Awards
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The 2024 Juno Awards looked to the future of Canadian music, while also honoring its history.A quartet of acts who’ve had major breakthroughs this year won the major awards given out on the CBC-televised broadcast on Sunday night (March 24) live from Halifax, Nova Scotia.Punjabi-Canadian global star Karan Aujla won the TikTok Fan Choice award, the only fan-chosen award of the ceremony. “Sometimes I can’t believe I’m that same kid who lost my parents when I was in India, made my way to Canada, and now I’m here!” said the B.C.-based artist, one of Billboard Canada’s inaugural cover stars. “If you are dreaming, make sure you dream big.”Charlotte Cardin won album of the year for her album 99 Nights. The 2023 album has propelled the Montreal-based artist to new crossover heights, hitting No. 3 on the Billboard Canadian Albums chart, while its popular single “Confetti” reached the top 10 of the Canadian Hot 100 and spent 35 weeks on the chart. It also earned her first American chart hit, and it is currently on the Adult Pop Airplay chart. Cardin later performed the infectious earworm while actual confetti rained from the ceiling.The Beaches, meanwhile, won group of the year. Accepting the award from Nova Scotia’s own Anne Murray, who holds the record for most Junos ever with 25, the Toronto band dedicated their speech to the next generation of rockers. “To all the young girls watching, go start bands with your best friends!” They later closed the festivities with a rendition of their major breakthrough single “Blame Brett.”Both Cardin and The Beaches won awards at the 2024 Juno Opening Night Awards the night before (March 23) for pop album of the year and rock album of the year, respectively.In a white fur cape, TALK had a rock star moment performing his epic single “Run Away to Mars,” which went to No. 1 on the Adult Alternative Airplay chart last year. The Ottawa-born artist, who’s had over 400 million global streams, later took home the award for breakthrough artist of the year. In his speech, he talked about the importance of arts funding, just after Canadian Heritage Minister Pascale St.-Onge announced the government would increase the Canadian Music Fund.A number of the night’s performances motioned toward the increasingly diverse and global future of Canadian music. Dressed in a spiffy white outfit with a four backup dancers in red, Aujla performed early on, playing pop hits “Admiring You” and “Softly.” Both came from his album Making Memories, which made history as the highest-charting Punjabi debut ever on the Canadian Albums chart. Ikky, who made the album with Aujla, acted as hype man on an elevated platform.In the BillboardPunjabi Wave cover story, AP Dhillon talked about his performance at the 2023 Junos ceremony and how he lobbied to ensure majorly popular Punjabi music would have a prolonged platform at the awards. Evidently, they’ve kept their word.This year’s Junos also had the most Indigenous nominees in award history. Anita Landback, Tanas Sylliboy, Sarah Prosper set the stage with a land acknowledgment that intersected with a performance by Juno winner Jeremy Dutcher in Wolastoqey, who then joined in a duet with Elisapie on an Inuktitut version of Blondie’s “Heart of Glass.” Along with Aujla and others, it meant performances featured at least six different languages, including English and French.The Junos has struggled with star power in recent years — Drake has boycotted the last half decade, while chart-topper Tate McRae was not in attendance to accept her two awards this year — they have made up for it with improved representation of what makes Canadian music unique.This year, they also paid tribute to the country’s music history.The ceremony was hosted by pop star Nelly Furtado, who opened the ceremony with a rapid-fire medley of her multiple decades of hits: “Say It Right,” “Maneater,” “Promiscuous,” “Give It To Me,” “I’m Like A Bird” — all from the 2000s and her new one with Dom Dolla, “Eat Your Man.”Kardinal Offishall inducted “our rap Prime Minister” Maestro Fresh Wes into the Canadian Music Hall of Fame. The hip-hop hero had the first Canadian rap record to ever chart on the Billboard Hot 100 with “Let Your Backbone Slide,” was the first winner of the rap album of the year at the 1991 Junos for Symphony in Effect, and is currently amidst a wave of recognition for his place in the country’s music history. A pre-taped video featured contributions from this year’s winner, TOBi, legacy Canadian artists like Snow and American legends like Chuck D of Public Enemy. “Now, this music we love won’t ever be underestimated,” he said. He later performed a medley of his hits, including “Backbone.”A special performance honoured a handful of Canadian legends who died this year. Neo-classical Quebecois artist Alexandra Streliski paid tribute to Karl Tremblay of Les Cowboys Fringants with an instrumental piano performance. Then Allison Russell, Aysanabee, William Prince, Shawnee Kish, Logan Staats, Julian Taylor all joined together for beautiful renditions of Gordon Lightfoot’s “If You Could Read My Mind” and The Band’s “The Weight” for the late Robbie Robertson.And actor Elliot Page presented the humanitarian award to Tegan and Sara, stressing the importance of the Canadian Quin sisters’ Tegan and Sara Foundation’s important work for young queer people at a time when the rights of 2SLGBTQ+ people are under threat, including from the Alberta government. “If the world were not so hostile to 2SLGBTQ+ we would see ourselves purely as musicians,” they said, adding “we love being gay. So gay.”Here’s our report on all the winners from Saturday’s Opening Night Juno Awards.Here are the nominees in the categories that were presented on the live telecast, with winners checked.
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TikTok Juno Fan Choice
Charlotte Cardin, Cult Nation*The Orchard
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Daniel Caesar, Republic*Universal
DVBBS, Ultra*Sony
Josh Ross, Universal
WINNER: Karan Aujla, Warner
Shubh, Mass Appeal*The Orchard
Tate McRae, RCA*Sony
The Weeknd, XO*Universal
ThxSoMch, Elektra*Warner
Walk off the Earth, Golden Carrot*The Orchard
Album of the Year
Néo-Romance, Alexandra Stréliski, Secret City*F.A.B.
WINNER: 99 Nights, Charlotte Cardin, Cult Nation*The Orchard
NEVER ENOUGH, Daniel Caesar, Republic*Universal
Mirror, Lauren Spencer Smith, Universal
Lord of the Flies & Birds & Bees, TALK, Capitol*Universal
Group of the Year
Arkells, Arkells Music*Universal
Loud Luxury, Armada*Sony
Nickelback, BMG*Warner/ADA
WINNER: The Beaches, AWAL*Independent
Walk off the Earth, Golden Carrot*The Orchard
Breakthrough Artist of the Year
Connor Price, Independent
Karan Aujla, Warner
LU KALA, LVK/Amigo*AWAL
Shubh, Inrependent
WINNER: TALK, Capitol*Universal
This article originally appeared in Billboard Canada.
Tate McRae won both major awards she was nominated for at the 2024 Juno Opening Night Awards, which was livestreamed from the Halifax Convention Centre on Saturday (March 23). The Calgary-born breakout superstar continued her big year both in Canada and internationally, one that included a major Billboard chart hit and appearing on the cover of Billboard. She won single of the year for “greedy” and artist of the year, though the California-based singer was not in attendance to accept either award.
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McRae performed at last year’s ceremony and was nominated for five 2023 awards but didn’t win any of them, but 2024 brought her to even bigger heights with the release of her album Think Later. She’s also nominated for the TikTok Juno Fan Choice Award on the main Juno Awards telecast on Sunday (March 24), which gives her the chance to win four this year.
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Several breakout Canadian stars earned accolades at the Opening Night Awards. According to Allan Reid, President & CEO of the Juno Awards, 2024 had the most submissions in Juno Awards history, which led to 90 first-time nominees.
Aysanabee won for both songwriter of the year and alternative album of the year for Hear and Now, and talked about his rags-to-riches journey. “I grew up in a trailer in North Ontario without electricity or running water,” he said. “And now I’m here.”
Until recently, it was rare for Indigenous musicians to win Junos outside of the Indigenous category, but that’s begun to change as First Nations artists have made a major impact in the country’s music industry. Aysanabee shouted out Amanda Rheume and ShoShona Kish, who founded the female and Indigenous-owned label Ishkodé Records. He recognized that this was the most Indigenous artists who had ever been nominated, and invited them all to stand up.
Despite his two wins, he actually lost in the contemporary Indigenous artist or group of the year category to Quebec’s Elisapie, whose album Inuktitut reimagines classic pop and rock hits in the title language. Peguis First Nation singer-songwriter William Prince’s Stand in the Joy won for contemporary roots album of the year.
The Beaches and Charlotte Cardin both had their first American chart hits since last year’s Junos, and both won major awards this year. The Beaches won for rock album of the year for Blame My Ex, while Cardin won for pop album of the year for 99 Nights. The Montreal-based Cardin led all artists for most nominations this year and will have a chance to win two more on Sunday for the popular-voted fan choice and for the year’s biggest award, album of the year. “This is so cool!” she said, accepting the award.
