2010 JUNO Awards nominees are announced!

Michael Bublé leads the pack with six nominations, Billy Talent, Drake and Johnny Reid follow closely with multiple JUNO Award nominations

TORONTO, March 3 /CNW/ - The race for the 2010 JUNO Awards is officially on! Canada's finest musical talents will vie head to head for the coveted JUNO Award statuette this April in St. John's, Newfoundland and Labrador, as The Canadian Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences (CARAS) today announced the nominees for the 2010 JUNO Awards. At a media conference held at The Fairmont Royal York Hotel in Toronto, ON, emcee Seamus O'Regan of CTV's CANADA AM, was joined by artists Arkells, Divine Brown and Stereos who helped to announce a few of the 39 JUNO Awards categories in total.

Winners will be declared at the JUNO Gala Dinner & Awards on Saturday, April 17 to be held at the St. John's Convention Centre, as well as at THE 2010 JUNO AWARDS broadcast on CTV on Sunday, April 18 at Mile One Centre in St. John's, Newfoundland and Labrador.

Tickets to THE 2010 JUNO AWARDS go on sale starting this Saturday, March 6 at 12:00 PM (NDT). Prices are $49.00, $99.00 and $189.00 (plus taxes and surcharges) and can be purchased at the Mile One Centre Box Office; by phoning [phone] or 1-800-361-4595 (toll free) or online at www.admission.com.

To view a complete list of the 2010 JUNO Awards nominees and bios, go to www.junoawards.ca.

"Each of today's JUNO Awards nominees has contributed greatly to the success of the Canadian recording industry, and helped to raise the profile and popularity of Canadian music to even greater heights," said Melanie Berry, President & CEO of CARAS. "The depth and diversity of our artists are a force to be reckoned with on the world stage whether they're established icons or emerging talents. This year's nominees truly demonstrate the influence and creativity of Canadian music."

Leading all categories with a total of six JUNO Award nominations is Michael Bublé. Following the hugely successful release of CRAZY LOVE, his first studio album in over two years, Bublé will contend for the JUNO Fan Choice Award (presented by Pepsi), Single of the Year for "Haven't Met You Yet," Album of the Year (sponsored by Canadian Recording Industry Association), Artist of the Year, Songwriter of the Year (sponsored by SIRIUS Satellite Radio) and Pop Album of the Year. His album CRAZY LOVE also garnered producers Bob Rock and David Foster a nomination each in the Jack Richardson Producer of the Year category.

Multiplatinum-selling rockers Billy Talent are nominated for four 2010 JUNO Awards: Single of the Year for "Rusted From The Rain," Album of the Year (sponsored by Canadian Recording Industry Association), Group of the Year and Rock Album of the Year for III.

Drake is one hip hop's most sought-after artists right now, and garnered four JUNO Award nominations including Single of the Year ("Best I Ever Had"), New Artist of the Year (sponsored by FACTOR and Canada's Private Radio Broadcasters), and a double nomination in the category of Rap Recording of the Year for his debut EP, SO FAR GONE, and for the collaborative track "Still Fly" with fellow Canadians Big Page and U.G.O. Crew.

Also receiving four nominations is acclaimed multi-platinum singer-songwriter Johnny Reid who received nods for JUNO Fan Choice (presented by Pepsi), Album of the Year (sponsored by Canadian Recording Industry Association), Artist of the Year and Country Album of the Year.

This year's JUNO Awards nominations saw 94 first-time nominees in total, including those up for New Artist of the Year (sponsored by FACTOR and Canada's Private Radio Broadcasters): Carly Rae Jepsen, Danny Fernandes, Drake, Justin Bieber and Shiloh; and New Group of the Year (sponsored by FACTOR and Canada's Private Radio Broadcasters): Arkells, Down With Webster, Stereos, Ten Second Epic and The New Cities.

Sixteen-year-old pop sensation Justin Bieber and indie rock band Metric have both earned triple nominations and will be performing at THE 2010 JUNO AWARDS on CTV, Sunday April 18. Also confirmed to join the broadcast line-up are Billy Talent, Blue Rodeo, Drake, Johnny Reid and Michael Bublé.

Three was also the lucky number for Classified (Single of the Year, Rap Recording of the Year, Video of the Year sponsored by MuchFACT (Director: Harv (Harvey Glazer))); Diana Krall (Album of the Year sponsored by Canadian Recording Industry Association, Artist of the Year, Vocal Jazz Album of the Year); K'Naan (Artist of the Year, Songwriter of the Year sponsored by SIRIUS Satellite Radio, Rap Recording of the Year); and The Tragically Hip who received triple JUNO Award nominations for Single of the Year, Group of the Year, Rock Album of the Year.

JUNO Week takes place April 12-18, 2010, in St. John's, Newfoundland and Labrador, culminating in the live broadcast of THE 2010 JUNO AWARDS, Sunday, April 18 on CTV.

Sponsors of the 2010 JUNO Awards include FACTOR, Canada's Private Radio Broadcasters and the Government of Canada through the Department of Canadian Heritage's "Canada Music Fund," with commitments from The Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency (ACOA), the Province of Newfoundland and Labrador, the City of St. John's and Radio Starmaker Fund.

Sponsors of THE 2010 JUNO AWARDS broadcast on CTV include Chevrolet, Garnier, Pepsi and Rogers.

    
    Web Links:
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    Official JUNO Awards website: www.junoawards.ca
    CTV's JUNO Awards website: www.junos.ctv.ca
    St. John's Host Committee: www.ruckusontheedge.com
    CARAS website: www.carasonline.ca
    CTV website: www.ctv.ca
    

For further information: Media Contacts: For more information on the 2010 JUNO Awards, contact: Chris McDowall, [phone], [email protected]; Tiffany Astle, [phone], [email protected], www.holmescreativecommunications.com