Independent
Kaleidoscope
JRDN ft. Kardinal Offishall Kuya*Fontana
Can’t Choose
Kim Davis Independent
There’s Only One
Melanie Durrant CanAudio*Independent
Gone
The Weeknd XO*Universal
Kiss Land
REGGAE RECORDING OF THE YEAR
Akustix Independent
Mandela
Ammoye Flava McGregor
Baby It’s You
Dru Effortless*Fontana North
Love Collision
Dubmatix Renegade*Fontana North
Rebel Massive
Exco Levi Silly Walks Discotheque*VP
Strive
ABORIGINAL ALBUM OF THE YEAR (SPONSORED BY ABORIGINAL PEOPLES TELEVISION NETWORK)
Amanda Rheaume Independent
Keep a Fire
Desiree Dorion Independent
Small Town Stories
George Leach Independent
Surrender
Inez Jasper Independent
Burn Me Down
Nathan Cunningham New Leaf*Independent
Road Renditions
ROOTS & TRADITIONAL ALBUM OF THE YEAR: SOLO
Daniel Romano Normaltown*Universal
Come Cry With Me
David Francey Laker*Outside
So Say We All
Donovan Woods Aporia*Outside
Don’t Get Too Grand
Justin Rutledge Outside
Valleyheart
Lindi Ortega Last Gang*Universal
Tin Star
ROOTS & TRADITIONAL ALBUM OF THE YEAR: GROUP (SPONSORED BY THE WINNIPEG FOLK FESTIVAL)
Lee Harvey Osmond Latent*Fontana North
The Folk Sinner
Little Miss Higgins and The Winnipeg Five Independent*Outside
Bison Ranch Recording Sessions
The Devin Cuddy Band Cameron House*Warner
Volume One
The Strumbellas Six Shooter*Warner
We Still Move On Dance Floors
The Wilderness of Manitoba Pheromone*Fontana North
Island of Echoes
BLUES ALBUM OF THE YEAR (SPONSORED BY GALAXIE, YOUR MUSICAL UNIVERSE)
David Gogo Cordova Bay*Fontana North
Come on Down
Downchild Linus*eOne
Can You Hear the Music
Harrison Kennedy Electro-Fi*Outside
Soulscape
James ‘Buddy’ Rogers Blue Wave*Independent
My Guitar’s My Only Friend
MonkeyJunk Stony Plain*Warner
All Frequencies
CONTEMPORARY CHRISTIAN/GOSPEL ALBUM OF THE YEAR
Fraser Campbell Independent*David C. Cook
Search the Heavens
Jordan Raycroft Independent
Jordan Raycroft
The City Harmonic Integrity*Provident
Heart
The High Bar Gang True North*eOne
Lost & Undone: A Gospel Bluegrass Companion
Tim Neufeld Independent*David C. Cook
Trees
WORLD MUSIC ALBUM OF THE YEAR (SPONSORED BY CANADA COUNCIL FOR THE ARTS)
Adonis Puentes Tumba King*Warner
Sabor A Café
Azam Ali and Loga R. Torkian Terrestrial Lane*Outside
Lamentation of Swans – A Journey Towards Silence
David Buchbinder & Odessa/Havana Tzadik*eOne
Walk to the Sea
Kobo Town Cumbancha*eOne
Jumbie in the Jukebox
Lemon Bucket Orkestra Independent
Lume, Lume
JACK RICHARDSON PRODUCER OF THE YEAR (SPONSORED BY SLAIGHT MUSIC)
Brian Howes and Jacob Hoggard Universal
“Anything”, “Crazy for You” WILD LIFE – Hedley
Eric Ratz Dine Alone*Universal
“Sweet Mountain River”, “The Lion” – FURIOSITY – Monster Truck
Henry “Cirkut” Walter RCA*Sony*Interscope*Universal
(co-producer Luke Gottwald) “Wrecking Ball” BANGERZ – Miley Cyrus | “Give It 2 U” BLURRED LINES – Robin Thicke
Ryan Guldemond and Ben Kaplan Last Gang*Universal
“Let’s Fall in Love”, “Bit by Bit” THE STICKS – Mother Mother
Thomas ‘Tawgs’ Salter Coalition*Warner*Columbia*Sony