New West won for breakthrough group of the year and joked that they were a “very very famous TikTok band.” Co-hosts Aba Amuquandoh and Damhnait Doyle, both CBC personalities, earlier commented that being an artist in 2024 often meant becoming a TikTok star or being rediscovered by a new generation, but that Canadians “punch above our weight” because of both hustle and support from government arts funding. That’s under the microscope in the industry right now during an updating of the Broadcasting Act. The event also recognized this year’s Walt Grealis Special Achievement Award to music executive, author and lawyer Chip Sutherland, one of the architects of the Radio Starmaker Fund, which helps launch emerging Canadian artists with support from radio.
Winning electronic album of the year for INFINITY CLUB, Bambii talked about the unparalleled strength of Toronto’s underground scene, “the real Toronto,” and implored journalists and industry stakeholders to “do your research” and dig deeper.
Several Juno winners have also done well in the U.S. market. R&B star SZA won for international album of the year for SOS, while Shawn Everett won for both producer of the year and recording engineer of the year for his work with Miley Cyrus and Brittany Howard. Daniel Caesar won in the contemporary R&B recording of the year category for Never Enough, while long-running singer-songwriter Feist won adult alternative album of the year for Multitudes. And Nashville-based Allison Russell’s video and its director Ethan Tobman won music video of the year for “Demons.”
A total of 42 awards were presented in rapid-fire succession at the Opening Night Awards. Performers included Aqyila, LU KALA, Begonia, Jah’Mila and Lili-Ann De Francesco.
Four more awards will be presented on the televised broadcast on Sunday night at 8 p.m. ET on CBC TV, CBC Gem, CBC Radio One, CBC Music, CBC Listen, and globally at CBCMusic.ca/junos and CBC Music’s Facebook, YouTube and Twitter pages.
Here’s the complete list of winners at the 2024 Juno Opening Night Awards.
Single of the Year
“Confetti,” Charlotte Cardin, Cult Nation*The Orchard
“Always,” Daniel Caesar, Republic*Universal
“Pretty Girl Era,” LU KALA, LVK/Amigo Records*AWAL
“A Little Bit Happy,” TALK, Capitol*Universal
WINNER: “greedy,” Tate McRae, RCA*Sony
International Album of the Year
Gettin’ Old, Luke Combs, River House/Columbia*Sony
HEROES & VILLAINS, Metro Boomin, Boominati*Universal
One Thing At A Time, Morgan Wallen, Big Loud/Republic*Universal
WINNER: SOS, SZA, Top Dawg/RCA*Sony
1989 (Taylor’s Version), Taylor Swift, Taylor Swift*Universal
Artist of the Year
Charlotte Cardin, Cult Nation*The Orchard
Daniel Caesar, Republic*Universal
Lauren Spencer Smith, Universal
Shania Twain, Republic*Universal
WINNER: Tate McRae, RCA*Sony
Breakthrough Group of the Year
Busty and the Bass, Arts & Crafts*Universal
Crash Adams, Warner
Good Kid, Good People*The Orchard
Men I Trust, Independent
WINNER: New West, Republic*Universal
Songwriter of the Year
Allison Russell, Publisher: PO GIRL MUSIC / CONCORD MUSIC PUBLISHING
WINNER: Aysanabee, Publisher: SELF PUBLISHED
Charlotte Cardin, Jason Brando & Lubalin, Publisher: BIG BOY ED
Nicholas Durocher & Connor Riddell, Publisher: SUMMER CAMP MUSIC PUBLISHING LTD. / ARTHAUS MEDIA INC. / PEER MUSIC CANADA INC.
William Prince, Publisher: SELF PUBLISHED
Country Album of the Year
The Compass Project – South Album, Brett Kissel, Big Star*Universal
Right Round Here, Dean Brody, Starseed*Stem
Do It Anyway, Jade Eagleson, Starseed*Stem
WINNER: Ahead Of Our Time, James Barker Band, RECORDS/Columbia*Sony
Spillin’ My Truth, Tyler Joe Miller, MDM*Universal
Adult Alternative Album of the Year
Powder Blue, Begonia, Birthday Cake*The Orchard
WINNER: Multitudes, Feist, Universal
Are We Good, Hayden, Arts & Crafts*Universal
Motewolonuwok, Jeremy Dutcher, Secret City*F.A.B.
Revolution, Shawnee Kish, Amelia*Symphonic
Alternative Album of the Year
WINNER: Here and Now, Aysanabee, Ishkōdé*Universal
Dizzy, Dizzy, Royal Mountain*Universal
To Learn, Leith Ross, Republic*Universal
See You In The Dark, Softcult, Easy Life*The Orchard
Lord of the Flies & Birds & Bees, TALK, Capitol*Universal
Pop Album of the Year
WINNER: 99 Nights, Charlotte Cardin, Cult Nation*The Orchard
Mirror, Lauren Spencer Smith, Universal
Saturn Return, Rêve, 31 East*Universal
Queen Of Me, Shania Twain, Republic*Universal
Lost In Translation, Valley, Universal
Rock Album of the Year
Fearless, Crown Lands, Universal
Formentera II, Metric, Metric Music*Thirty Tigers/The Orchard
WINNER: Blame My Ex, The Beaches, AWAL*Independent
Pretty Monster, The Blue Stones, MNRK*Outside
Glory, The Glorious Sons, TGS*Warner
Vocal Jazz Album of the Year
Songwriter, Alex Bird & Ewen Farncombe, Independent
You’re Alike, You Two, Caity Gyorgy & Mark Limacher, La Reserve*Independent/The Orchard
Little Bit a’ Love, Denielle Bassels, Independent
WINNER: Our Roots Run Deep, Dominique Fils-Aimé, Ensoul*F.A.B./Believe
Your Requests, Laila Biali, Empress*Independent/Believe
Jazz Album of the Year (Solo)
WINNER: Day Moon, Christine Jensen, Justin Time*F.A.B./Nettwerk
Walls Made of Glass, Gentiane MG, TPR*Propagande/A-Train
Sonic Bouquet, Jocelyn Gould, Independent
Twelve, Noam Lemish, TPR*Independent/A-Train
The South Detroit Connection, Russ Macklem, TQM*Independent/IDLA
Jazz Album of the Year (Group)
Migrations, Allison Au with the Migrations Ensemble, Independent
Septology-The Black Forest Session, Canadian Jazz Collective, HGBS Blue*MIG/Proper/UMV/MVD/Independent
WINNER: Cry Me A River, Hilario Duran and His Latin Jazz Big Band, Alma*Universal
Recent History, Mike Murley & Mark Eisenman Quartet, Cornerstone*Outside/The Orchard
Convergence, Nick Maclean Quartet feat. Brownman Ali, Browntasauras/Independent
Instrumental Album of the Year
Néo-Romance, Alexandra Stréliski, Secret City* F.A.B.
