Canada’s leading artist development program celebrates 10th Anniversary and invites emerging artists to submit applications until May 31, 2024
TORONTO – Today, the Canadian Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences (CARAS) and Slaight Music opened submissions for the 2024/2025 Allan Slaight JUNO Master Class program. Now in its 10th iteration, Allan Slaight JUNO Master Class is designed to support emerging artists with opportunities to refine their craft and further develop their music careers.
The program (valued at over $100,000) includes:
- An all-inclusive trip to Toronto for an intensive mentorship week hosted by Canada’s Music Incubator and industry showcase
- A chance for one artist to attend the 2025 JUNO Awards in Vancouver, BC, including transportation, accommodations, and a JUNO Weekend ticket package
- A chance for one artist to perform in front of the Canadian music industry at the exclusive JUNO Opening Night Awards, and at JUNOfest in Vancouver during JUNO Week
- A cash prize and more
Submissions are now open and close at 5 p.m. ET on May 31, 2024. Artists can apply now at junomasterclass.ca. There are no submission fees associated with the program and all eligibility requirements can be found here.
The Allan Slaight JUNO Master Class is developed in partnership with Slaight Music and Canada’s Music Incubator (CMI). Each year, three artists are selected, and the experience aims to cultivate new talent through networking, collaboration opportunities, and curated mentorship.
“This year five alumni, Katie Tupper, Haviah Mighty, Shawnee Kish, Jhyve and Aysanabee, joined us during JUNO Week, garnering nine JUNO Award nominations between them and two wins (Aysanabee), demonstrating the ongoing impact and value of the program,” said Allan Reid, President & CEO, CARAS/The JUNO Awards.
“The music industry is not just about talent; it’s about guidance, resilience, and seizing every opportunity to refine one’s craft. The Allan Slaight JUNO Master Class provides a platform for emerging artists to receive invaluable mentorship from industry professionals equipping them with the tools and insights necessary to navigate the complexities of the modern music landscape,” said Gary Slaight, CEO and President, The Slaight Family Foundation. “Together, let us continue to foster a community where innovation thrives, where dreams are realized, and where the transformative power of music continues to uplift us all.”
All submissions will be assessed by a panel of music industry professionals and three artists will be short-listed by a Super Jury made up of music industry leaders. The selected artists will be announced this fall.
The Allan Slaight JUNO Master Class of 2023/2024 included multi-hyphenated creator, Lili-Ann De Francesco, Country singer and songwriter, Nate Haller, rising Country artist, SACHA and the 2023 winner of CBC Music’s Searchlight competition, blind music producer and recording artist, Mattmac.
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Social Media:
The JUNO Awards: @TheJUNOAwards / @TheJUNOAwards / @TheJUNOAwards
#JUNOS / #JUNOMasterClass
Slaight Music: @SlaightMusic / @SlaightMusic / @SlaightMusic
Canada’s Music Incubator: @CMincubator / @CMIncubator/ @CMIncubator
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About Allan Slaight JUNO Master Class
The Allan Slaight JUNO Master Class is an initiative that provides the crucial tools to help artists develop their careers, build their own sustainable business and become ‘JUNO ready’. The ‘Master Class’ includes a week-long customized artist development program co-developed with Canada’s Music Incubator at Coalition Music. This development program provides hands-on mentoring, networking and collaboration opportunities.
About CARAS
The Canadian Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences (CARAS) is a not-for-profit organization created to preserve and enhance the Canadian music industry and promote higher artistic and industry standards. CARAS’ mandate is comprised of four key pillars: Educate through our music education charity, MusiCounts, programs and initiatives; Develop emerging artists through mentorship and development programs; Celebrate Canadian artists with year-round JUNO Awards showcasing; and Honour music industry icons through the Canadian Music Hall of Fame. The 54th annual JUNO Awards Broadcast will take place in Vancouver at Rogers Arena on Sunday, March 30, 2025. For more information on the JUNO Awards or The Canadian Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences (CARAS) please visit www.junoawards.ca.
About Allan Slaight (1931-2021)
A leading figure in the Canadian broadcasting industry for more than five decades, Allan Slaight began his career in the late 1940s as a news reporter/announcer in Moose Jaw, Saskatchewan. Over the next decade, Slaight held announcing and news positions at various radio stations in Edmonton, Alberta.
In 1956, Slaight landed the General Sales Manager position at CHED radio station in Edmonton and two years later became Program Director of CHUM Radio in Toronto, and later, Vice President and General Manager in 1965. He is widely acknowledged to be the pioneer of Top 40 Radio in Canada. In 1977, he launched Q107, which was responsible for establishing dozens of Canadian artists through the ‘70s and ‘80s.
In 1985, he established Slaight Communications and acquired Standard Broadcasting Corporation Ltd., the largest privately owned multi-media company in Canada with 51 radio stations and two television stations across the country plus a retail marketing services company in 1985. Slaight was the sole owner of the corporation until 2007 when he sold the radio and broadcasting rights to Astral Media.
As one of Canada’s leading philanthropists, Allan Slaight held a strong belief in Canadian culture. He provided significant support to many of Canada’s leading cultural institutions including the AGO, and the Toronto International Film Festival (TIFF). Allan Slaight was a longtime supporter of the Shaw and Stratford Festivals and through The Slaight Family Foundation extended his support to small, aspiring arts organizations that cater to disadvantaged youth. Slaight Family support has helped trail blaze new cures in cancer and brain research and helped many social service agencies improve the lives of those less fortunate. Allan also contributed his own skills and expertise by serving on many charitable boards in the past including: Women’s College Hospital, the United Way of Greater Toronto, the Shaw Festival, York University and a former director of the TIFF. He was also instrumental in bringing the Toronto Raptors to Toronto and developing the Air Canada Centre.
A pioneer of rock and roll, Slaight is an inductee of the Broadcast Hall of Fame (1997), the recipient of an Honorary Doctor of Commerce from Ryerson Polytechnic University (2000), was appointed a Member of the Order of Canada (2001), and was the recipient of the Walt Grealis Special Achievement Award (2005) for his contribution to the growth and development of the Canadian music industry.
About Slaight Music
Slaight Music was started in 2011 with a mandate to support the Canadian music community through a variety of initiatives and to develop Canadian talent via strategic partnerships with industry peers.
About Canada’s Music Incubator
Canada’s Music Incubator (CMI) is a Toronto-based national not-for-profit organization specializing in professional development, ongoing mentorship and live events for artists, managers, and music companies. Launched in 2012, CMI supports 1,700+ emerging music entrepreneurs, of all genres, in the development of long-term careers and sustainable businesses. CMI has provided over 12,500 hours of professional development programs and one-on-one mentorship combined. CMI Live works with private and community partners across the country curating paid performance opportunities for artists. To date, CMI has programmed 2,000+ shows and paid over $2.7 million directly to artists.
For more information or interview requests please contact:
Jamelia Campbell, Sr. Manager, Marketing & Communications, The JUNO Awards, [email protected]