Tonight, March 30th 2025, was the night of the highly anticipated Juno awards held in Vancouver, and the city was a-buzz. Advertisements and activations have been getting locals and visitors excited the weeks building up to Canada’s premier music award show.
I was invited to attend as a guest of Nissan Canada and arrivaled early at Parq Casino’s JW Marriot hotel for their complimentary shuttle service.
As I waited, I took advantage of their mini red carpet and stanchion photo op, that included a keepsake Polaroid.
Festivities started in the late afternoon to accommodate the live televised showing of the awards show out East. We began at the pre-party lounge hosted within BC Place.
Although it was a block away we took the VIP car service provided by event sponsor Nissan Canada. A fleet of Juno branded 2025 Nissan vehicles in white. We were driven right into the arena and were dropped off by the orange carpet.
As a major sponsor, Skip the Dishes provided an orange carpet in their trademark hue. Here artists were ushered in and welcomed to walk the carpet for media and cameras alike. VIP guests were also able to walk the runaway for their photo ops as well.
We bee-lined it to the lounge, a standing only mingler where guests were able to socialize with Canadian performers like Sum41, Elisapie, and Maestro Fresh Wes. Good Charlotte was also casually chatting in this space.
There was an open bar with wine, beer, and cocktail options to help conversation flow. We took a couple of shots as pregame to the award show and stadium pricing.
There were photo ops with the Juno sign, and a 360 Photo Booth sponsored by Skip the Dishes.
I got to meet and take a video with bbno$, dressed comically as a toilet.
Plus the CBC mascot.
There were small bites brought around by the stadium’s catering team. Brie and cranberry in phyllo, a creamed pea tartlet, ahi tuna scoops, and seared steak over a crispy rice block.
There was also a large display of fruit, cheese, bread, and crackers to help yourself to.
For dessert there were flavoured macarons, mousse; and a collection of tarts in lemon meringue, chocolate, and matcha being passed around.
We enjoyed the space before a voice came on overhead inviting guests to make their way over to the neighbouring Rogers Arena by foot.
As a friend of Nissan we were gifted VIP seats right by the stage. A clear view of the performers and the night’s host: Michael Bublé. Not so much the centre stage that spilled out into the standing crowd or either of the television screens.
It was nice to be amongst the confetti cannons and strobing lights. To hear them announce the commerical breaks and get the behind the scenes look of what happens then.
The opening of the show had Bublé performing a medley of his hits with multicultural influences and remixes. “Haven’t Met You Yet” in Punjabi and “Feeling Good” with an added rap verse.
The first act was Vancouver born bbno$ performing his latest hit “It Boy” to the runway of dancing and voguing drag queens.
We got to see an impressive First Nations performance that combined traditional costuming and dance with modern moves and raps by “The Beaches”, winners of the Juno for Group of the Year.
Good Charlotte helped to induct Sum41 into the Canadian Music Hall of Fame.
There were visual displays with each performance that included green houses, florals, and whimsical dancers. The following is a list of the winners, as taken from the Juno’s website.