WINNER: When we were that what wept for the sea, Colin Stetson, 52 Hz
Calibrating Friction, Haralabos [Harry] Stafylakis, New Amsterdam*Naxos
Fourth Album, Markus Floats, Constellation*Secretly
Tesseract, Meredith Bates, Phonometrograph*Independent
Francophone Album of the Year
Zayon, FouKi, Disques 7ième, Ciel*Believe
Dans la seconde, Karkwa, Simone*Sony/The Orchard
WINNER: En concert avec l’Orchestre symphonique de Montréal (sous la direction du chef Simon Leclerc), Les Cowboys Fringants & l’Orchestre symphonique de Montréal, Les Disques de La Tribu*Propagande/Believe
À boire deboutte, Salebarbes, Productions Grand V.*The Orchard
Non conventionnel Souldia, Disques 7ième Ciel*Independent/Believe
Children’s Album of the Year
Big Words, ABC Singsong, Independent/The Orchard
Going Back: Remembered and Remixed Family Folk Songs, Vol. 1, Ginalina, Independent
Love-a-By, Splash’N Boots, Independent/The Orchard
WINNER: Welcome to the Flea Circus, The Swinging Belles, Independent
Maestro Fresh Wes Presents: Young Maestro, Stick To Your Vision For Young Athletes, Young Maestro, Independent
Classical Album of the Year (Solo Artist)
Infinite Voyage, Barbara Hannigan, Alpha Classics*Naxos/Independent
WINNER: Nielsen: Violin Concerto, Symphony No. 4, James Ehnes, Chandos*Naxos/The Orchard
Fauré: Nocturnes & Barcarolles, Marc-André Hamelin, Hyperion*Universal
De Hartmann: Cello Concerto, Matt Haimovitz, Pentatone/Naxos
mouvance, Suzie LeBlanc, Centrediscs*Canadian Music Centre/Naxos
Classical Album of the Year (Large Ensemble)
Bekah Simms: Bestiaries, Cryptid Ensemble, Ensemble Contemporain de Montreal, Centrediscs*Canadian Music Centre/Naxos
WINNER: Maxime Goulet: Symphonie de la tempête de verglas, Orchestre classique de Montréal, conducted by/dirigé par Jacques Lacombe, ATMA*Universal
Sibelius 3 & 4, Orchestre Métropolitain, conducted by/dirigé par Yannick Nézet-Séguin, ATMA*Universal
Mahler: Symphony No. 5, Orchestre Symphonique De Montreal, conducted by/dirigé par Rafael Payare, Pentatone*Naxos
Rachmaninoff: Symphonies Nos. 2 & 3; Isle of the Dead, The Philadelphia Orchestra, conducted by/dirigé par Yannick Nézet-Séguin, Deutsche Grammophon*Universal
Classical Album of the Year
Mythes, Andrew Armstrong & James Ehnes, Onyx*The Orchard
Portrait: Alex Baranowski, Angèle Dubeau & La Pietà, Analekta*Naxos/The Orchard
Portrait, Cheng² Duo, Centrediscs*Canadian Music Centre/Naxos
WINNER: Il Ponte di Leonardo, Constantinople, Glossa*Naxos
Basta parlare!, Les Barocudas, ATMA*Universal
Classical Composition of the Year
Simulacra, Amy Brandon, Independent
Portrait of an Imaginary Sibling, Dinuk Wijeratne, Centrediscs*Canadian Music Centre/Naxos
…and the Higher Leaves of the Trees Seemed to Shimmer in the Last of the Sunlight’s Lingering Touch of Them…, Emilie Cecilia LeBel, Redshift
Shāhīn-nāmeh, for Voice and Orchestra, Iman Habibi, Analekta*Naxos/The Orchard
WINNER: Don’t Throw Your Head in Your Hands, Nicole Lizée, Redshift
Rap Album of the Year
bag or die, bbno$, Independent*Stem
Spin the Globe, Connor Price, Independent
Crying Crystals, Haviah Mighty, Mighty Gang*Foundation Media
KAYTRAMINÉ, KAYTRAMINÉ, Independent
WINNER: PANIC, TOBi, RCA*Sony
Dance Recording of the Year
“Eat Your Man,” Dom Dolla & Nelly Furtado, Three Six Zero*Sony
“Crew Thang,” DVBBS, Jeremih & Sk8, Ultra*Sony
WINNER: “Need Your Love,” Felix Cartal & Karen Harding, Physical Presents*Fontana North
“I Go Dancing” (feat. Ella Henderson), Frank Walker, Ultra*Sony
“Next To You” (feat. Kane Brown), Loud Luxury & DVBBS, Armada*Sony
Contemporary R&B Recording of the Year
“For the Better,” Aqyila, Sony
WINNER: “Never Enough,” Daniel Caesar, Republic*Universal
“Heartbreak Hill,” Jon Vinyl, Vinyl*Foundation Media
“When It Blooms,” Nonso Amadi, Universal
FACETS, Shay Lia, AWAL
Reggae Recording of the Year
“Stir This Thing,” Ammoye, Donsome*Ingrooves/Virgin
“Feel Like Home,” Exco Levi, Penthouse*High Priest/ONErpm
“Roots Girl,” Jah’Mila, Independent
WINNER: “Dread,” Diamond & Finn, Independent
“Rush Dem” (feat. 4Korners, Haviah Mighty), Omega Mighty, Independent*Foundation Media
Contemporary Indigenous Artist or Group of the Year
Here and Now, Aysanabee, Ishkōdé*Universal
Scream, Holler & Howl, Blue Moon Marquee, Independent*IDLA
WINNER: Inuktitut, Elisapie, Bonsound*Sony/The Orchard
Revolution, Shawnee Kish, Amelia*Symphonic
Bekka Ma’iingan, Zoon, Paper Bag*Fontana North
Contemporary Roots Album of the Year
The Returner, Allison Russell, Fantasy*Universal
We Will Never Be The Same, Good Lovelies, Outside
Beyond The Reservoir, Julian Taylor, Howling Turtle*Warner
A Light in the Attic, Logan Staats, Red Music Rising*Believe
WINNER: Stand in the Joy, William Prince, Six Shooter*The Orchard
Traditional Roots Album of the Year
Paint Horse, Benjamin Dakota Rogers, Good People*The Orchard
WINNER: The Breath Between, David Francey, Independent
Roses, Jackson Hollow, Mountain Fever*Syntax Creative
Second Hand, James Keelaghan, Borealis*Universal/IDLA
Resilience, Morgan Toney, Ishkōdé*Universal
Blues Album of the Year
SoulFunkn’BLUES, Blackburn Brothers, Electro-Fi*Isotope Music/The Orchard
WINNER: Scream, Holler & Howl, Blue Moon Marquee, Independent/IDLA
One Step Closer, Brandon Isaak, Independent
The Big Bottle of Joy, Matt Andersen, Sonic*Warner
Gettin’ Together, Michael Jerome Browne, Borealis*Universal/IDLA
Contemporary Christian/Gospel Album of the Year
Glory To God, Brooke Nicholls, Independent
ALL YE LEPERS, Joshua Leventhal, Independent
WINNER: Arrow, K-Anthony, Independent
Where I’m Meant to Be, Stirling John, Independent
Alive, Tuzee, Independent
Global Music Album of the Year
Donte sann yo, Bel and Quinn, Independent
Kizavibe, Kizaba, Disques Nuits d’Afrique*Believe
SMS for Location Vol. 5, Moonshine, Moonshine/FORESEEN*MNRK
WINNER: Okantomi, OKAN, Lulaworld*Symphonic
Soap Box, Waahli, Wyzah Musk*Lemont
Jack Richardson Producer of the Year
Hill Kourkoutis
Jason Brando, Lubalin, Mathieu Sénéchal & Sam Avant
Joel Stouffer
WINNER: Shawn Everett
“Used To Be Young” (co-producers/coproducteurs Michael Pollack, Miley Cyrus)
ENDLESS SUMMER VACATION – Miley Cyrus Columbia*Sony
“What Now” (co-producer/coproducteur Brittany Howard)
WHAT NOW – Brittany Howard Island*Universal
Wondagurl
Recording Engineer of the Year
Denis Tougas
George Seara
Matty Green
Serban Ghenea
WINNER: Shawn Everett
“Used To Be Young” (co-producers/coproducteurs Michael Pollack, Miley Cyrus)
ENDLESS SUMMER VACATION – Miley Cyrus Columbia*Sony
“What Now” (co-producer/coproducteur Brittany Howard)
WHAT NOW – Brittany Howard Island*Universal
Album Artwork of the Year
Carolyne De Bellefeuille (Art Director/Directeur artistique), Jessica Ledoux (Designer & Illustrator/Concepteur & Illustrateur), Mali Savaria-Ille (Designer & Illustrator/Concepteur & Illustrateur), Veronique Lafortune (Designer & Illustrator/Concepteur & Illustrateur), Leeor Wild (Photographer/Photographe); INUKTITUT – Elisapie, Bonsound*Sony/The Orchard
Heather Goodchild (Art Director/Directeur artistique), Colby Richardson (Designer/Concepteur), Colin Fletcher (Illustrator/Illustrateur), Sara Melvin (Photographer/Photographe), MULTITUDES – Feist, Universal
Kit King (Illustrator), Vanessa Heins (Photographer/Photographe), THE LOVE STILL HELD ME NEAR – City and Colour, Dine Alone*The Orchard
WINNER: Nicolas Lemieux (Art Director/Directeur artistique), Mykaël Nelson (Designer & Illustrator/Concepteur & Illustrateur), Albert Zablit (Photographer/Photographe), RIOPELLE SYMPHONIQUE – Orchestre Symphonique de Montréal, GSI*Independent
Quinton Nyce (Art Director/Directeur artistique), Brodie Metcalfe (Designer/Concepteur), Davis Graham (Illustrator/Illustrateur), Kaylee Smoke (Photographer/Photographe), I’M GOOD, HBU? – Snotty Nose Rez Kids, Independent*Fontana North
Music Video of the Year
“Of Woods and Seas,” Andrew De Zen, Alaskan Tapes, Nettwerk*Amped
WINNER: “Demons,” Ethan Tobman, Allison Russell, Fantasy*Universal
“onetwostep” (feat. juicelover), Jordan Clarke, des hume des hume*Independent
“DAMN RIGHT,” Sterling Larose, Snotty Nose Rez Kids, Distorted Muse*Fontana North
“feral canadian scaredy cat,” Sterling Larose & Zachary Vague, young friend Nettwerk
Electronic Album of the Year
WINNER: INFINITY CLUB, Bambii, Innovative Leisure*Red Eye
Birds, Bees, The Clouds & The Trees, Harrison, Last Gang*MNRK
Creatures of the Late Afternoon, Kid Koala, Envision*Amplified/Believe
Synthetic Season 2, Rich Aucoin, We Are Busy Bodies*Redeye
No Highs, Tim Hecker, Sunblind/Kranky*The Orchard
Metal/Hard Music Album of the Year
WINNER: As Gomorrah Burns, Cryptopsy, Nuclear Blast*AEC/Believe
Electric Sounds, Danko Jones, Sonic Unyon*Universal
Goliath, Kataklysm, Nuclear Blast*AEC/Believe
VOID, KEN mode, Artoffact*MVD/The Orchard
