Following strong backlash from the music community, the Juno Awards have reversed their decision to eliminate the reggae, children's, and Christian/gospel categories
JUNO Awards backtrack on decision to drop Reggae following widespread criticism
The Juno Awards have reversed their decision to cut the reggae category, alongside the children's and Christian/gospel categories, following strong backlash from the music community.
Juno's head Allan Reid posted a message on Instagram Tuesday saying that "given the feedback," the organization has decided to reinstate the categories for the 2025 show.
He said the children's album, reggae recording and Christian/gospel album of the year categories will be part of the honours handed out next year.
Earlier this month, The Canadian Press obtained a letter from Juno organizers sent to committee members of the affected categories, informing them of plans to place their awards on "hiatus."
The Canadian Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences (CARAS), which oversees the JUNO Awards, announced its decision to remove the Reggae category from the 2025 ceremony.
The decision was attributed to "declining streaming numbers, reduced sales, and concerns about repetitive submissions, with the same artists consistently dominating the category."
Juno organizers declined to provide further explanation, stating only that “additional information will be shared in the coming weeks.”
That lack of communication left some in the music industry frustrated, as they felt the organization had left them in uncertainty just weeks before the 2025 awards submissions were due to open.
The 54th Juno Awards ceremony is scheduled to take place at Vancouver's Rogers Arena on March 30, 2025.
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