TIKTOK JUNO FAN CHOICE/JUNO TIKTOK CHOIX DU PUBLIC
bbno$ Independent*Stem
SINGLE OF THE YEAR (PRESENTED BY YOUTUBE)/SINGLE DE L’ANNÉE
exes Tate McRae RCA*Sony
ALBUM OF THE YEAR (PRESENTED BY MUSIC CANADA)/ALBUM DE L’ANNÉE (PRÉSENTÉ PAR MUSIC CANADA)
THINK LATER Tate McRae RCA*Sony
BREAKTHROUGH ARTIST OR GROUP OF THE YEAR (PRESENTED BY FACTOR, THE GOVERNMENT OF CANADA AND CANADA’S PRIVATE RADIO BROADCASTERS)/RÉVÉLATION DE L’ANNÉE (ARTISTE OU GROUPE) (PRÉSENTÉ PAR FACTOR, LE GOUVERNEMENT DU CANADA ET L’ASSOCIATION CANADIENNE DES RADIODIFFUSEURS)
Nemahsis Independent
ARTIST OF THE YEAR (PRESENTED BY SIRIUSXM CANADA)/ARTISTE DEL’ANNÉE (PRÉSENTÉ PAR SIRIUSXM CANADA)
Tate McRae RCA*Sony
GROUP OF THE YEAR (PRESENTED BY SIRIUSXM CANADA)/GROUPE DEL’ANNÉE (PRÉSENTÉ PAR SIRIUSXM CANADA)
The Beaches Independent*AWAL
CLASSICAL ALBUM OF THE YEAR (SOLO ARTIST)/ALBUM CLASSIQUE DE L’ANNÉE (SOLO)
freezing Emily D’Angelo Deutsche Grammophon*Universal
CLASSICAL ALBUM OF THE YEAR (SMALL ENSEMBLE)/ALBUM CLASSIQUE DE L’ANNÉE (PETIT ENSEMBLE)
Rituæls collectif9 Analekta*Naxos/The Orchard
CLASSICAL ALBUM OF THE YEAR (LARGE ENSEMBLE)/ALBUM CLASSIQUE DE L’ANNÉE (GRAND ENSEMBLE)
Messiaen: Turangalîla-Symphonie Toronto Symphony Orchestra, conducted by/dirigé par Gustavo Gimeno featuring Marc-André Hamelin and Nathalie Forget Harmonia Mundi
JAZZ ALBUM OF THE YEAR (SOLO)/ALBUM JAZZ DE L’ANNÉE (SOLO)
Montreal Jazz Series 1 (Échanges Synaptiques) André Leroux Disques BG*Believe
JAZZ ALBUM OF THE YEAR (GROUP)/ALBUM JAZZ DE L’ANNÉE (GROUPE)
Gravity Jeremy Ledbetter Trio Independent
VOCAL JAZZ ALBUM OF THE YEAR/ALBUM DE JAZZ VOCAL DE L’ANNÉE
Hello! How Are You? Caity Gyorgy La Reserve*The Orchard
INSTRUMENTAL ALBUM OF THE YEAR/ALBUM INSTRUMENTAL DE L’ANNÉE
memory palace Intervals Independent*Believe
BLUES ALBUM OF THE YEAR/ALBUM BLUES DE L’ANNÉE
This Old Life Big Dave McLean Cordova Bay*Fontana North
TRADITIONAL ROOTS ALBUM OF THE YEAR/ALBUM ROOTS TRADITIONNEL DE L’ANNÉE
Retro Man … More and More (Expanded Edition) Jake Vaadeland Jayward*The Orchard
CONTEMPORARY ROOTS ALBUM OF THE YEAR/ALBUM ROOTS CONTEMPORAIN DE L’ANNÉE
Strange Medicine Kaia Kater acronym*The Orchard
COUNTRY ALBUM OF THE YEAR (PRESENTED BY MUSIC CANADA)/ALBUM COUNTRY DE L’ANNÉE (PRÉSENTÉ PAR MUSIC CANADA)
Complicated Josh Ross Universal
ADULT ALTERNATIVE ALBUM OF THE YEAR (PRESENTED BY LONG & MCQUADE MUSICAL INSTRUMENTS)/ALBUM ADULTE ALTERNATIF DE L’ANNÉE (PRÉSENTÉ PAR LONG & MCQUADE MUSICAL INSTRUMENTS)
Inuktitut Elisapie Bonsound*Sony/The Orchard
ALTERNATIVE ALBUM OF THE YEAR /ALBUM ALTERNATIF DE L’ANNÉE
Verbathim Nemahsis Independent
ROCK ALBUM OF THE YEAR/ALBUM ROCK DE L’ANNÉE