Morgöth, Tales, Voivod Century*Sony
Adult Contemporary Album of the Year
WINNER: Heavy Lifting, Amanda Marshall, Metatune*The Orchard
I Wish I Was Flawless, I’m Not, BANNERS, Nettwerk*Amped
To Be Loved, Vol. 1, Josh Sahunta, Independent*Believe
Run Where the Light Calls, Luca Fogale, Amelia*Symphonic
Wildflower, Steph La Rochelle, Independent
Comedy Album of the Year
Life of Leisure, Derek Seguin, Independent
Never Was, Graham Clark, Independent
WINNER: A Lylebility, Kyle Brownrigg, Independent
Sexiest Fish in the Lake, Laurie Elliott, Howl & Roar*Independent
SAP, Mae Martin, Independent*Netflix
Traditional R&B/Soul Recording of the Year
WINNER: “Hello,” Aqyila, Sony
“Unbreakable,” Jhyve, Independent
“Where To Find Me,” Katie Tupper, Arts & Crafts*Universal
“9 to 5,” Luna Elle, Hot Freestyle*Independent/Believe
“Real World,” RealestK, Columbia*Sony
Rap Single of the Year
“American Nightmare,” Belly, XO/Roc Nation*Universal
“Spinnin” (feat. Bens), Connor Price, Independent
“Honey Bun,” Haviah Mighty, Mighty Gang*Foundation Media
“Minimum Wage,” Pressa, RCA*Sony
WINNER: “Someone I Knew,” TOBi, Same Plate/RCA*Sony
Underground Dance Single of the Year
WINNER: “Call My Name,” BLOND:ISH, Warner
“Mad Mess,” DJ Karaba, DJ Karaba*The Orchard
“Could Be Wrong,” LOSTBOYJAY, Universal
“Eclipse,” Peach, Psychic Readings*One Eye Witness/Music Deli
“Concorde Groove,” Smalltown DJs, Fool’s Gold*Virgin Music
Traditional Indigenous Artist or Group of the Year
WINNER: Sing. Pray. Love., Joel Wood, Independent
LFS5, Nimkii & the Niniis, Independent
Mitòòdebi (For My Relatives), The Bearhead Sisters, Independent
Reverie, The Red River Ramblers, Independent
Drum Nation, Young Scouts, Independent
Mike Inez, James Hetfield, Robert Trujillo, Billy Porter, David Furnish, Charlie Puth, Jacob Lusk, Joni Mitchell, Monique Ross, Carmen Carter, Brandi Carlile, Kenneth Ehrlich, Honorees Elton John and Bernie Taupin, Chauntee Ross, Adam Chester, Davey Johnstone, Georgey Taupin, Heather Taupin, Annie Lennox, Maren Morris, Nigel Olsson, Kirk Hammett, and Ken Stacey pose onstage during the Library Of Congress 2024 Gershwin Prize For Popular Song at DAR Constitution Hall on March 20, 2024 in Washington, DC. (Photo by Taylor Hill/WireImage)
Taylor Hill/WireImage
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Killer Mike, Caroline Polachek, Mitski, L’Rain and Wednesday are among the artists who received multiple nominations for the 2024 Libera Awards. The 13th annual ceremony will take place on Monday, June 10 at historic Gotham Hall in New York City.
The Libera Awards are presented by A2IM (The American Association of Independent Music) across 36 categories honoring the best in independent music. This year’s announcement features three new categories: best record from games and interactive media, publisher of the year and distributor of the year.
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Partisan Records has the most nominations of any record label with five. Other labels with multiple nominations include Dead Oceans, Domino Recording Company, Matador Records, Sub Pop Records and Light in the Attic.
“Huge congratulations to all our talented and accomplished nominees for the 13th annual A2IM Libera Award,” Dr. Richard James Burgess, president/CEO of A2IM, said in a statement. “The A2IM Libera Awards is the world’s largest award show for the diverse universe of independent music and this year’s event will be the biggest and best to date.”
This year, the Libera Awards will honor Louis Posen, founder of Hopeless Records, with the 2024 Lifetime Achievement Award, recognizing his leadership in the independent sector.
The Libera Awards will kick off A2IM’s annual Indie Week conference, which will begin the following morning, Tuesday, June 11, and run through Thursday, June 13 at the InterContinental New York Times Square.
A2IM is a not-for-profit trade association that represents independent music recording owners. Tickets for the awards ceremony start at $299 for a balcony seat and are on sale here.
Here’s the complete list of nominations for the 2024 Libera Awards:
Record of the Year
L’Rain – I Killed Your Dog (Mexican Summer)
Killer Mike – MICHAEL (Loma Vista Recordings)
Mitski – The Land Is Inhospitable and So Are We (Dead Oceans)
Caroline Polachek – Desire, I Want to Turn Into You (Perpetual Novice)
Wednesday – Rat Saw God (Dead Oceans)
Label of the Year (15 or more employees)
Dead Oceans
Domino Recording Company
Hopeless Records
Matador Records
Merge Records
Partisan Records
Sub Pop Records
Third Man Records
Label of the Year (5 or fewer employees)
Bastard Jazz Recordings
Bayonet Records
FADER Label
Innovative Leisure
Oh Boy Records
Topshelf Records
True Panther
Label of the Year (6-14 employees)
Captured Tracks
City Slang
Lex Records
Light in the Attic
Mack Avenue Music Group
Photo Finish Records
Saddle Creek
Distributor of the Year
FUGA
Light in the Attic
The Orchard
Redeye Worldwide
Secretly Distribution
Symphonic Distribution
Virgin Music Group
Publisher of the Year
Arts & Crafts Music
Domino Publishing Company
Reservoir Media
Rimas Publishing
Secretly Publishing
Sub Pop Publishing
Warp Publishing
Independent Champion presented by Merlin
Bandcamp
Downtown Music Holdings
Infinite Catalog
Light in the Attic
Peanut Butter Wolf
Jorge Brea
Thirty Tigers
Breakthrough Artist/Release presented by Virgin Music Group
BAMBII (Innovative Leisure)
bar italia (Matador Records)
Blondshell – Blondshell (Partisan Records)
Indigo De Souza – All of This Will End (Saddle Creek)
Say She She – Silver (Colemine Records)
Slow Pulp (ANTI)
Wednesday (Dead Oceans)
Music Video of the Year
Black Pumas – “More Than a Love Song” (ATO Records)
Blondshell – “Salad” (Partisan Records)
Indigo De Souza – “Younger & Dumber” (Saddle Creek)
Geese – “Cowboy Nudes” (Partisan Records)
IDLES – “Dancer” (Partisan Records)
Arlo Parks – “Blades” (Transgressive)
Shygirl – “Heaven (feat. Tinashe)” (Because Music)
Best Alternative Rock Record
Courtney Barnett – End of the Day (Mom+Pop)
Geese – 3D Country (Partisan Records)
Hotline TNT – Cartwheel (Third Man Records)
Mitski – The Land Is Inhospitable and So Are We (Dead Oceans)
Caroline Polachek – Desire, I Want to Turn Into You (Perpetual Novice)
Wednesday – Rat Saw God (Dead Oceans)
Best American Roots Record
Charley Crockett – The Man From Waco Redux (Son Of Davy/Thirty Tigers)
Madi Diaz – “Don’t Do Me Good” (feat. Kacey Musgraves) (ANTI)
MJ Lenderman – “Rudolph” (ANTI)
Hiss Golden Messenger – Jump for Joy (Merge Records)
Esther Rose – Safe to Run (New West Records)
Allison Russell – The Returner (Fantasy Records)
Best Blues Record
The Count Basie Orchestra – Basie Swings the Blues (Candid Records)
Robert Finley – Black Bayou (Easy Eye Sound)
Christone “Kingfish” Ingram – Live in London (Alligator Records)
Bettye LaVette – LaVette! (Jay-Vee Records/MRI)
Various Artists – Tell Everybody! (21st Century Juke Joint Blues From Easy Eye Sound) (Easy Eye Sound)
Nick Waterhouse – The Fooler (Innovative Leisure)
Best Classical Record
Chick Corea & Orchestra da Camera della Sardegna – Sardinia (Candid Records)
Doeke – Bewondering (Nettwerk Music Group)
Lara Downes – Love at Last (Pentatone)
Erik Hall – Canto Ostinato (Western Vinyl)
Hauschka – Philanthropy (City Slang)
Will Liverman – The Dunbar/Moore Sessions: Vol. I (Lexicon Classics)
Kelly Moran – Vesela (Warp Records)
Chick Corea & Orchestra da Camera della Sardegna – “Mozart Concerto No. 24 C Minor, K.491: II Larghetto” (Candid Records)
Best Country Record
Mya Byrne – Rhinestone Tomboy (Kill Rock Stars)
Colbie Caillat – Along the Way (Blue Jean Baby Records/Downtown Artist & Label Services)
The Pink Stones – You Know Who (Normaltown Records)
Margo Price – Strays (Loma Vista Recordings)
Tanya Tucker – Sweet Western Sound (Fantasy Records)
Turnpike Troubadours – A Cat in The Rain (Bossier City Records/Thirty Tigers)
Best Dance Record
Aluna – MYCELiUM (Mad Decent)
Braxe + Falcon – Step by Step (Remixes) (Smugglers Way/Domino Recording Company)
Jayda G – Guy (Ninja Tune)
LP Giobbi – Light Places (Counter Records/Ninja Tune)
Peggy Gou – “(It Goes Like) Nanana” (XL Recordings)
Hudson Mohawke & Nikki Nair – Set the Roof (Warp Records)
Romy – Mid Air (Young)
Best Electronic Record
Floating Points – “Birth4000” (Ninja Tune)
Sofia Kourtesis – Madres (Ninja Tune)
Little Dragon – Slugs of Love (Ninja Tune)
ODESZA, Yellow House – Flaws in Our Design (Foreign Family Collective/Ninja Tune)
Overmono – Good Lies (XL Recordings)
DJ Shadow – Action Adventure (Mass Appeal)
Yaeji – With a Hammer (XL Recordings)
Best Folk Record
Julie Byrne – The Greater Wings (Ghostly International)
Laura Jane Grace – “Dysphoria Hoodie” (Polyvinyl Record Co.)
