Awards
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02/12/2025
Here’s how we handicap this year’s class of Rock & Roll Hall of Fame nominees and their respective chances of induction.
02/12/2025
After decades of eligibility, Bad Company’s future in the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame seemed to be, as the song says, a “Rock ‘n’ Roll Fantasy.”
Now the English supergroup finds itself nominated for the Rock Hall’s class of 2025, one of eight first-timers on the shortlist of 14.
“Bad Company fans and friends have been lobbying for this nomination persistently for years and they never gave up, so big thanks to them,” frontman Paul Rodgers tells Billboard. “According to them, Bad Company fits all of the criteria and then some to be inducted.” Drummer Simon Kirke, however, is more inclined to also note that it’s about time.
“I think it’s been a long time coming,” he says from his current home in New York City. “It has rankled me a bit. We’ve been around a long time and we’ve influenced a lot of bands, and I think it’s a place that we deserve. I’m just pleased that we’re at least on the ballot. I’m happy and I’m honored, and fingers crossed that we make it.”
Formed during 1973 in London, Bad Company brought together Rodgers and Kirke from Free, guitarist Mick Ralphs from Mott the Hoople and bassist Boz Burrell, fresh out of King Crimson. The group was managed by the legendary Peter Grant and signed to Led Zeppelin’s Swan Song label. Its self-titled 1974 debut hit No. 1 on the Billboard 200, going five-times platinum and launching enduring rock radio hits such as “Can’t Get Enough” (No. 5 on the Billboard Hot 100), “Movin’ On” (No. 19) and the song “Bad Company.”
Four of the band’s other 11 studio albums went platinum or better, as did the 1985 compilation 10 From 6. All told Bad Company sold more than 40 million records worldwide, with a cadre of other top 40 Hot 100 hits such as “Feel Like Makin’ Love,” “Young Blood,” “Shooting Star” and “Rock ‘n’ Roll Fantasy.”
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“Leaving behind those three bands that had become a bit of a millstone around our necks, there was certainly an element of hope and a fresh start,” Kirke recalls. “We just basically wanted a fresh start from our old bands, so it was like a phoenix rising from the ashes. I remember when Paul started singing these songs that Mick had written, ‘Can’t Get Enough’ and ‘Ready For Love’…it was really exciting. We just hoped that it was something that would be around for awhile, and here we are 50 years later.”
Rodgers, who splits time between British Columbia and Palm Springs, Calif., says he and Ralphs actually had different visions at the outset of Bad Company. “(Ralphs) recently told me that he thought that we would form a duo like the Everly Brothers. This was a surprise to me,” he says. “For myself after Free imploded…I was determined that my next band would have the best management and we did. Peter Grant was the most powerful, creative manager at the time and he was a large, large part of Bad Company’s success. It is particularly obvious to me now as we celebrate our 50th anniversary, and I look around and hear so many talented musicians who are not getting the break they need to reach the masses. I hope they find their Peter Grant.”
The original Bad Company foursome came to a stop in 1982. Ralphs and Kirke resumed from 1986-99 with a succession of other musicians — and had some success with the platinum Holy Water album in 1990 and singles such as the title track, “How About That,” “If You Needed Somebody” and “No Smoke Without Fire.” The original foursome reunited during 1989-99, playing live and releasing four new songs on The ‘Original’ Bad Co. Anthology. Burrell passed away in 1999 from a heart attack at 60, and Rodgers and Kirke reformed Bad Company two years later, with Ralphs coming back on board from 2008-2016, when a stroke rendered him unable to continue touring. (Rich Robinson of the Black Crowes, also nominated for the Rock Hall this year, was an additional guitarist during 2016).
Bad Company last toured during 2019, and Kirke confirms that “I think it’s safe to say (the band’s) playing days are pretty much over.”
