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2014 JUNO Awards calling for Aboriginal Album of the Year submissions

October 10, 2013

JUNO Awards

The Canadian Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences (CARAS) announced that the JUNO Awards is now accepting submissions for Aboriginal Album of the Year (sponsored by Aboriginal Peoples Television Network).

The early bird submission deadline is October 23, 2013. The final submission deadline is November 13, 2013.

Three time JUNO Award winner Buffy Sainte-Marie says: "Don't forget to submit your music to the JUNOs! Whatever your genre, style, age, or experience, just do it! It helps us all, especially new artists, but also non-musicians back home who need all the inspiration they can get."

The Aboriginal Album of the Year winners of years past have used the award to catapult their careers. “Being nominated for a JUNO was a terrific boost for my recordings and for my career,” says Leela Gilday. “Winning the JUNO provided a great feeling of validation for all the hard years of work that my family supported me through. It also allowed me to reach a more mainstream audience and share my songs and my stories with people outside the Aboriginal music scene."

The category is open to albums released by Canadians citizens between September 1, 2012 and November 13, 2013.

Eligible music styles for the Aboriginal Album of the Year category include all traditional Aboriginal music: Iroquois, Social Pow Wow Drum (I.e. Sioux, Assiniboine, Cree, Ojibway & Blackfoot, etc.); all Hand Drums (e.g. Inuit, Dene, Cree, Mic Mak, West Coast, etc.); Inuit Throat Singing; Traditional Flutes; Métis, Cree & Mic Mac Fiddling. In addition, fusions of all genres of contemporary music that incorporate the above and/or reflect the unique Aboriginal experience in Canada, by virtue of words or music.

The Aboriginal Category Advisory Committee listens to each submission to ensure that each album meets the criteria of the category. The committee is chaired by Brian Wright-McLeod (author, The Encyclopedia of Native Music) and Dan Smoke (host, Smoke Signals on CHRW Radio). Errol Ranville (recording artist), Marc Nadjiwan (recording artist), Dave McLeod (NCI FM), Amanda Rheaume (recording artist), Leanne Goose (recording artist), Kelly Parker (Turtle Island Music), Melissa Spence (National Aboriginal Music Countdown/Streetz FM), and Alan Greyeyes (Manitoba Music/Aboriginal Music Week) are also Aboriginal Category Advisory Committee members.

The 2014 festivities will be hosted in Winnipeg, MB, with JUNO Week running from March 24 – 30. The 43rd Annual JUNO Awards will be broadcast on CTV on Sunday March 30, 2014.

2014 JUNO Award submissions:

Submission can be made online at junosubmissions.ca.

Early Bird Submission Deadline Date is 5:00 p.m. EST on October 23, 2013.

The Final Submission Deadline is 5:00 p.m. EST on November 13, 2013.

Submission Fees and Deadlines:

CARAS offers an early bird submission fee to those who submit between October 1 and October 23, 2013. CARAS members receive a reduced submission fee applicable for both the early bird deadline as well as the final deadline. If you are eligible to submit, you are eligible for membership. Please visit carasonline.ca/members for more membership information.

The submission fee can be paid online with a credit card or by cheque.

October 1  23, 2013 (Early Bird Deadline)

$35 for CARAS members

$60 for non-members

October 24 – November 13, 2013 (Final Deadline)

$70 for CARAS members

$90 for non-members

January 7, 2014 (Deadline for Album and International Album of the Year)

$70 for CARAS members

$90 for non-members

How it Works:

340 Judges – Each year, judges are recruited for each of the 34 adjudicated categories to judge the material that is submitted. These individuals are responsible for listening to each of the submissions and voting for the best product in the genre. The judges change each year and are spread out in different facets of the music industry and different regions throughout Canada.

50 Nominating & Voting Committee Members – The Nominating & Voting Committee is responsible for maintaining the integrity of the JUNO Awards. It is their responsibility to monitor any changes within the industry as it relates to the awards. The committee brings any necessary changes to the attention of the Board of Directors.

190+ Music Advisory Committee Members - Each category has an associated advisory committee that is responsible for ensuring that each of the submissions in their specific genre meets the required qualifications for the JUNO Awards.

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