Kara Jackson – Why Does the Earth Give Us People to Love? (September Recordings)
Aoife O’Donovan – Age of Apathy Solo Sessions (Yep Roc Records)
Andy Shauf – Norm (ANTI)
Sufjan Stevens – Javelin (Asthmatic Kitty Records)
Sunny War – Anarchist Gospel (New West Records)
Best Global Record presented by Redeye Worldwide
Altin Gün – Ask (ATO Records)
Asake – Work of Art (YBNL Nation / EMPIRE)
Bombino – Sahel (Partisan Records)
Pachyman – Switched-On (ATO Records)
Sampa the Great – As Above, So Below (Deluxe) (Loma Vista Recordings)
WITCH – Zango (Desert Daze Sound)
Best Heavy Record
Beartooth – The Surface (Red Bull Records)
The Callous Daoboys – God Smiles Upon the Callous Daoboys (MNRK Music Group)
From Ashes to New – Blackout (Better Noise Music)
Fucked Up – One Day (Merge Records)
Model/Actriz – Dogsbody (True Panther)
Soul Glo – “If I Speak (Shut the Fuck Up)” (Epitaph)
Zulu – A New Tomorrow (Flatspot Records)
Best Hip-Hop/Rap Record
Aesop Rock – Integrated Tech Solutions (Rhymesayers Entertainment)
Atmosphere – So Many Other Realities Exist Simultaneously (Rhymesayers Entertainment)
Danny Brown – Quaranta (Warp Records)
Conway The Machine – WON’T HE DO IT (Drumwork Music Group LLC/EMPIRE)
McKinley Dixon – Beloved! Paradise! Jazz!? (City Slang)
Kari Faux – REAL B*TCHES DON’T DIE! (drink sum wtr)
Killer Mike – MICHAEL (Loma Vista Recordings)
billy woods, Kenny Segal – Maps (Backwoodz Studios/Fat Possum Records)
Best Jazz Record
Joey Alexander – Continuance (Mack Avenue Music Group)
Louis Cole – Some Unused Songs (Brainfeeder)
Sam Gendel & Marcella Cytrynowicz – AUDIOBOOK (Psychic Hotline)
Robert Glasper – In December (Loma Vista Recordings)
John Carroll Kirby – Blowout (Stones Throw Records)
Christian McBride’s New Jawn – Prime (Mack Avenue Music Group)
Best Latin Record
El Búho – Strata (Wonderwheel Recordings)
Bebel Gilberto – João ([PIAS])
Helado Negro – “LFO (Lupe Finds Oliveros)” (4AD)
Carla Morrison – “Todo Fue Por Amor (de la película “Con Esta Luz”)” (Cosmica Artists)
Pahua – Habita (Nacional Records)
Tagua Tagua – Tanto (Wonderwheel Recordings)
Best Outlier Record
Anjimile – The King (4AD)
ANOHNI – My Back Was a Bridge for You to Cross (Secretly Canadian)
Khruangbin – Live at Sydney Opera House (Dead Oceans)
L’Rain – I Killed Your Dog (Mexican Summer)
Tirzah – trip9love…??? (Domino Recording Company)
yeule – softscars (Ninja Tune)
Best Pop Record
Belle and Sebastian – Late Developers (Matador Records)
CHAI – CHAI (Sub Pop Records)
Becca Mancari – Left Hand (Captured Tracks)
Samia – Honey (Grand Jury Music)
Suki Waterhouse – “To Love” (Sub Pop Records)
Best Punk Record
CIVIC – Taken by Force (ATO Records)
Mannequin Pussy – “I Got Heaven” (Epitaph)
Neck Deep – “Take Me With You” (Hopeless Records)
Scowl – Psychic Dance Routine (Flatspot Records)
Snõõper – Super Snõõper (Third Man Records)
Soul Glo – “If I Speak (Shut the Fuck Up)” (Epitaph)
Best R&B Record
Emily King – Special Occasion (ATO Records)
Sampha – Lahai (Young)
Emeli Sandé – How Were We to Know (Chrysalis Records)
Jorja Smith – falling or flying (FAMM Limited (Jorja Smith))
Cleo Sol – Gold (Forever Living Originals / TuneCore)
Jamila Woods – Water Made Us (Jagjaguwar)
Best Record From Games and Interactive Media
Jon Everist – The Lamplighters League (Original Soundtrack) (Lakeshore Records)
HEALTH – “HATEFUL” (Loma Vista Recordings)
Mr. Sauceman, ClascyJitto, Post Elvis – Pizza Tower (Materia Collective)
Matt Creamer, Retroware, Professor Shyguy ft. Nur-D – Prison City Original Soundtrack (Screenwave Media)
Best Reissue
Cymande – Cymande (Partisan Records)
De La Soul – 3 Feet High & Rising (AOI Records)
The Exploding Hearts – Guitar Romantic (Expanded and Remastered) (Third Man Records)
Jerry Garcia – Might as Well: A Round Records Retrospective (Round Records)
Jason Isbell – Southeastern (Southeastern Records / Thirty Tigers)
Neutral Milk Hotel – The Collected Works of Neutral Milk Hotel (Merge Records)
Best Remix
Sudan Archives, ODESZA – “Selfish Soul (ODESZA Remix)” (Stones Throw Records)
Christine and the Queens – “To Be Honest” (SG Lewis Remix) (Because Music)
John Summit, deadmau5, Kaskade – “I Remember” (John Summit Remix) (mau5trap)
Jerry Garcia & LP Giobbi – Garcia (Remixed) (Round Records)
Margo Price – “Change of Heart” (feat. Sierra Ferrell) (Loma Vista Recordings)
Best Rock Record
Be Your Own Pet – Mommy (Third Man Records)
Blondshell – Blondshell (Partisan Records)
Jason Isbell and the 400 Unit – Weathervanes (Southeastern Records)
Manchester Orchestra – The Valley of Vision (Loma Vista Recordings)
The National – First Two Pages of Frankenstein (4AD)
Queens of the Stone Age – In Times New Roman… (Matador Records)
Ratboys – The Window (Topshelf Records)
Best Short-Form Video
Blondshell – “Kiss City” Reel (Partisan Records)
De La Soul – Tribute to Dave (AOI Records)
IDLES – “Grace” Teaser (Partisan Records)
John Carroll Kirby – “Oropendola” (Stones Throw Records)
Mitski – The Land Is Inhospitable and So Are We (Dead Oceans)
Best Singer-Songwriter Record
Indigo De Souza – All of This Will End (Saddle Creek)
Madi Diaz – “Same Risk” (ANTI)
Angel Olsen – Forever Means (Jagjaguwar)
Jess Williamson – Time Ain’t Accidental (Mexican Summer)
Jenny Owen Youngs – Avalanche (Yep Roc Records)
Best Soul/Funk Record
Betty Davis – Crashin’ From Passion (Light in the Attic)
Black Pumas – Chronicles of a Diamond (ATO Records)
Robert Finley – Black Bayou (Easy Eye Sound)
Neal Francis – Francis Comes Alive (ATO Records)
Say She She – Silver (Colemine Records)
Best Spiritual Record
Blind Boys of Alabama – Echoes of the South (Single Lock Records)
Lecrae, Tasha Cobbs Leonard – “Your Power” (Reach Records)
Katy Nichole – Jesus Changed My Life (Centricity Music)
J Rocc – Beatitudes (Stones Throw Records)
Lori Vambe – Space-Time Dreamtime (STRUT)
Best Sync Usage
Cat Power – Cover of Rihanna’s “Stay” in A24’s Past Lives trailer (Domino Recording Company)
Brittany Howard ft. Childish Gambino – “Stay High” in You People (ATO Records)
Refused – “New Noise” in The Bear (Season 2) (Epitaph)
Sharon Van Etten – “Anything” in Priscilla trailer (Jagjaguwar)
Nilüfer Yanya – “Midnight Sun” in The Boogeyman (ATO Records)
Creative Packaging
Aphex Twin – Blackbox Life Recorder 21f / in a room7 F760 (Warp Records)
De La Soul – 3 Feet High & Rising (AOI Records)
Jerry Garcia – Heads and Tails: Vol. 1 (Round Records)
Neutral Milk Hotel – The Collected Works of Neutral Milk Hotel (Merge Records)
John Prine – The Oh Boy Singles Box Set (Oh Boy Records)
Various Artists – Sub Pop Singles Club Vol. 8 (Sub Pop Records)
Marketing Genius
Blonde Redhead – Sit Down for Dinner (section1)
Blondshell – Blondshell (Partisan Records)
De La Soul – De La Soul Catalog Release (AOI Records)
Peggy Gou – “(It Goes Like) Nanana” (XL Recordings)
Killer Mike – MICHAEL (Loma Vista Recordings)
Mitski – The Land Is Inhospitable and So Are We (Dead Oceans)
Self-Released Record of the Year
Laurel Halo – Atlas (Awe)
L’Queer – “Fuck Ron DeSantis” (L’Queer)
Michigander – It Will Never Be the Same (C3 Records)
Paris Texas – MID AIR (Paris Texas LLC)
Caroline Polachek – Desire, I Want to Turn Into You (Perpetual Novice)
Tenacious D – “Video Games” (Tenacious D)
Ten recordings were inducted into the Grammy Hall of Fame on Wednesday (March 20), following a two-year period in which the Hall was put on hiatus for a reevaluation. As before, this year’s choices are eclectic and wide-ranging, including several that played a key role in creating or popularizing sub-genres – Lauryn Hill’s The Miseducation of Lauryn Hill (neo-soul), Donna Summer’s “I Feel Love” (EDM) and De La Soul’s 3 Feet High and Rising (alternative hip-hop).