He and Rodgers are still active, however. Though Rodgers is also battling health issues — he’s suffered several strokes since 2016 and 2019 — he released the solo album Midnight Rose during 2023 and is continuing to write new material. Kirke, meanwhile, has written a stage musical about addiction that’s currently being shopped and is planning to record his fourth solo album during the spring.
Both men, and likely Ralphs, will be watching the Rock Hall voting period play out, too — if not with bated breath, then certainly with interest. “My hope,” Rodgers says, “is if we are going to be inducted, let it be while Mick is still here. I do hope that the induction happens while Mick can experience, it too.”
The 2025 nominees for the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame were revealed early Wednesday (Feb. 12) morning. Of the 14 nominees who appear on this year’s ballot, only some of them (likely about half) will be inducted into the institution later this year as the Rock Hall’s Class of 2025. Explore Explore See latest […]
Harvey Mason Jr., CEO of The Recording Academy, and Ben Winston, a founding partner of Fulwell Entertainment, will be named 2025 Music Visionaries of the Year at the UJA-Federation of New York’s Music Visionary of the Year Award Celebration. The event, which is marking its 25th anniversary, will be held on June 16 in New York City.
The announcement was made just nine days after Mason and Winston worked together on the 67th annual Grammy Awards telecast. Winston was an executive producer of the show, along with Raj Kapoor and Jesse Collins.
“We are thrilled to honor Harvey and Ben as our 2025 UJA Music Visionaries of the Year,” Daniel Glass, founder/CEO of Glassnote Records, chair of UJA’s Music Division and co-chair of UJA’s overall Entertainment division, said in a statement. “They have not only shaped the future of sound and storytelling, but Harvey and Ben also brought that same passion and vision to this year’s Grammy weekend and award show, respectively, rising to the occasion in the wake of devastation to help showcase music’s unparalleled power to heal, unite, and uplift. Beyond their remarkable contributions to the industry, their commitment to making a meaningful impact truly sets them apart.”
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As the first Black CEO of The Recording Academy, Mason has diversified the voting membership and revised rules and processes to make the Grammy Awards more transparent, inclusive and reflective of a wide variety of music genres. He has also enlarged the Academy’s role as a service organization for music creators and restructured the organization to position it for global growth.
Mason is the founder of Harvey Mason Media and a five-time Grammy nominee. He has written and/or produced songs for such artists as Whitney Houston, Beyonce, Elton John, Justin Timberlake, Aretha Franklin, Ariana Grande, Britney Spears, Justin Bieber and Michael Jackson.
Winston is a producer, director and founding partner of Fulwell Entertainment. He has won 13 Primetime Emmy Awards — eight for various iterations of the James Corden vehicle Carpool Karaoke; three more for other programs hosted by Corden (including the 2016 Tony Awards); and two for acclaimed variety specials headlined by pop superstars: Adele: One Night Only and Elton John Live: Farewell From Dodger Stadium.
In 2019, Winston received eight Primetime Emmy nominations — a one-year record for an individual. In 2024, he produced the Paris to Los Angeles Olympics handover, a prelude to the 2028 Summer Olympics.
Funds raised at the luncheon will go toward UJA’s annual campaign supporting the work of confronting antisemitism, promoting inclusion and caring for New Yorkers of all backgrounds. A portion of the proceeds will also support UJA’s Music for Youth, which helps young people connect to life-changing music programs.
Working with a network of hundreds of nonprofits, UJA extends its reach from New York to Israel to nearly 70 other countries around the world, touching the lives of 5.5 million people annually. Every year, UJA-Federation provides approximately $180 million in grants. For more information, visit ujafedny.org.
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.
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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.
Dave Chappelle will become the first comedian to receive the President’s Award during the 2025 NAACP Image Awards, which is set to air live from the Pasadena Civic Auditorium in Pasadena, Calif., on Saturday, Feb. 22, at 8 p.m. ET/PT on BET and CBS. This year, the broadcast will be extended 30 minutes to 2.5 hours.
