Winners Announced for the 2023 JUNO Opening Night Awards Presented by Music Canada

Press Release

EDMONTON (Albt.) – The Canadian Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences (CARAS) paid tribute to the artists and industry veterans at the top of Canada’s music scene this evening at the 2023 JUNO Opening Night Awards Presented by Music Canada, inside the Edmonton Convention Centre. Co-hosted by Alberta duo Andrew Phung (CBC’s Run the Burbs and Kim’s Convenience) and Angeline Tetteh-Wayoe (CBC Music’s The Block), the esteemed industry event included five knockout performances and the presentation of 41 JUNO Awards, along with the Walt Grealis Special Achievement Award and the MusiCounts Inspired Minds Ambassador Award Presented by CST Foundation.

FOR A COMPLETE LIST OF WINNERS AT THE 2023 JUNO OPENING NIGHT AWARDS PRESENTED BY MUSIC CANADA INCLUDING BIOGRAPHIES AND IMAGES, GO TO WWW.JUNO AWARDS.CA.

Global entertainment icon and Canada’s starboy, The Weeknd, took the night’s top spot with four awards: Artist of the Year*, Single of the Year, Songwriter of the Year* and Pop Album of the Year. The Weeknd has now amassed 21 wins in just a decade, surpassing the legendary Celine Dion and tieing with Bryan Adams as the second most decorated JUNO Award winner of all time. If he wins any of the awards he is nominated for on Monday night’s Broadcast (TikTok JUNO Fan Choice or Album of the Year*), he will push past Adams and take over the spot, second only to Canada’s songbird, Anne Murray, who is the JUNOS’ most decorated artist with 25 awards.

Ron Sakamoto, renowned country music manager and promoter, was awarded the prestigious Walt Grealis Special Achievement Award for his significant contributions to music and the artists who create it. Broken Social Scene’s Kevin Drew was presented with the MusiCounts Inspired Minds Ambassador Award Presented by CST Foundation for his instrumental role at the outset of the MusiCounts TD Community Music Program, which has awarded $3.9 million to community groups and not-for-profits since 2013.

The JUNO Opening Night Awards Presented by Music Canada put a spotlight not only on our nation’s veterans, but also its rising stars with 16 JUNO awards going to first-time winners: Akeel Henry (Jack Richardson Producer of the Year Presented by Audio-Technica), Angelique Francis (Blues Album of the Year), Banx & Ranx (Breakthrough Group of the Year Presented By FACTOR, The Government of Canada and Canada’s Private Radio Broadcasters), Bekah Simms (Classical Composition of the Year), Florian Hoefner Trio (Jazz Album of the Year – Group), Greg Gow (Underground Dance Single of the Year), Jon Dore (Comedy Album of the Year Presented by SiriusXM Canada), Jordan St. Cyr (Contemporary Christian/Gospel Album of the Year)

Kirk Diamond, Kairo Mclean and Finn (Reggae Recording of the Year), Lenka Lichtenberg (Global Music Album of the Year), Orchestre De L’agora, Conducted by Nicolas Ellis, Soloist Marina Thibeault (Classical Album of the Year – Large Ensemble), Rêve (Dance Recording of the Year), Savannah Ré feat. Dylan Sinclair (Traditional R&B/Soul Recording of the Year), The Bearhead Sisters (Traditional Indigenous Artist or Group of the Year) and Walk Off The Earth and Romeo Eats (Children’s Album of the Year).

Artists from the Wild Rose Country were also well applauded, including Calgary’s Caity Gyorgy (Vocal Jazz Album of the Year), Grande Prairie’s Tenille Townes (Country Album of the Year Presented by Edmonton’s Best Hotels) and Edmonton’s The Bearhead Sisters. Albertan icons Nickelback, Tate McRae and Tenille Townes still have highly-anticipated performances to come and will heat up the stage at Rogers Place Monday night in celebration of Canada’s biggest night in music.

Five radiant performances elevated the evening: Alberta pop songstress and 2023 nominee for Breakthrough Artist of the Year Presented by FACTOR, The Government of Canada and Canada’s Private Radio Broadcasters Devon Cole; this year’s co-winner for Contemporary R&B Recording of the Year Presented by CBC Music, Dylan Sinclair; Instrumental Album of the Year nominee Jean-Michel Blais; and 2023 winner’s of Traditional Indigenous Artist or Group of the Year, The Bearhead Sisters. Corb Lund along with The Sadies, who took home the JUNO for Adult Alternative Album of the Year* and Shannon Johnson from The McDades, who were nominees for Traditional Roots Album of the Year, took the stage performing the late Canadian Music Hall of Fame inductee Ian Tyson’s Four Strong Winds, during the moving In Memoriam tribute.

Looking ahead to future JUNO Awards ceremonies, CBC announced tonight the renewal of their JUNO Awards exclusive broadcast partnership. The renewed five-year relationship kicks off with The 2024 JUNO Awards in Halifax, through to 2028.

The 2023 JUNO Opening Night Awards Presented by Music Canada are available to rewatch on-demand via CBC Gem or CBCMusic.ca/junos.

The 52nd Annual JUNO Awards Broadcast will air live across the country from Rogers Place in Edmonton on Monday, March 13 at 8 p.m. ET/6 p.m. MT on CBC Gem, CBC Listen, and globally at CBCMusic.ca/junos, and CBC Music’s Facebook, Twitter and Youtube pages.

JUNO Opening Night Awards Presented by Music Canada – Award Partners: Adult Alternative Album of the Year Presented by Long & McQuade Musical Instruments, Artist of the Year Presented by SiriusXM Canada, Breakthrough Group of the Year Presented by FACTOR, The Government of Canada and Canada’s Private Radio Broadcasters, Comedy Album of the Year Presented by SiriusXM Canada, Contemporary Indigenous Artist or Group of the Year Presented by Destination Indigenous, Country Album of the Year Presented by Edmonton’s Best Hotels, Jack Richardson Producer of the Year Presented by Audio-Technica, Music Video of the Year Presented by YouTube, Rock Album of the Year Presented by Amii – The Alberta Machine Intelligence Institute and Songwriter of the Year Presented by SOCAN.

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Web Links:
Official JUNO Awards website: www.junoawards.ca
CBC Music: www.cbcmusic.ca/junos

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