Several changes were made during the hiatus period. The number of inducted recordings is down significantly from 25 to 30 in prior years. And while past classes have included repeat inductions by such Hall of Fame mainstays as The Beatles and Ella Fitzgerald, all of this year’s choices are by first-time inductees into the Hall.
Also, the inducted recordings will be greeted with more fanfare than in the past, when each class was merely announced via press release. This class will be saluted at the Grammy Museum’s inaugural Grammy Hall of Fame Gala and concert on May 21 at the NOVO Theater in Los Angeles. Significantly, the event was scheduled more than three months after the Feb. 4 Grammys to give it its own moment.
This year’s induction class consists of six singles and four albums. All four albums were the artists’ debut studio albums (or solo debut, in Hill’s case). The three other debut albums honored were Buena Vista Social Club’s eponymous album, Guns N’ Roses’ Appetite for Destruction and 3 Feet High and Rising. (Remarkably, Hill has not yet released a follow-up studio album, and Buena Vista Social Club disbanded without doing so.)
The inductees vary widely in terms of their commercial success. The list includes two Diamond-certified albums – Appetite for Destruction (18 million) and The Miseducation of Lauryn Hill (10 million). But it also includes a single, William Bell’s “You Don’t Miss Your Water,” that peaked at a lowly No. 95 on the Billboard Hot 100.
Some of this year’s inducted recordings were showered with Grammy Awards at the time, including Hill’s album of the year winner The Miseducation of Lauryn Hill and The Doobie Brothers’ record and song of the year winner “What a Fool Believes.” But many others weren’t even nominated when they were eligible, including Appetite for Destruction and “I Feel Love.”
The Grammy Hall of Fame was created in 1973 to honor recordings that were released prior to the inception of the Grammy Awards in 1958. Eligibility was soon changed to allow any recording released at least 25 years ago. Counting this year’s 10 inductees, it includes 1,152 recordings.
Let’s take a closer look at the 10 recordings being inducted into the Grammy Hall of Fame this year. The titles are arranged alphabetically by artist.
William Bell, “You Don’t Miss Your Water”
On Tuesday (March 19), Univision revealed the 2024 Latin American Music Awards nominees with Feid and Peso Pluma leading the pack with 12 nods each.
The Colombian singer and Mexican star, who are up for the coveted artist of the year award and album of the year award, are followed by top nominees Bad Bunny (11), Grupo Frontera (11), Karol G (9), Shakira (9), Eslabon Armado (8) and Fuerza Regida (8).
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Co-hosted by Thalía, Alejandra Espinoza and Carlos Ponce, this year’s awards ceremony will celebrate the theme “We Speak Música” and will air live at 7pm ET on Thursday, April 25 from the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas via Univision, UNIMÁS, Galavision and ViX.
The 2024 nominations are based on fan interactions across streaming, sales, radio airplay, touring and social media interaction data provided by Billboard and Luminate during the eligibility period (Feb. 11, 2023 to Feb. 24, 2024), according to a press statement. Fans have until April 1 to vote for their favorite artists here.
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See the complete list of nominations below.
Artist Of The Year
1. Bad Bunny2. Carin León3. Eslabon Armado4. Feid5. Fuerza Regida6. Karol G7. Peso Pluma8. Rauw Alejandro9. Romeo Santos10. Shakira
New Artist Of The Year
1. Bad Gyal2. Chino Pacas3. Gabito Ballesteros4. Majo Aguilar5. Peso Pluma6. Venesti7. Xavi8. Yng Lvcas9. Young Miko10. Zhamira Zambrano
Song Of The Year
1. “Bailando Bachata” – Chayanne2. “El Merengue” – Marshmello & Manuel Turizo3. “Ella Baila Sola” – Eslabon Armado & Peso Pluma4. “Lala” – Myke Towers5. “Según Quién” – Maluma & Carin León6. “Shakira: Bzrp Music Sessions, Vol. 53” – Bizarrap & Shakira7. “Solo Conmigo” – Romeo Santos8. “TQG” – Karol G & Shakira9. “Un X100to” – Grupo Frontera & Bad Bunny10. “Yandel 150” – Yandel & Feid
Album Of The Year
1. 3MEN2 KBRN – Eladio Carrión2. Colmillo De Leche – Carin León3. Desvelado – Eslabon Armado4. El Comienzo – Grupo Frontera5. Feliz Cumpleaños Ferxxo Te Pirateamos El Álbum – Feid6. Génesis – Peso Pluma7. Mañana Será Bonito – Karol G8. Nadie Sabe Lo Que Va A Pasar Mañana – Bad Bunny9. Pa Que Hablen – Fuerza Regida10. Playa Saturno – Rauw Alejandro
Collaboration Of The Year
1. “La Bebe Remix” – Yng Lvcas & Peso Pluma2. “Según Quién” – Maluma & Carin León3. “Shakira: Bzrp Music Sessions, Vol. 53” – Bizarrap & Shakira4. “Un X100to” – Grupo Frontera & Bad Bunny5. “Yandel 150” – Yandel & Feid
Collaboration Crossover Of The Year
1. “Dientes” – J Balvin, Usher & Dj Khaled2. “El Merengue” – Marshmello & Manuel Turizo3. “Niña Bonita” – Feid & Sean Paul4. “Ojalá” – The Rudeboyz, Maluma & Adam Levine5. “Vocation” – Ozuna & David Guetta
Best Crossover Artist
1. Adam Levine2. David Guetta3. DJ Khaled4. Drake5. Marshmello6. Rema7. Sean Paul8. Usher
Streaming Artist Of The Year
1. Bad Bunny2. Eslabon Armado3. Feid4. Fuerza Regida5. Grupo Frontera6. Junior H7. Karol G8. Peso Pluma9. Rauw Alejandro10. Young Miko
Tour Of The Year
1. Doble P Tour 2023 – Peso Pluma2. Fórmula Vol.3 Tour – Romeo Santos3. Luis Miguel Tour 2023 – Luis Miguel4. Mañana Será Bonito Tour – Karol G5. Soy Rebelde Tour – RBD
Global Latin Artist Of The Year
1. Bad Bunny2. Feid3. Fuerza Regida4. Grupo Frontera5. Junior H6. Karol G7. Maluma8. Peso Pluma9. Quevedo10. Shakira
Global Latin Song Of The Year
1. “Classy 101” – Feid & Young Miko2. “Ella Baila Sola” – Eslabon Armado & Peso Pluma3. “Lala” – Myke Towers4. “Shakira: Bzrp Music Sessions, Vol. 53” – Bizarrap & Shakira5. “Un X100to” – Grupo Frontera & Bad Bunny
Best Duo Or Group – Pop
1. Camila2. Morat3. Piso 214. RBD5. Reik
Best Artist – Pop
1. Bizarrap2. Enrique Iglesias3. Manuel Turizo4. Sebastián Yatra5. Shakira
Best Album – Pop
1. Bailemos Otra Vez – Chayanne2. Cupido – TINI3. Orquídeas – Kali Uchis
Best Song – Pop
1. “Acróstico” – Shakira2. “Beso” – Rosalía & Rauw Alejandro3. “Fugitivos” – Camila4. “Pasa_je_ro” – Farruko5. “Una Noche Sin Pensar” – Sebastián Yatra
Best Artist – Urban
1. Bad Bunny2. Feid3. Karol G4. Rauw Alejandro 5. Young Miko
Best Album – Urban
1. DATA – Tainy2. LPM (La Perreo Mixtape) – Yng Lvcas3. Mañana Será Bonito – Karol G4. Nadie Sabe Lo Que Va A Pasar Mañana – Bad Bunny 5. Playa Saturno – Rauw Alejandro
Best Song – Urban
1. “Lala” – Myke Towers2. “TQG” – Karol G & Shakira3. “Un Cigarillo” – Chencho Corleone 4. “Where She Goes” – Bad Bunny5. “Yandel 150” – Yandel & Feid
Best Collaboration – Urban
1. “Arranca” – Becky G Ft. Omega2. “Borracho y Loco” – Yandel & Myke Towers3. “Classy 101” – Feid & Young Miko4. “Hey Mor” – Ozuna & Feid5. “Me Porto Bonito” – Bad Bunny & Chencho Corleone
Best Artist – Regional Mexican
1. Carin León2. Gabito Ballesteros 3. Ivan Cornejo4. Junior H5. Peso Pluma
Best Duo Or Group Regional Mexican
1. Calibre 502. Eslabon Armado3. Fuerza Regida4. Grupo Frontera5. Los Ángeles Azules
Best Album – Regional Mexican
1. Desvelado – Eslabon Armado2. Colmillo De Leche – Carin León3. El Comienzo – Grupo Frontera4. Génesis – Peso Pluma5. Pa Las Baby’s y Belikeada – Fuerza Regida
