Tate McRae & Josh Ross Lead 2025 Juno Nominations: Full List

Tate McRae and Josh Ross have received the most nominations for the 2025 Juno Awards, with five apiece. The two artists will compete against each other in single of the year, album of the year, artist of the year and TikTok fan choice award.

Shawn Mendes and The Weeknd follow with four nominations each, while Karan Aujla and AP Dhillon each score three.

McRae — the Alberta pop singer whose “Greedy” took her to global heights in 2023 — won single of the year and artist of the year at the 2024 Junos. She was not in attendance to accept either award. This year, she could sweep all the major categories except for breakthrough artist, in which she was nominated in 2021.

Ross is a breakout country singer from Ontario, and his five nominations show the strength of the genre in Canada. He joins McRae in the artist of the year category, alongside dance music producer Kaytranada, who was up for three Grammys this year with his third LP, Timeless; Mendes, who made a highly anticipated comeback with folk album Shawn; and The Weeknd, who released several charting singles in 2024. (His Hurry Up Tomorrow doesn’t qualify for this year’s awards, so he could be primed for another big year next year.)

Ross has had a major year, with his track “Single Again” — up for single of the year — charting on the Billboard Canadian Hot 100 and topping the Canadian Country Airplay chart. He picked up five Canadian Country Music Association Awards in 2024, but if he prevails in one or more of his highly competitive categories, it would mark his first Juno win(s).

Beyond McRae’s domination and Ross’ breakthrough, the nominations show the continued rise of the Punjabi Wave in Canada. Last year, Karan Aujla took home the fan choice award, which showed belated industry recognition for the exploding genre. This year, Aujla is up for single of the year as well with the aptly-titled “Winning Speech.”

This year, the Junos are introducing a South Asian music recording category, with AP Dhillon; Chani Nattan, Inderpal Moga & Jazz B; Jonita Gandhi; and Sandeep Narayan and Yanchal Produced all up for the inaugural award alongside Aujla.

But it’s not just that category where South Asian music is shining through — Dhillon is nominated for breakthrough artist and songwriter of the year.

AR Paisley is also up for breakthrough artist, as is Sukha, who also scored a nomination in best album with Undisputed. That’s a marked increase in representation for South Asian music and, in particular, Punjabi artists, from last year, as the wave continues to crest.

Canadian pop-rock icons and Billboard Canada cover stars Sum 41 are up for group of the year, where they’ll compete against Crash Adams, Mother Mother, Spiritbox and last year’s winner, The Beaches. They also picked up a nomination for rock album of the year with their final album, Heaven :x: Hell, and they will receive a special induction into the Canadian Music Hall of Fame during the ceremony.

In the big categories, it’s not as strong a year for women nominees — McRae is the only woman nominated for single of the year, artist of the year, and fan choice (especially notable in fan choice, which has 10 total nominees). In album of the year, Inuk singer Elisapie and Quebecois artist Roxane Bruneau compete alongside McRae against Ross and Sukha.

The breakthrough artist category is where things get the most interesting. The Junos have increased that category from five to 10 nominees this year, and the move allows for a real breadth of talent to shine through, with nominees ranging from country to soul to Punjabi hip-hop and more. Palestinian-Canadian alt-pop auteur Nemahsis is up for the category (she’s also nominated in alternative album of the year), as is Vancouver emo-pop artist Ekkstacy and Montreal R&B-pop artist Zeina, who broke through with Billboard Canadian Hot 100-charting “Hooked.”

In the genre-specific categories, three categories that were reportedly in danger of disappearing did return this year. Following public outcry last fall, the Junos recommitted to the reggae recording of the year; contemporary Christian/gospel album of the year; and children’s album of the year categories.

The nominees in reggae recording include the late trailblazer Lee ‘Scratch’ Perry for his work with Bob Riddim on Destiny and Canadian reggae leader Exco Levi’s Born To Be Free. In children’s album, Lheidli T’enneh singer-songwriter Kym Gouchie is nominated for Shun Beh Nats’ujeh: We Are Healing Through Songs as well as iconic entertainer Raffi for his Good Lovelies collaboration, Penny Penguin.

