Artist development program provides emerging artists with mentoring, education, and development from music industry leaders
TORONTO – The Canadian Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences (CARAS) and Slaight Music today announced that submissions for the Allan Slaight JUNO Master Class are now open. Now in its seventh year, the program is renowned for offering emerging artists with opportunities to hone their craft and further develop their music careers, including an intensive week of mentorship from notable Canadian music industry professionals, a trip to Toronto, ON to be a part of the 2022 JUNO Awards and more.
Interested artists can apply now at junomasterclass.ca. There are no fees associated with submissions and all eligibility requirements can be found here.
The Allan Slaight JUNO Master Class was developed in partnership with 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’s selected artists will be joined by Jhyve, the winner of CBC’s annual search to find the next great Canadian artist.
“Now more than ever emerging artists need our support and this program has a proven track record of fostering and elevating new and emerging talent,” said Allan Reid, President and CEO, CARAS/The JUNO Awards & MusiCounts. “We encourage artists from across the country to apply and take the next step in their careers.”
“After this past year the need for this program is crucial for Canadian artist development and recognition,” said Gary Slaight, CEO and President, Slaight Communications. “Championing and supporting Canadian artists was a passion of my father, Allan Slaight. I am proud to be part of a platform for these talented artists to develop skills and connections to further their careers and we look forward to seeing the submissions for the upcoming session”
All submissions will be assessed by a panel of music industry professionals and three artists will be chosen by a Super Jury made up of key music industry leaders. The selected artists will be announced this Fall and will receive an all-inclusive trip to Toronto, a week of customized mentorship in collaboration with Canada’s Music Incubator, culminating in a music industry showcase night in Toronto, supported by SiriusXM Canada. They will also receive a cash prize courtesy of Slaight Music.
Additionally, the artists will also attend the 2022 JUNO Awards in Toronto, where they may have an opportunity to participate in JUNO Week events. One of the artists will be chosen to perform at the JUNO Gala Dinner & Awards for the Canadian music industry.
The 2020/2021 Allan Slaight JUNO Master Class long list artists included duo Command Sisters, 2021 JUNO Opening Night Awards Presented by Music Canada performers MONOWHALES, genre-bending Myles Castello and 2020 CBC Music Searchlight winner Shawnee Kish.
The 2021/2022 Allan Slaight JUNO Master Class is supported by: 
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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. This year marks the 50th anniversary of the JUNO Awards, a national celebration of Canadian music. In honour of this significant milestone, CARAS will launch exciting initiatives in the host city of Toronto, and nationally across our country. Each initiative will drive forward CARAS’ four key pillars: Educate through MusiCounts’ charitable programs and community resources, 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. In a time unlike any other, our sound connects and unites us. The JUNOS are proud to represent so many Canadian facets of music, performance and recording, distinctly, All Our Sound. For more information on the 50th Annual JUNO Awards or The Canadian Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences (CARAS) please visit www.junoawards.ca.
About Allan Slaight
A pioneer of rock and roll, Allan Slaight parlayed his entrepreneurial flair with his knowledge of radio to create Canada’s largest privately-owned multimedia company, Standard Broadcasting Corporation Limited.
Born in 1931, Allan hosted his own radio program, Spins and Needles, a late night jazz program, at age 16 at CHAB in Moose Jaw, Saskatchewan. He moved to Edmonton in 1950, working his way up the ladder being appointed in 1956 as the National Sales Manager at CHED. There he came to the attention of Allan Waters, owner of CHUM Radio in Toronto, who hired Allan to turn around the fortunes of his struggling station. Allan’s programming, promotions, and business acumen propelled CHUM into a household name.
Allan left the station in 1966 to coordinate programming and sales of Radio Caroline, the infamous pirate radio station. He returned to Canada in 1967, to become the President and General Manager of Stephens and Towndrow.
In 1970, Allan established Slaight Communications and acquired radio stations CFGM in Toronto and CFOX in Montreal. In 1977, Allan launched a new rock and roll radio station, CILQ-FM, known as Q107, in Toronto. In 1985, Slaight Communications sold CFGM and Q107, and purchased Standard Broadcasting Corporation Limited from Conrad Black. Under Allan’s leadership, Standard Broadcasting and Standard Radio grew from seven radio stations to a national network of over fifty. In 2007, the Slaight’s sold Standard Broadcasting to Astral Media.
Radio was not Allan’s only passion. He served as a trustee of Women’s College Hospital (1978- 1982), a director of the United Way of Greater Toronto (1979-1987), director of the Shaw Festival (1982-1988), a governor of York University (1986-1987), and a director of the Festival of Festivals (1989-1993).
An inductee into the Broadcast Hall of Fame (1997), the recipient of an Honorary Doctor of Commerce from Ryerson Polytechnic University (2000), appointed a Member of the Order of Canada (2001), the recipient of the Walt Grealis Special Achievement Award (2005) for his contribution to the growth and development of the Canadian music industry, Allan has also maintained a lifelong interest in conjuring.
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 1,000+ emerging music entrepreneurs, of all genres, in the development of long-term careers and sustainable businesses. CMI has provided nearly 10,000 hours of professional development programs and one-on-one mentorship combined. CMI’s Live Events department works with private and community partners across the country curating paid performance opportunities for artists. To date, CMI has programmed 500+ shows and paid nearly $1 million directly to artists. CMI also advocates on behalf of music sector infrastructure development and creative entrepreneurship education in high schools.
For more information on the JUNO Awards or interview requests, please contact:
Elyssa Macri, CARAS/The JUNO Awards, [email protected], 647.361.3181