The President’s Award is presented in recognition of special achievement and distinguished public service. Previous recipients include a wide range of public figures, including six recording stars – Ella Fitzgerald (1967), Ms. Lauryn Hill (1999), John Legend (2016), Jay-Z (2019), Rihanna (2020) and Usher (2024).
“The President’s Award honors an unwavering dedication to community, and throughout his distinguished career, Dave Chappelle has consistently been recognized as a powerful voice of social consciousness,” Derrick Johnson, NAACP president and CEO, said in a statement. “Through his unique ability to transform complex political issues into thought-provoking humor, Dave has solidified his place as one of the most impactful voices of our time. His work sparks conversations that compel people to examine their own beliefs, proving that in an age where open dialogue is increasingly rare, comedy can be both a powerful truth-teller and a driver of progress.”
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Chappelle, 51, was the 2019 recipient of the Mark Twain Prize for American Humor. On Feb. 2, he won his sixth Grammy Award for best comedy album, which is just one shy of Bill Cosby’s record seven wins in the category. Chappelle has also received five Primetime Emmy Awards – three for his Netflix comedy specials Equanimity (2018) and Sticks & Stones (2020), and two for hosting Saturday Night Live (2017 and 2021).
By visiting the NAACP Image Awards’ website, the public can vote to determine the winners of the 56th annual event in select categories. NAACP will recognize winners in non-televised categories virtually on Tuesday, Feb. 18, and Wednesday, Feb. 19, on its YouTube channel and at the 56th NAACP Image Awards Creative Honors Friday, Feb. 21.
BET Media Group, NAACP, JSSK (Johnson Shapiro Slewett & Kole, a media and entertainment law firm) and the WME entertainment agency have partnered with L.A. County to launch the Altadena Community Preservation Fund to support the recovery of historically Black neighborhoods impacted by the Eaton Fire. This effort, a collaboration with local community organizations such as Community Aid Dena, Altadena Heritage and WalkGood L.A., is aimed at protecting homeowners from displacement and preserving the community’s cultural heritage.
Halle Berry, Penélope Cruz, Elle Fanning, Whoopi Goldberg, Scarlett Johansson, John Lithgow, Amy Poehler, June Squibb and Bowen Yang are set to present at the 2025 Oscars on Sunday, March 2, at 7 p.m. ET/4 p.m. PT.
Berry, Goldberg and Cruz are past Oscar winners. In 2001, for her role in Monster’s Ball, Berry became the first Black actress to win best actress. She is still the only Black actress to achieve that feat, though Cynthia Erivo, nominated this year for Wicked, could join her. In 1991, for her role in Ghost, Goldberg became only the second Black actress – and the first in 51 years – to win best supporting actress. Zoe Saldaña, nominated this year for Emilia Pérez, could become the 11th Black actress (she is Black and Afro-Latina) to win in that category.
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Cruz won best supporting actress in 2009 for Vicky Cristina Barcelona.
Poehler and Yang both rose to fame on Saturday Night Live, which is enjoying an especially high profile as it celebrates its 50th season. Poehler co-hosted the Golden Globe Awards four times with fellow SNL vet Tina Fey.
Squibb, a best supporting actress nominee in 2014 for Nebraska, is red-hot at age 95, with roles in three 2024 films: Thelma (for which she also served as executive producer), Don’t Tell Mom the Babysitter’s Dead and the animated Inside Out 2.
Last year’s Oscar winners in the four acting categories – Cillian Murphy, Emma Stone, Robert Downey Jr. and Da’Vine Joy Randolph – were announced as presenters last week.
Hosted by Conan O’Brien, the 97th Oscars will be held at the Dolby Theatre at Ovation Hollywood and will air live on ABC and stream live on Hulu. The official live red-carpet show will air at 6:30 p.m. ET/3:30 p.m. PT.