The 2025 Juno Awards, hosted by Michael Bublé, will be held March 30 in Vancouver, broadcast on CBC at 8 P.M. ET.

Here’s the full list of nominations for the 2025 Juno Awards.

TikTok Juno Fan Choice

bbno$, Independent*Stem

Dean Brody, Starseed

Jade Eagleson, Starseed

Josh Ross, Universal

Karan Aujla, Independent

Les Cowboys Fringants, Les Disques de La Tribu*Propagande

Preston Pablo, Universal

Shawn Mendes, Universal

Tate McRae, RCA*Sony

The Weeknd, XO*Universal

Artist of the year

Josh Ross, Universal

Kaytranada, RCA*Sony

Shawn Mendes, Island*Universal

Tate McRae, RCA*Sony

The Weeknd, XO*Universal

Group of the year

Crash Adams, Warner

Mother Mother, Warner

Spiritbox, BMG*Universal

Sum 41, Rise/BMG*Universal

The Beaches, Independent*AWAL

Single of the year

“Single Again,” Josh Ross, Universal

“Winning Speech,” Karan Aujla, Independent

“Why Why Why,” Shawn Mendes, Island*Universal

“exes,” Tate McRae, RCA*Sony

“Timeless,” The Weeknd & Playboi Carti, XO*Universal

Album of the year

Inuktitut, Elisapie, Bonsound*Sony

Complicated, Josh Ross, Universal

Submergé, Roxane Bruneau, Disques Artic*Sony

UNDISPUTED, Sukha, GK*Universal

THINK LATER, Tate McRae, RCA*Sony

Breakthrough artist or group of the year

Alexander Stewart, FAE*The Orchard

AP Dhillon, Republic*Universal

AR Paisley, Warner

Chris Grey, Rebellion Records

EKKSTACY, Dine Alone*The Orchard

Nemahsis, Independent

Owen Riegling, Universal

Sukha, GK*Universal

Tony Ann, Decca*Universal

Zeina, Artist Partner Group

Songwriter of the year

Abel Tesfaye

AP Dhillon

Jessie Reyez

Mustafa

Nemah Hasan (Nemahsis)

Songwriter of the year (non-performer)

Evan Blair

Lowell

Nathan Ferraro

Shaun Frank

Tobias Jesso Jr.

Jack Richardson producer of the year

Aaron Paris

Akeel Henry

Evan Blair

Jack Rochon

Shawn Everett

Recording engineer of the year

George Seara

Hill Kourkoutis

Mitch McCarthy

Serban Ghenea

Shawn Everett

Classical album of the year (solo artist)

Signature Philip Glass, Angèle Dubeau & La Pietà, Analekta*Naxos/The Orchard

Messiaen, Barbara Hannigan, Alpha Classics*Naxos

freezing, Emily D’Angelo, Deutsche Grammophon*Universal

Butterfly Lightning Shakes the Earth, India Gailey, Red Shift*Believe

Williams Violin Concerto No. 1; Bernstein Serenade, James Ehnes, Pentatone*Naxos/The Orchard

Classical album of the year (small ensemble)

Known To Dreamers: Black Voices in Canadian Art Song, Canadian Art Song Project, Centrediscs*Canadian Music Centre/Naxos

Rituæls, collectif9, Analekta*Naxos/The Orchard

East is East, Infusion Baroque, Leaf*Naxos

Marie Hubert: Fille du Roy, Karina Gauvin, ATMA*Universal

Kevin Lau: Under a Veil of Stars, St. John–Mercer–Park Trio, Leaf*Naxos

Classical album of the year (large ensemble)

Ispiciwin, Luminous Voices, Leaf*Naxos

Alikeness, Newfoundland Symphony Orchestra Sinfonia, conducted by/dirigé par Mark Fewer featuring Aiyun Huang, Deantha Edmunds and Mark Fewer, Leaf*Naxos

Sibelius 2 & 5, Orchestre Métropolitain, conducted by/dirigé par Yannick Nézet-Séguin, ATMA*Universal