Set Your Pussy Free NOBRO Dine Alone*The Orchard
METAL/HARD MUSIC ALBUM OF THE YEAR/ALBUM DE MUSIQUE MÉTAL/HARD DE L’ANNÉE
Beyond the Reach of the Sun Anciients Season of Mist*The Orchard
ADULT CONTEMPORARY ALBUM OF THE YEAR/ALBUM ADULTE CONTEMPORAIN DE L’ANNÉE
Lovers’ Gothic Maïa Davies acronym
POP ALBUM OF THE YEAR/ALBUM POP DE L’ANNÉE
THINK LATER Tate McRae RCA*Sony
DANCE RECORDING OF THE YEAR/ENREGISTREMENT DANCE DE L’ANNÉE
No Time Interplanetary Criminal & SadBoiRoom Two*Columbia
UNDERGROUND DANCE SINGLE OF THE YEAR/SINGLE DANCE UNDERGROUND DE L’ANNÉE
Bamboo Ciel Independent
ELECTRONIC ALBUM OF THE YEAR (PRESENTED BY NISSAN)/ALBUM ÉLECTRONIQUE DE L’ANNÉE (PRÉSENTÉ PAR NISSAN)
This but More Priori NAFF*Courage
RAP SINGLE OF THE YEAR/SINGLE RAP DE L’ANNÉE
SHUT UP Jessie Reyez FMLY/Island*Universal
RAP ALBUM/EP OF THE YEAR/ALBUM/MICROALBUM RAP DE L’ANNÉE
RED FUTURE Snotty Nose Rez Kids Sony
TRADITIONAL R&B/SOUL RECORDING OF THE YEAR/ENREGISTREMENT R&B/SOUL TRADITIONNEL DE L’ANNÉE
VELVET SOUL THEHONESTGUY Independent*Believe
CONTEMPORARY R&B RECORDING OF THE YEAR/ENREGISTREMENT R&B CONTEMPORAIN DE L’ANNÉE
Bloom Aqyila Sony
REGGAE RECORDING OF THE YEAR/ENREGISTREMENT REGGAE DE L’ANNÉE
Born to Be Free Exco Levi Independent
CHILDREN’S ALBUM OF THE YEAR/ALBUM JEUNESSE DE L’ANNÉE
Penny Penguin Raffi & Good Lovelies Independent*Universal
COMEDY ALBUM OF THE YEAR (PRESENTED BY SIRIUSXM CANADA)/ALBUM D’HUMOUR DE L’ANNÉE (PRÉSENTÉ PAR SIRIUSXM CANADA)
Honourable Intentions Debra DiGiovanni Counterfeit Sounds
TRADITIONAL INDIGENOUS ARTIST OR GROUP OF THE YEAR/ARTISTE OU GROUPE AUTOCHTONE TRADITIONNEL DE L’ANNÉE
New Comings Black Bear Singers Independent
CONTEMPORARY INDIGENOUS ARTIST OR GROUP OF THE YEAR (PRESENTED BY DESTINATION INDIGENOUS)/ARTISTE OU GROUPE AUTOCHTONE CONTEMPORAIN DE L’ANNÉE (PRÉSENTÉ PAR DESTINATION AUTOCHTONE)
Brown Man Sebastian Gaskin Ishkōdé*Universal
ALBUM FRANCOPHONE DE L’ANNÉE/FRANCOPHONE ALBUM OF THE YEAR
Abracadabra Klô Pelgag Secret City*F.A.B.
CONTEMPORARY CHRISTIAN/GOSPEL ALBUM OF THE YEAR/ALBUM CHRÉTIEN/GOSPEL CONTEMPORAIN DE L’ANNÉE
Restore Ryan Ofei Independent*Platoon/Believe
GLOBAL MUSIC ALBUM OF THE YEAR/ALBUM DE MUSIQUE GLOBALE DE L’ANNÉE
Dankoroba Djely Tapa Independent*Believe
SOUTH ASIAN MUSIC RECORDING OF THE YEAR(PRESENTED BY TD)/ENREGISTREMENT SUD-ASIATIQUE DE L’ANNÉE(PRÉSENTÉ PAR TD)
The Brownprint AP Dhillon Republic *Universal
ALBUM ARTWORK OF THE YEAR/GRAPHISME D’ALBUM DE L’ANNÉE
Keenan Gregory (Art Director/Directeur artistique)
Altruistic – Royal Tusk MNRK
MUSIC VIDEO OF THE YEAR/VIDÉOCLIP DE L’ANNÉE
Name of God Mustafa Mustafa Arts & Crafts*Universal