Best Song – Regional Mexican
1. “Di Que Sí” – Grupo Marca Registrada & Grupo Frontera 2. “Difícil Tu Caso” – Alejandro Fernández3. “Dirección Equivocada” – Calibre 504. “Indispensable” – Carin León5. “TQM” – Fuerza Regida
Best Collaboration – Regional Mexican
1. “Bebe Dame” – Fuerza Regida & Grupo Frontera2. “El Amor De Su Vida” – Grupo Frontera & Grupo Firme3. “Ella Baila Sola” – Eslabon Armado & Peso Pluma4. “Pa’ Olvidarme De Tus Besos” – Lenin Ramírez & Banda Ms De Sergio Lizárraga 5. “Qué Agonía” – Yuridia & Ángela Aguilar
Best Artist – Tropical
1. Carlos Vives 2. Luis Figueroa 3. Marc Anthony 4. Prince Royce 5. Romeo Santos
Best Song – Tropical
1. “Bailando Bachata” – Chayanne2. “Bandido” – Luis Figueroa3. “La Falta Que Me Haces” – Natti Natasha 4. “Me Enrd” – Prince Royce5. “Solo Conmigo” – Romeo Santos
Best Collaboration – Tropical
1. “Ambulancia” – Camilo & Camila Cabello2. “Asi Es La Vida” – Enrique Iglesias & Maria Becerra 3. “El Merengue” – Marshmello & Manuel Turizo4. “La Fórmula” – Maluma & Marc Anthony5. “Si Tú Me Quieres” – Fonseca & Juan Luis Guerra
The fan-voted CMT Music Awards, slated for April 7 at Moody Center in Austin, Texas, are getting even hotter.
Bailey Zimmerman, Jelly Roll, Keith Urban, Lainey Wilson and Sam Hunt are the first round of performers who will join previously announced performer (and CMT Music Awards host) Kelsea Ballerini on the CMT Music Awards stage, in the heart of the live music capital of the world.
Jelly Roll, Ballerini and Wilson are among the evening’s top nominees, alongside Cody Johnson and Megan Moroney, who each have three nominations apiece leading up to the show. The CMT Music Awards will air on CBS and stream live and on demand on Paramount+.
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Last year, Jelly Roll dominated the CMT Music Awards, taking home the most trophies that evening, with three career-surging wins. This year, he is again nominated for three accolades, including the coveted video of the year.
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Zimmerman, who is currently on a sold-out solo touring run, will offer a first-time performance of his current single, the top 20 Country Airplay hit “Where It Ends.” A three-time Billboard Country Airplay chart-topper, Zimmerman is also looking to earn his first CMT Music Awards win this year, in the male video of the year category.
Urban will make history when he takes the CMT Music Awards stage, for his 20th performance — marking the most in CMT Music Awards history. He’ll offer a rendition of “Straight Line,” the first single from his forthcoming 12th studio project.
Fresh off her inaugural Grammy win earlier this year, singer-songwriter-actress Wilson will perform her new song “Country’s Cool Again,” which is also the namesake for her upcoming headlining tour, launching in Nashville in May.
Hunt, who is currently on his arena-headlining Outskirts Tour, has earned nine CMT Music Awards nominations during his career, and previously won the breakthrough video of the year accolade. His current single “Outskirts” is in the top 20 on the Country Airplay chart, but Hunt will offer new music during his performance, debuting a new song during the CMT Music Awards broadcast.
The CMT Music Awards relocated to Texas last year, moving from its longtime home in Nashville. The awards show, originally known as the Music City News Awards, held its inaugural event in 1967; the awards celebration has been known as the CMT Music Awards since 2005.
Voting is currently open at vote.cmt.com, through April 1, while voting for the video of the year honor, presented by Hilton, will remain active into the show.
Additional performers and presenters for this year’s CMT Music Awards will be revealed at a later date.
On Monday (March 18), three members of the country music community were announced as the next inductees into the Country Music Hall of Fame, making up its Class of 2024.
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The late Toby Keith was named as the modern era artist category inductee. John Anderson will be inducted in the veterans era artist category, and guitarist James Burton will be inducted in the recording and/or touring musician category. They join 152 others who are members of the Country Music Hall of Fame and will be formally inducted into the Country Music Hall of Fame during the annual medallion ceremony, set for this October. The CMA created the Country Music Hall of Fame in 1961 to recognize artists and industry professionals with country music’s highest honor.
“Each of these inductees have made an indelible impact on country music,” Country Music Association CEO Sarah Trahern told the audience that gathered at the Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum’s rotunda that morning.
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Louisiana native and guitarist Burton, who in the 1950s developed the “chicken pickin’” style of guitar playing, was announced as an inductee by hall members Brooks & Dunn. Fellow Louisiana native Brooks called Burton “a hometown hero.”
“I’m honored. It’s just amazing. Actually, I’m really surprised. I want to thank all of you guys for your love and support. It’s truly an honor,” Burton told the crowd.
Burton began playing guitar at 13 years old, inspired by a white 1953 Telecaster electric guitar and the work of his musical heroes including Chet Atkins and Les Paul. Burton developed a hybrid picking style that used a flat pick between his thumb and index finger, as well as a fingerpick on his middle finger. He would mimic the slide of a pedal steel, but also blend in staccato notes — the style became known as chicken pickin’. Burton quickly became the youngest staff musician on the country music show Louisiana Hayride. A few years later, Dale Hawkins set lyrics to guitar instrumental Burton had written, resulting in the Billboard top 30 hit “Susie-Q” in 1957. Burton soon joined Ricky Nelson’s backing band and went on to play on records by Buck Owens, Merle Haggard, Waylon Jennings, Glen Campbell, the Everly Brothers, the Monkees and more. His work is heard on soundtracks for movies including Rio Bravo and Viva Las Vegas. When Elvis Presley debuted at Las Vegas’ International Hotel in 1969, Presley called Burton and asked him to put a band together; the result was Burton becoming band leader and lead guitarist for Presley’s “Takin’ Care of Business” band. Burton played with Presley for the remainder of Presley’s life. He played on Gram Parson’s GB and Grievous Angels albums and was in the first version of Emmylou Harris’s Hot Band. After Presley’s death in 1977, Burton played in John Denver’s band for two decades. Burton was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2001 and the Musicians Hall of Fame in 2007. Burton was so associated with the Fender Telecaster that when Fender launched its first “signature” Telecaster in 1990, it bore Burton’s name.
Last month, on Feb. 6, it was announced that Keith had died after a battle with stomach cancer. On Monday morning, CMA CEO Sarah Trahern told the audience gathered in the Hall of Fame’s rotunda that she learned that Keith would become one of the newest inductees just a few hours after Keith’s passing.
