The Juno Awards, Canada’s premier music awards show, has sparked controversy within the music community after announcing that four categories will be removed from the 2025 ceremony. The Canadian Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences (CARAS) revealed in a recent communication that the reggae recording, children’s album, Christian/gospel album, and international album of the year categories will be placed on “hiatus” as part of a broader review of the awards show. This decision, which took many by surprise, has already drawn criticism from some members of the reggae community, who expressed frustration over the lack of consultation and transparency.
The reggae recording category, which has recognized the best Canadian reggae single or album since 1985, has celebrated artists like Exco Levi and Kirk Diamond. Although it was briefly pulled from the show in the early 1990s, the reggae category has remained a significant part of the Junos, representing a genre with deep roots in Canada’s multicultural music landscape. The abrupt announcement to shelve this category, along with others, has left many artists and industry stakeholders questioning whether advisory committee leaders were consulted, fueling concerns over the future representation of diverse musical genres at the Junos.
These changes also affect other long-standing categories, such as the children’s album award, which has been part of the Juno Awards since 1979 and honoured iconic acts like Fred Penner and Sharon, Lois, and Bram. The Christian/gospel album category, introduced in 1998, and the international album of the Year award, which dates back to 1975 and has recognized global superstars from Paul McCartney to Adele, are also being paused. While none of these awards are part of the Junos’ main televised event, their removal raises questions about the inclusivity and diversity of the awards moving forward.
As representatives for CARAS have declined to comment on the rationale behind these changes, the music community awaits further clarification on the “broader set of updates” that the organization has hinted at. With the 2025 Juno Awards scheduled for March 30 in Vancouver, the decision to put these categories on hold is shaping up to be a contentious issue, highlighting the ongoing debate about how best to celebrate and honour the full spectrum of Canada’s musical talent.