“This is the Best” ADVANCED BASICS – USS | “Red Hands” (co-producer Gianni “Luminati” Nicassio) R.E.V.O. – Walk Off the Earth
RECORDING ENGINEER OF THE YEAR
David Travers-Smith True North*eOne*Fox / Independent
“Dancing In the Dark” THESE WILDER THINGS – Ruth Moody | “Flabbergasp” (co-engineer Jaron Freeman-Fox) THE OPPOSITE OF EVERYTHING – Jaron Freeman-Fox
Eric Ratz Dine Alone*Universal
“Sweet Mountain River”, “The Lion” – FURIOSITY – Monster Truck
Howie Beck Dine Alone*Universal / Columbia*Sony
“Robotic” (co-engineer Graham Walsh) HANNAH GEORGAS – Hannah Georgas “Red Hands” R.E.V.O. – Walk Off the Earth
Kevin Churko (co-engineer Kane Churko) Universal / Warner
“The Wrong Side of Heaven” THE WRONG SIDE OF HEAVEN AND THE RIGHTEOUS SIDE OF HELL, VOLUME 1 – Five Finger Death Punch “Stardust” LUX – Gemini Syndrome
Randy Staub Virgin*Universal / Reprise*Warner
“Hollow” THE DEVIL PUT DINOSAURS HERE – Alice in Chains | “Be My Baby” TO BE LOVED – Michael Bublé
RECORDING PACKAGE OF THE YEAR
Ian Grais and Chris Staples (Art Directors), Sofia Pona, Kim Ridgewell, Lisa Nakamura (Designers), Ben Tour (Illustrator) Independent
Bones BODHI JONES
Jayme L. Spinks (Art Director/Designer), Janet Kimber (Photographer) Independent
Lullabies and Wake-Up Calls DINAH THORPE
Menno Versteeg (Art Director), Anne Douris (Designer), Annie Murphy (Photographer) Royal Mountain*Universal
White Paint HOLLERADO
Robyn Kotyk (Art Director/Designers/Illustrator), Petra Cuschieri, Justin Peroff (Designers) Arts & Crafts*Universal
Arts & Crafts: 2003-2013 ARTS & CRAFTS – VARIOUS ARTISTS
Vincent Lévesque and Alex Ortiz (Art Director/Designer/ Illustrator/Photographer) Dare to Care*DEP
La Mort Pop Club WE ARE WOLVES
VIDEO OF THE YEAR (SPONSORED BY MUCHFACT, EXCLUSIVELY FUNDED BY BELL MEDIA)
Agathe Bray-Bourret Audiogramme*Select
Je t’aime comme tu es es – DANIEL BÉLANGER
Briin “Briin?” Bernstein and Daniel AM Rosenberg Desolate*Independent
Friend of Mine – D-Sisive
John Poliquin Universal
Anything – HEDLEY
Matt Barnes Atlantic*Warner
Feeling Good – THE SHEEPDOGS
WeWereMonkeys Republic*Universal
King and Lionheart – OF MONSTERS AND MEN
ELECTRONIC ALBUM OF THE YEAR (SPONSORED BY ROLAND)
A Tribe Called Red Tribal Spirit/Pirates Blend*Sony
Nation II Nation
Blue Hawaii Arbutus*F>A>B
Untogether
Graze New Kanada*ST Holdings/Hardwax
Graze
Noah Pred Thoughtless*MN2S
Third Culture
Ryan Hemsworth Last Gang*Universal
Guilt Trips
METAL/HARD MUSIC ALBUM OF THE YEAR
Anciients Season of Mist*Sony
Heart of Oak
Gorguts Season of Mist*Sony
Colored Sands
KEN Mode New Damage*Universal
Entrench
Protest the Hero Protest*Sony
Volition
The Flatliners New Damage*Universal
Dead Language
ADULT CONTEMPORARY ALBUM OF THE YEAR
Alysha Brilla Sunny Jam*Independent
In My Head
Céline Dion Columbia*Sony
Loved Me Back To Life
Chloe Albert Independent
Dream Catcher
Coral Egan Justin Time*Universal
The Year He Drove Me Crazy
Johnny Reid Johnny Mac Universal
A Christmas Gift To You
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