JACK RICHARDSON PRODUCER OF THE YEAR (PRESENTED BY AUDIO-TECHNICA)/PRIX JACK RICHARDSON DU RÉALISATEUR DE L’ANNÉE (PRÉSENTÉ PAR AUDIO-TECHNICA)
Jack Rochon
“II HANDS II HEAVEN” – co-producer/co-producteur Beyoncé, Dave Hamelin
COWBOY CARTER – Beyoncé Columbia*Sony
“PROTECTOR” – co-producer/co-producteur Beyoncé
COWBOY CARTER – Beyoncé Columbia*Sony
“JOLENE” – co-producer/co-producteur Alex Vickery, Beyoncé, Brittany “Chi” Coney, Denisia “Blu June” Andrews, Khirye Tyler
COWBOY CARTER – Beyoncé Columbia*Sony
“My Way” – co-producer/co-producteur Charlotte Day Wilson, Leon Thomas
Cyan Blue – Charlotte Day Wilson Stone Woman Music*Independent
“Crash” – co-producer/co-producteur Aaron Paris, Aidan, Alex Goldblatt, Khris Riddick, Mariel Gomerez-Rodriguez, Oak
CRASH – Kehlani TSNMI/Atlantic Records*Warner
“Tears (Feat. Omah Lay)” – co-producer/co-producteur Etienne, GuiltyBeatz, Mariel Gomerez-Rodriguez, Oak, Symphony
CRASH – Kehlani TSNMI/Atlantic*Warner
RECORDING ENGINEER OF THE YEAR/INGÉNIEUR DU SON DE L’ANNÉE
Serban Ghenea
“Please Please Please”
Short n’ Sweet – Sabrina Carpenter Island*Universal
“Lose Control”
I’ve Tried Everything But Therapy (Part 1) – Teddy Swims Warner
CLASSICAL COMPOSITION OF THE YEAR/COMPOSITION CLASSIQUE DE L’ANNÉE
Angmalukisaa Deantha Edmunds Independent*Leaf/Naxos
SONGWRITER OF THE YEAR (PRESENTED BY SOCAN)/AUTEUR-COMPOSITEUR DE L’ANNÉE (PRÉSENTÉ PAR SOCAN)
Mustafa
PUBLISHER: UNIVERSAL MUSIC PUBLISHING GROUP
“Name of God” – co-songwriters/co-compositeurs Aaron Dessner, Simon Hessman,
Dunya – Mustafa Arts&Crafts*Universal
PUBLISHER: SELF PUBLISHED
“Leaving Toronto” – co-songwriters/co-compositeurs Jonah Yano, Rodaidh Mcdonald, Simon Hessman
Dunya – Mustafa Arts&Crafts*Universal
PUBLISHER: SELF PUBLISHED
“I’ll Go Anywhere” – co-songwriters/co-compositeurs Simon Hessman
Dunya – Mustafa Arts&Crafts*Universal
SONGWRITER OF THE YEAR (NON-PERFORMER) PRESENTED BY SOCAN / AUTEUR-COMPOSITEUR DE L’ANNÉE (NON-EXÉCUTANT) PRÉSENTÉ PAR LA SOCAN
Lowell
PUBLISHER: ARTIST PUBLISHING GROUP WEST/KOBALT MUSIC GROUP
“TEXAS HOLD ‘EM” – co-songwriters/co-compositeurs Atia “Ink” Boggs, Beyoncé, Brian Bates, Megan Bülow, Nate Ferraro, Raphael Saadiq
TEXAS HOLD ‘EM – Beyoncé Columbia*Sony
PUBLISHER: ARTIST PUBLISHING GROUP WEST/KOBALT MUSIC GROUP
“BODYGUARD” – co-songwriters/co-compositeurs Beyoncé, Leven Kali, Raphael Saadiq, Ryan Beatty, Shantoni Ajane Nichols, Terius “The Dream” Gesteelde-Diamant
COWBOY CARTER – Beyoncé Columbia*Sony
PUBLISHER: ARTIST PUBLISHING GROUP WEST/KOBALT MUSIC GROUP
“Takes One To Know One” – co-songwriters/co-compositeurs Eliza Enman-Mcdaniel, Gus van Go, Jordan Miller, Kylie Miller, Leandra Earl
Takes One To Know One – The Beaches Independent*AWAL
