Musicians from across Canada are starting to gather in the western Canadian city of Winnipeg Manitoba today.
They’re getting ready for the greatest musical awards show in Canada and a week of events from March 24-30 It’s called the JUNO awards.
Melanie Berry is the president and CEO of the Canadian Academy of Recording Arts and Science
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It’s named after a former chairman of the Canadian Radio Television and Telecommunications Commission (CRTC) Pierre Juneau.
He was the architect of Canadian content regulations which obliged broadcasters to present a certain percentage of air time to Canadian productions. In the case of music, this action is credited with creating a market and appreciation for Canadian musicians, previously seldom heard on Canadian radio as stations played mostly American and British music, and in Quebec a large amount of music from France.
Hundreds of Canadian music performers from country to classical, pop, rock, hiphop and everything in between are expected, along with millions of TV viewers, and fans at the many outdoor and public events.
Juno Facts
- Canada’s music awards, newly-named as The Junos, were presented for the first time on Feb. 23, 1970. Winnipeg’s own The Guess Who won for best group that year.
- The awards had existed since 1964 under the name the RPM Gold Leaf Awards, which were established by Walt Grealis, editor and publisher of RPM magazine. They became known as the Junos in 1970. From the awards’ inception until 1975, winners were selected by readers of RPM. Thereafter, only members of the newly-formed Canadian Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences participated in the voting.
- The Juno Awards were not conducted outside Toronto until 1991. Since then, the ceremonies have been held in locations throughout Canada, reaching both coasts, although New Brunswick, Prince Edward Island and Quebec have yet to play host.
(with additional files from CBC)
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