Criteria That Cross All Categories - The JUNO Awards
Submissions

Criteria That Cross All Categories

Canadian Criteria

All nominated artists must be Canadian, with the exception of category 3 (International Album of the Year).  Canadian is defined by The Canadian Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences (CARAS) to be:

50% or more of group members hold Canadian birth certificates, passports or are Canadian Permanent Resident(s) with residency in Canada during the last six months of the eligibility period; 

OR

The group is deemed by CARAS, in its sole discretion, to be Canadian as a result of: 

  • the Canadian member(s) receiving the majority of royalties, touring profits, and other proceeds earned by the group; and/or 
  • the Canadian member(s) being the creative force behind the group and/or the principal songwriters for the group. 

CARAS shall have sole discretion in applying the criteria above and determining whether the artist/group is Canadian.

Non-Canadians will receive named credit only and will not be considered nominees or winners if part of a nominated song or technical project. The only exceptions are if they are in a nominated group that meets the 50% Canadian criteria or are nominated in the International Album of the Year category.

AI Eligibility

Artificial intelligent (AI) generated music refers to music that is composed, produced, or generated by artificial intelligence systems. These systems use algorithms and machine learning techniques to analyze vast amounts of existing music data and generate new compositions based on patterns, styles, and structures found in the data.

Elements of AI can be used in eligible projects, but cannot be the sole or core component. Human(s) must be the primary creative contributor(s) of the submitted work. AI contribution cannot be solely responsible for an eligible project meeting the category eligibility.

Only humans are eligible to be nominated in any JUNO Award category. A work that contains no human authorship is not eligible to be nominated in any JUNO Award category.

Applicants must be able to provide proof that a human is the primary creative contributor of the submitted project. For technical categories the applicant must be able provide proof that the technical work is the result of human effort.

Proof of human eligibility –  50% or more of group members must hold Canadian birth certificates, passports or are Canadian Permanent Resident(s). Only members of a group that hold birth certificates, passports and/or citizenship of any country are eligible to submit for a JUNO Award, provided 50% or more of the other members meet the Canadian Criteria that Crosses all Categories. 

Depending on whom CARAS recognizes as the Nominee(s) in a given category, this role must be held by a human(s) who meets the Canadian Criteria that Crosses all Categories.

Final decisions on AI eligibility is at the discretion of CARAS.

Eligibility Period/Release Date

  • The eligibility period for the 2024 JUNO Awards is between September 1, 2022 to November 2, 2023.
  • Product must be released for national sale* (in stores or online for all Canadians to access) or via a recognized national music streaming provider**. The first available consumer access as noted on each platform will be the release date for JUNO Award eligibility purposes. Product released (digital or physical) only internationally (not in Canada) outside of the eligibility period, may be eligible as long as the Canadian release date falls within the eligibility period.

*Product must be released nationally via brick and mortar stores or third-party online retailers.

**Product must be released via a nationally accessible streaming service that has paid subscriptions, full catalogue, or on-demand streaming. Eligible streaming services are Canadian versions of Amazon Music, Apple Music, YouTube Music, Soundcloud PRO, Spotify, Tidal.

  • “Release date” for CARAS eligibility purposes is defined as the date of the first online transaction or stream. Albums available for pre-order online no later than November 2, 2023 will also qualify. Pre-ordered online albums (digital or physical copies) must be delivered to the consumer (electronically or physically) no later than November 17, 2023. Proof of transaction may be requested. Pre-order eligibility does not apply to Music Video of the Year.

PLEASE NOTE: The online submission must be completed by 11:59 PM ET on the November 2, 2023 deadline day. Album Artwork of the Year submissions must deliver physical copies of the album/vinyl required to the CARAS office by the dates listed in the criteria information. 

Physical Delivery of Product

CARAS staff may not be present in the office to receive submissions. If you are sending your product by courier, you MUST REMOVE the signature option. Please make note with the delivery service that packages should be left in the dropbox inside of the building, outside of CARAS’ office door. 

If CARAS does not receive your physical product and form by 5pm ET on deadline day, your submission will be disqualified. 

Making Multiple Submissions

Non-genre category: categories that are not tied to one genre include Artist of the Year (5), Group of the Year (6), Breakthrough Artist of the Year (7) and Breakthrough Group of the Year (8).

Technical category: categories that are not tied to a specific genre and have a technical component. Songwriter (9), Classical Composition (24), Producer (35), Recording Engineer (36), Album Artwork (37), and Music Video (38).