Raj Kapoor and Katy Mullan are executive producers of the 2025 Oscars. Kapoor is also showrunner. He was also one of three executive producers for the Grammy Awards on Feb. 2, along with Ben Winston and Jesse Collins.
Sweet Relief Musicians Fund celebrated the legacy of legendary folk singer Joan Baez on Saturday, Feb. 8 at the Masonic Auditorium in San Francisco. Performers included Emmylou Harris, Rosanne Cash, Margo Price, Bonnie Raitt, Tom Morello, Joe Henry, Lucinda Williams, Taj Mahal and Baez herself. There were also appearances by Jackson Browne and the Glide […]
Sabrina Carpenter is the latest act to join the list of performers at the upcoming BRIT Awards (March 1), and will collect the global success award on the night. The “Espresso” singer will head to The O2 Arena in London to perform during the ceremony. She joins JADE, Myles Smith, Shaboozey, Teddy Swims and The […]
Singer-songwriter Buffy Sainte-Marie is no longer appointed to the Order of Canada.
Her appointment to one of the country’s highest honors has been terminated by the Governor General, as announced in the Canada Gazette on Feb. 8. The termination Ordinance was signed on Jan. 3.
Sainte-Marie is one of the country’s most-celebrated musicians and has been a leader on Indigenous issues for decades, but her reputation has shifted over the last year. In the fall of 2023, a CBC Fifth Estate investigation cast doubt on her claims of Indigenous ancestry.
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Sainte-Marie had previously claimed she believed she was born on the Piapot First Nation reserve in Saskatchewan. She said she had been adopted by the Santamaria family that raised her in Wakefield, Massachusetts, attributing her adoption to the Sixties Scoop, a period in the 1960s when many Indigenous babies were taken from their parents and adopted by white families.
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CBC‘s investigation produced a birth certificate for Sainte-Marie which lists her presumed adoptive parents as her birth parents. It also features interviews with Sainte-Marie’s family members calling her claim to Indigenous identity “an elaborate fabrication,” and contextualizes Sainte-Marie’s career within a phenomenon of high-profile public figures who have fabricated Indigenous identity.
As a young adult, Sainte-Marie was adopted by Emile Piapot and Clara Starblanket Piapot of the Piapot First Nation in Saskatchewan in accordance with Cree law and customs.
Sainte-Marie issued a statement around the investigation. “For a long time, I tried to discover information about my background,” she wrote. “Through that research what became clear, and what I’ve always been honest about, is that I don’t know where I’m from or who my birth parents were, and I will never know.”
In a follow-up statement, she affirmed her truth. “I have never lied about my identity,” Sainte-Marie said, adding that the investigation included “mistakes and omissions.”
The investigation prompted calls from some Indigenous groups and artists for major organizations to rethink their celebration of Sainte-Marie.
In a career spanning six decades, Sainte-Marie has won an Oscar and a Golden Globe (both for co-writing “Up Where We Belong” from An Officer and a Gentleman), the Polaris Music Prize, seven Juno Awards (including four in categories honoring aboriginal or indigenous music), and the Governor General’s Performing Arts Award, in addition to her appointment to the Order of Canada. She was first appointed to the Order in 1997, and in 2019 was made a Companion of the Order, the highest level within the Order.
Sainte-Marie, 83, had a top 40 hit on the Billboard Hot 100 in 1972 with “Mister Can’t You See.”
A group called the Indigenous Women’s Collective called on the Junos to rescind Sainte-Marie’s 2018 award for Indigenous Album of the Year, with Cree opera singer Rhonda Head supporting the call.
The Canada Gazette provides no detail on the termination of Sainte-Marie’s Order of Canada. The Order of Canada Termination Policy states that an Advisory Council can recommend termination to the Governor General if an appointee’s conduct departs significantly from their standard of public behavior and may undermine the credibility of the Order.
CBC reports that in its 50-year history, Sainte-Marie is the ninth person to have their appointment to the Order terminated.
This story was originally published by Billboard Canada.