Schoenberg: Pelleas und Melisande & Verklärte Nacht, Orchestre symphonique de Montréal, conducted by/dirigé par Rafael Payare, Pentatone*Naxos/PIAS

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)

Montreal Jazz Series 1 (Échanges Synaptiques), André Leroux, Disques BG*Believe

The Head of a Mouse, Audrey Ochoa, Chronograph*Fontana North

Portrait of Right Now, Jocelyn Gould, Independent

Slice of Life, Larnell Lewis, Independent

The Antrim Coast, Mark Kelso, Modica

Jazz album of the year (group)

Time Will Tell, Andy Milne and Unison, Sunnyside*AMPED

Reverence, Carn Davidson 9, Independent

Harbour, Christine Jensen Jazz Orchestra, Justin Time*F.A.B./Nettwerk

Gravity, Jeremy Ledbetter Trio, Independent

Jaya, Raagaverse, Independent

Vocal jazz album of the year

Oh Mother, Andrea Superstein, Cellar*La Reserve

Hello! How Are You?, Caity Gyorgy, La Reserve*The Orchard

Winter Song, Kellylee Evans, Independent

Wintersongs, Laila Biali, Independent/Believe

Magpie, Sarah Jerrom, TPR*Outside In

Instrumental album of the year

Disaster Pony, Disaster Pony, Independent*The Orchard

Distant Places, Eric Bearclaw, Independent

Ginger Beef, Ginger Beef, Independent

memory palace, Intervals, Independent*Believe

Confluencias, Melón Jimenez & Lara Wong, Independent

Blues album of the year

This Old Life, Big Dave McLean, Cordova Bay*Fontana North

New Orleans Sessions, Blue Moon Marquee, Independent

YEAH!, David Gogo, Cordova Bay*Fontana North

Samantha King and the Midnight Outfit, Samantha King & The Midnight Outfit, Independent

One Guitar Woman, Sue Foley, Stony Plain*Fontana North

Traditional roots album of the year

Hemispheres, Inn Echo, Independent

Retro Man … More and More (Expanded Edition), Jake Vaadeland, Jayward*The Orchard Domino!, La Bottine Souriante, LABE*Sony/The Orchard

The Road Back Home (Live), Loreena McKennitt, Independent*Universal

At The End of the Day, Sylvia Tyson, Stony Plain*Fontana North

Contemporary roots album of the year

Anniversary, Abigail Lapell, Outside

For Eden, Boy Golden, Six Shooter*The Orchard

Things Were Never Good If They’re Not Good Now, Donovan Woods, End Times*The Orchard Pathways, Julian Taylor, Howling Turtle*ADA

Strange Medicine, Kaia Kate,r acronym*The Orchard

Country album of the year

The Compass Project – West Album, Brett Kissel, Independent*Universal

Dallas Smith, Dallas Smith, Big Loud*Universal

Complicated, Josh Ross, Universal

Nobody’s Born With A Broken Heart, MacKenzie Porter, Big Loud*Universal

Going Home, Tyler Joe Miller, Independent*The Orchard

Adult alternative album of the year

Inuktitut, Elisapie, Bonsound*Sony/The Orchard

Revelation, Leif Vollebekk, Secret City*F.A.B.

Healing Power, Terra Lightfoot, Sonic Unyon*Universal

We were born here, what’s your excuse?, The Secret Beach, Victory Pool*The Orchard