Crossover category: a category representing the following: French language content, Indigenous ancestry, inspirational faith in God, and global music but may also fit into a different category based on musical sound. Francophone (19), Contemporary Indigenous Artist or Group (29) or Traditional Indigenous Artist or Group (47), Contemporary Christian/Gospel (33), and Global Music (34).

YOU MAY SUBMIT TO ONE OF THESE CATEGORIES PLUS AN ADDITIONAL GENRE.

Genre category: a category that is a specific genre such as Rock, Pop, Jazz, Classical, etc.

  • You may only make one submission in categories 5-8. 
  • You may only make one submission in any of the genre categories (10-18, 20-28, 30-32,  and 40-46).
  • You may make a submission in all the crossover categories if eligible (19, 29, 33, 34, 47)
  • You may make submissions in all the remaining categories if eligible (3-4, 9, and 35-38). 

Previously Released/Newly Arranged Material

  • Albums containing previously released songs may qualify if a minimum of 50% of the album’s songs are considered to be “new.”   To be considered “new,” a song must be completely re-recorded (CARAS may require proof of the recording). Adding to existing instrumental or vocal tracks, or replacing instruments or vocals does not qualify as “new.”
  • This criteria may not apply to Breakthrough Artist and Breakthrough Group of the Year as previously released tracks may be eligible at CARAS’ discretion. 
  • Live recordings or stripped down versions of the previously released songs are NOT eligible.  
  • If an album has been previously released and then re-released in a different language with the same musical arrangement it will NOT qualify.  

Greatest Hits

  • “Greatest Hits” packages are not eligible. Greatest hits packages are defined as albums containing over 50% of previously released original cuts. Live albums are eligible only if 50% or greater of the cuts are new (not previously released or newly arranged).   

Unreleased/Archival Material

  • Music that has been previously recorded but never released for consumption is only eligible provided it was recorded no longer than ten years prior to the current eligibility period (September 1, 2022 – November 2, 2023) and is now available for national consumption during the current eligibility period. CARAS will have sole discretion in determining eligibility. 

Compilations

  • Multi-artist compilation projects are NOT eligible. Projects that contain two or more artists performing individual tracks will not qualify. Projects with two or more artists performing together or collaborating as a group on 60% or more of the tracks are eligible. Tribute albums by multiple artists (various artists) are NOT eligible; however tribute albums by a single artist or multiple artists acting as a group or band are eligible. This criteria may also encompass TV/Movie Soundtracks.

Tv/Movie Soundtracks/Live Show Productions 

  • TV and movie soundtracks are eligible provided a featured artist or band is performing on 60% of the tracks. 

Live Albums

  • Live albums are eligible only if 50% or greater of the selections are new (not previously released or newly arranged). “Live” refers to albums that are recorded live with an audience in attendance in a concert setting and not “live in the studio” recording.

Submitting EPs

  • EPs are only eligible for full album categories if they meet the following criteria.  A full album is defined as having a minimum running time of 20 unique minutes or 6 unique tracks – “unique” meaning no remixes, instrumental versions, acoustic, added accompaniment etc.  
  • An EP is considered anything that is at least two tracks but below the album criteria above.
  • EPs can be submitted into any categories that do not have “album” in the title (Reggae Recording of the Year, Songwriter of the Year, etc.). There are a few exceptions to this: 
  • Rap Album/EP accepts full albums and EPs
  • Contemporary Indigenous Artist or Group of the Year and Traditional Indigenous Artist or Group of the Year require a full album.
  • If EP is in the title of the project but still meets the full album criteria, it can be submitted to a category with “Album of the Year” in the title.

Please Note

  • If the total number of submissions for a category is less than ten (10) the category may be dropped from the current year’s awards.
  • All information provided will be used.  Names and titles submitted will appear on the voting site as entered.  Please be accurate.  

Sample Clearance

  • It is the submitter’s express responsibility to ensure that any music samples, video clips or other audio and/or visual materials contained in any recording, video or other materials that form part of your submission are fully authorized by master rights owners, music publishers and any other third parties that have rights in such materials. CARAS reserves the right to require written confirmation that these rights have been secured.  CARAS reserves the right to disqualify submissions, nominees or winners should CARAS determine, in its sole discretion, that these rights have not been secured. 

Professional Services Firm

  • PwC, trusted partner of the JUNO Awards, is CARAS’ professional services firm.  All consumption information collected by PwC is strictly confidential.  CARAS reserves the right to request PwC to review the information provided on any submission.