Trahern noted that while election rules do not allow someone to be elected into the Country Music Hall of Fame in the year in which they pass away, that doesn’t apply, as Keith was elected prior to his passing.
“Nominations were made in the fall of 2023 with the first ballot sent to voters before the holidays, with the final ballot closing on Friday, Feb. 2,” Trahern said. “Our professional services partners at Deloitte released the results to us just a few days later. This year, we anticipated receiving the names of our final inductees on Tuesday, Feb. 6. As we know now, we woke up that morning to the heartbreaking news that our friend Toby Keith had lost his long battle with stomach cancer. What’s bittersweet is that just a few hours later, our team received word from Deloitte that he’d been elected in the modern-era category. Truly one of the greatest honors of my job is getting to inform these inductees that they are the newest members of the hallowed class. My heart sank that Tuesday afternoon, knowing that we had missed the chance to inform Toby while he was still with us, but I have no doubt that he is smiling down on us, knowing that he will always be ‘as good as he once was.’”
Oklahoma native Keith began playing guitar on an instrument his grandmother bought him. He later began touring regionally with his band Easy Money. Keith admired artists such as Merle Haggard and Bob Seger, who also wrote their own songs. When Keith made his way to Nashville, he had a cassette tape of some of what he considered his best songs. One label head noted the songs weren’t good enough, so Keith returned to Oklahoma. However, Harold Shedd (Mercury Records Nashville head at the time) heard about Keith’s music and traveled to Oklahoma City to meet him. The songs on that cassette included three of the songs that would become Keith’s first four singles, including “Should’ve Been a Cowboy,” “Wish I Didn’t Know Now” and “He Ain’t Worth Missing.” The fourth song was “Does that Blue Moon Ever Shine on You,’ which became a No. 1 hit from Keith’s 1996 album Blue Moon. “Should’ve Been a Cowboy” was an immediate hit for Keith. During his career, Keith earned 20 Billboard Country Airplay hits, and was a writer or co-writer on many of those. Keith’s label at the time, Mercury, shuffled him from imprint to imprint including Polydor, A&M and back to Mercury. When Mercury turned down his fifth album, Keith asked the label to release him from his contract. Keith paid Mercury for the album, then took it to DreamWorks Nashville, which was being run by his producer James Stroud. The album’s first single, “How Do You Like Me Now?!”, spent five weeks at No. 1 on the Country Airplay chart. His five DreamWorks albums all went multi-Platinum, with 2002’s Unleashed and 2003’s Shock’n Y’all reaching 5x Platinum. His songs including “You Shouldn’t Kiss Me Like This,” “I Love This Bar,” and “American Soldier” spent multiple weeks atop the Country Airplay chart, while “As Good As I Once Was” and a duet with Willie Nelson called “Beer for My Horses” each spent six weeks at No. 1.
Keith wrote “Courtesy of the Red, White and Blue (The Angry American)” in the wake of the Sept. 11, 2001 attacks, and following his father’s passing in March of that same year. The song became a lightning rod of controversy. Always an ardent supporter of the U.S. military, Keith performed on 11 U.S.O. tours, playing more than 200 shows for members of the U.S. Armed Forces. He also earned the hit “American Soldier,” which details the daily sacrifices and struggles of those in the U.S. armed forces. In 2005, Keith launched his own label, Show Dog Records, releasing songs including “Get Drunk and Be Somebody,” “American Ride,” “Red Solo Cup,” “Hope on the Rocks,” “Made In America,” “God Love Her” and “Don’t Let the Old Man In,” which he wrote after being inspired by Clint Eastwood, who later featured it in his 2018 film The Mule. Keith was inducted into the Oklahoma Hall of Fame in 2007, the all-genre Songwriters Hall of Fame in 2015 and the Nashville Songwriters Hall of Fame in 2021. Keith was honored with the National Medal of the Arts in 2020 and the BMI Icon Award in 2022.
Florida native Anderson was named to the veterans era artist category.
“This is probably the greatest honor I could ever receive, standing on this stage today…still trying to get a grasp on the reality of this happening to me. I’m so very proud and so honored,” Anderson told the crowd in accepting the honor, thanking fans and people at the CMA and Hall of Fame. “Many, many people to thank along the way. This is an institution that preserves greatness and I know it is, because I have many dear friends who are in the Hall of Fame…. The fact that I get a chance to be amongst this kind of greatness, words can’t really explain for me how important it is. Music has been what keeps me driven since I was just a child and I have so much to be thankful for.”
Anderson released several singles in the 1970s, including 1979’s “Your Lying Blue Eyes” and “She Just Started Liking Cheatin’ Songs” before issuing his debut album in 1980. Anderson’s penchant for shuffles, waltzes and ballads brought him his first top 5 Hot Country Songs hit with a cover of Billy Joe Shaver’s “I’m Just An Old Chunk of Coal (But I’m Gonna Be a Diamond Someday).” In September 1982, the title track for his album Wild and Blue was on point to become his first Hot Country Songs No. 1 (staying there for two weeks), when radio stations began also playing another song from the album. Three weeks after “Wild and Blue” hit No. 1, Anderson’s “Swingin’” hit the Hot Country Songs chart and 10 weeks later, became Anderson’s second No. 1 hit. “Swingin’” was honored as the single of the year at the 1983 CMA Awards, the same evening that Anderson took home the horizon award win. Between 1981 and 1983, Anderson earned six top 10 Hot Country Songs hits and three No. 1s on that chart. His singles began peaking lower on the chart in subsequent years, until his career came roaring back in the 1990s with songs including the Hot Country Songs No. 1 hits “Straight Tequila Night” and “Money in the Bank,” as well as the top 5 Hot Country Songs hit “I Wish I Could Have Been There.” Another of those ’90s hits, the No. 2 Hot Country Songs hit “Seminole Wind,” had an environmentally conscious bent. While Anderson wasn’t a writer on the song, he recognized its potential. “Seminole Wind” sold three million copies, becoming a career-defining song for Anderson. In addition to Anderson’s two 1980s CMA Awards, he participated in the 1994 album of the year win for Common Thread: The Songs of the Eagles, on which he covered “Heartache Tonight.” That same year, the Academy of Country Music honored him with its career achievement award.
Usher was named entertainer of the year at the 55th annual NAACP Awards on Saturday night (March 16), which highlighted works by entertainers and writers of color.
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After Usher accepted his award at the Shrine Auditorium in Los Angeles, the superstar R&B singer spoke about being thankful about the journey of his successful career that has lasted three decades.
He reeled off several of his recent big moments including his sold-out residency in Las Vegas, getting married, releasing his ninth studio album Coming Home and his Super Bowl halftime performance, which became the most-watched in the game’s history.
Usher beat out Colman Domingo, Fantasia Barrino, Halle Bailey and Keke Palmer.
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“I don’t know how many people do that much stuff in one setting,” said the multi-Grammy winner, who was presented the award by Oprah Winfrey. After being surprised by Winfrey’s presence, he thanked those who have supported him throughout the years.
“This is for you, you, my number ones,” the singer said as the audience repeated his words back to him. The final words of his speech were recited lyrics from his popular song “Superstar” from his 2024 album Confessions, which has sold more than 10 million units in the U.S.
Earlier in the ceremony, Usher was honored with the President’s Award for the singer’s public service achievements through his New Look Foundation. He thanked the strong women in his life, including his mother and wife Jenn Goicoechea, whom he married after his Super Bowl halftime performance last month.
“The say behind or beside or with every strong man is a stronger woman,” he said.
Queen Latifah hosted the awards ceremony aired live on BET.
The Color Purple was awarded best motion picture. The musical film featured star-studded cast including Barrino, Taraji P. Henson, Domingo, H.E.R., Danielle Brooks, Corey Hawkins and Bailey.
Barrino, who starred as Celie in the film, won for best actress in a motion picture.
“I didn’t prepare a speech, because I didn’t think I was going to win,” the singer-actor said. “I was afraid to play Celie, but I’m glad I did. Because I kept saying ‘If I don’t win an award, the awards that I will win will come from the people who watched Color Purple and the women who will relate to her and feel like Oscars when they walk out.’”
New Edition was inducted into the NAACP Image Awards Hall of Fame. The induction is bestowed on individuals who are viewed as pioneers in their respective fields and whose influence shaped their profession.
“We stand here in brotherhood,” said Michael Bivins while his group members behind him. The Grammy-nominated group includes Bobby Brown, Johnny Gill, Ralph Tresvant, Ronnie DeVoe and Ricky Bell.
“You’ve seen our story. You know what we’ve been through,” said Bivins, who spoke about the group overcoming conflict and tension in their earlier years to now holding a residency in Las Vegas.
“But we call each other every day,” he continued. “We text each other every day. We check on our families. You watched us grow up. We’re still growing.”
Damson Idris won best actor in a drama television series for his role in Snowfall. Henson and Domingo took home best supporting roles in The Color Purple. Domingo also won best actor in a motion picture for his role in Rustin.