Never Better, Wild Rivers, Nettwerk*F.A.B./Nettwerk

Alternative album of the year

When a Thought Grows Wings, Luna Li, In Real Life*AWAL

Verbathim, Nemahsis, Independent

Magpie, Peach Pit, Columbia*Sony

What’s The Point, Ruby Waters, Independent*Dine Alone

Water the Flowers, Pray for a Garden, Valley, Universal

Rock album of the year

Pages, Big Wreck, Sonic Unyon*Universal

Vices, JJ Wilde, Black Box

Grief Chapter, Mother Mother, Warner

Set Your Pussy Free, NOBRO, Dine Alone*The Orchard

Heaven :x: Hell, Sum 41, Rise/BMG*Universal

Metal/hard music album of the year

Beyond the Reach of the Sun, Anciients, Season of Mist*The Orchard

PowerNerd, Devin Townsend, InsideOutMusic*Sony

Fire, Kittie, Sumerian*Virgin

The Fear of Fear, Spiritbox, BMG*Universal

ULTRAPOWER, Striker, Independent

Adult contemporary album of the year

Roses, Aphrose, Independent

Boundless Possibilities, Celeigh Cardinal, Independent

Transitions, Kellie Loder, Independent*Warner

Songs of Love & Death, Maddee Ritter, Independent*Universal

Lovers’ Gothic, Maïa Davies, acronym

Pop album of the year

bleeding heart, Alexander Stewart, FAE*The Orchard

if this is it…, Jamie Fine, Universal

Anywhere But Here, Preston Pablo, 31 East*Universal

Shawn, Shawn Mendes, Island*Universal

THINK LATER, Tate McRae, RCA*Sony

Dance recording of the year

UH HUH, DijahSB, Never Worry*The Orchard

No Time, Interplanetary Criminal & SadBo,i Room Two*Columbia

Give in to you, REZZ, Virtual Riot & One True God, Monstercat

Call Me When, So Sus, Independent

FOUL TASTE, WAWA, Independent

Underground dance single of the year

“Bamboo,” Ciel, Independent

“Keepsake,” Destrata, Independent

“Distant Memories,” Hernan Cattaneo, Hicky & Kalo, Independent

“La Vérité,” Jesse Mac Cormack, Charlie Houston & Brö, Secret City*F.A.B

“WTP,” Suray Sertin, Altered States*Universal

Electronic album of the year

Honey, Caribou, Merge*F.A.B

Union, ÈBONY, Independent*ADA

Love, Care, Kindness & Hope, Fred Everything, Lazy Days*Prime Direct

Timeless, Kaytranada, RCA*Sony

This but More, Priori, NAFF*One Eye Witness

Rap single of the year

“People,” Classified, Independent

“Double the Fun,” Haviah Mighty, Independent

“SHUT UP,” Jessie Reyez, FMLY/Island*Universal

“BBE,” Snotty Nose Rez Kids, Sony

“Hier encore,” Souldia & Lost, Disques 7ième Ciel

Rap album/EP of the year

96 Miles From Bethlehem, Belly, SALXCO*Universal

Luke’s View, Classified, Independent

The Flower That Knew DijahSB, Lowly

See You When I See You…, Dom Vallie, Awesome*The Orchard

RED FUTURE, Snotty Nose Rez Kids, Sony

Traditional R&B/soul recording of the year

“Limbo,” Aqyila, Sony

“The Worst,” Benita, Independent*Believe

“Cyan Blue,” Charlotte Day Wilson, Independent*The Orchard

“Halfway Broken,” Luna Elle, Hot Freestyle*Independent

“VELVET SOUL,” THEHONESTGUY, Independent*Believe

Contemporary R&B recording of the year

“Bloom,” Aqyila, Sony

“Noire,” Avenoir, Independent*LISTEN TO THE KIDS

“FOR THE BOY IN ME,” Dylan Sinclair ,Five Stone*The Orchard

“LOONY, LOONY,” Independent*AWAL

“Eastend Confessions,” Zeina, Artist Partner Group

Reggae recording of the year

“Born to Be Free,” Exco Levi, Independent

“FALLBACK,” King Cruff & Runkus, Tuff Gong*Universal

“Destiny,” Lee “Scratch” Perry & Bob Riddim, Independent

“Sky’s the Limit,” Skystar, Independent

“Rise,” Tonya P, Independent

Children’s album of the year

Shun Beh Nats’ujeh: We Are Healing Through Songs, Kym Gouchie, Independent

Penny Penguin, Raffi & Good Lovelies, Independent*Universal

Riley Rocket: Songs From Season One, Riley Rocket and Megablast, Independent

Buon Appetito, Walk off the Earth & Romeo Eats, Golden Carrot*The Orchard

Maestro Fresh Wes Presents: Young Maestro “Rhyme Travellers”, Young Maestro, Independent

Comedy album of the year

Wonder Woman, Courtney Gilmour, Comedy Records*Downtown

Honourable Intentions, Debra DiGiovanni, Independent

Popcorn, Ivan Decker, Independent

Sad Witch, Jess Salomon, Independent

Down With Tech, Nathan Macintosh, Comedy Records*Downtown

Traditional indigenous artist or group of the year

New Comings, Black Bear Singers, Independent

Winston & I, Brianna Lizotte, Independent

Travelling Home, Cree Confederation, Independent

REZilience, Northern Cree, Independent

Ostesihtowin-“Brotherhood”, Young Spirit, Independent

Contemporary indigenous artist or group of the year

Precious Diamonds, Adrian Sutherland, Independent

Boundless Possibilities, Celeigh Cardinal, Independent

Brown Man, Sebastian Gaskin, Ishkōdé*Universal

RED FUTURE, Snotty Nose Rez Kids, Sony

Pretty Red Bird, Tia Wood, Sony

Album Francophone De L’année

Aliocha Schneider, Aliocha Schneider, Les Disques Audiogramme*Sony/The Orchard

Demain il fera beau, Fredz, La Taniere*Believe

Toutes les rues sont silencieuses, Jay Scøtt, Disques 7ième Ciel*Believe

Abracadabra, Klô Pelgag, Secret City*F.A.B.

Pub Royal, Les Cowboys Fringants, Les Disques de La Tribu*Propagande/Believe

Contemporary Christian/gospel album of the year

elenee., Elenee, Independent

My Foundation, Jordan St. Cyr, Independent*The Orchard

Restore, Ryan Ofei, Independent*Platoon/Believe

Miracle in the Making, Tehillah Worship, Independent

Hymns Alive (Live), Toronto Mass Choir, Independent*Believe

Global music album of the year

Aarambh, Abby V, Sufiscore

Kanzafula, Ahmed Moneka, Lulaworld*Independent

Malak, Didon, Electrofone*Independent

Dankoroba, Djely Tapa, Independent*Believe

Niebla, Ramon Chicharron, Independent*Believe

South Asian music recording of the year

“The Brownprint,” AP Dhillon, Republic *Universal

“COOLIN,” Chani Nattan, Inderpal Moga & Jazzy B, Warner

“Love Like That,” Jonita Gandhi, Warner

“Tauba Tauba (From Bad Newz),” Karan Aujla, T-Series

“Arul,” Yanchan, Produced & Sandeep Narayan, Independent

Album artwork of the year

Erik M. Grice (Art Director), Vanessa Elizabeth Heins (Photographer); Chandler – Wyatt C. Louis, Independent*Universal

Gabriel Noel Altrows (Art Director/Illustrator); Good Kid 4 – Good Kid, Independent/The Orchard

Kee Avil, Jacqueline Beaumont (Art Director), Fatine-Violette Sabiri (Photographer); Spine – Kee Avil Constellation*Secretly Canadian

Keenan Gregory (Art Director); Altruistic – Royal Tusk MNRK

Kevin Hearn, Lauchlan Reid (Art Director), Antoine Jean Moonen (Designer), Lauchlan Reid (Illustrator); Basement Days – The Glacials Celery*IDLA

Music video of the year

“Human,” Adrian Villagomez, Apashe & Wasiu, Kannibalen*Create

“Nasty,” Jonah Haber, Tinashe, Independent

“GRAVITY,” Jorden Lee, Sean Leon, Independent

“Name of God,” Mustafa, Mustafa, Arts & Crafts*Universal

“Jump Cut,” Winston Hacking, Corridor, Bonsound*Sony/The Orchard

Classical composition of the year

“Angmalukisaa,” Deantha Edmunds, Independent*Leaf/Naxos

“the fog in our poise,” Gabriel Dharmoo, Centrediscs*Canadian Music Centre/Naxos

“L’écoute du perdu : III. « Voix jetées »,” Keiko Devaux, ATMA*Universal

“Dark Flowe,” Linda Catlin Smith, Redshift*Independent

“String Quartet No. 4 ‘Insects and Machines,’” Vivian Fung, Independent

This story was originally published by Billboard Canada.

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