What defines a release date?
“Release date” for CARAS eligibility purposes is defined as the date of first online transaction or stream. 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 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 Canadian release date falls within 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, Google Play Music, Napster, Slacker, Soundcloud PRO, Spotify, Tidal.
Albums available for pre-order online no later than November 9, 2018 will qualify, as long as they are available no later than November 23, 2018. Proof of transaction may be requested. Product must be released for national sale (in stores or online for all Canadians to access). 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.
PLEASE NOTE: All online submissions must be complete by 5PM EST on the November 9 deadline day. The 12 physical copies of the album/vinyl/DVD required for Album Artwork of the Year must be received in the CARAS office by November 9 at 5PM EST however if you submit by the early bird deadline your product must be in the office by October 19 at 5PM EST
How do I ensure that my entry was submitted properly?
Once you have completed your online application at junosubmissions.ca, you will receive an email confirmation.
Deadlines?
Submissions must be completed online by 5pm EST on November 9, 2018, In order to qualify for the early bird deadline, your online submission must be complete by October 19, 2018 – including: all necessary uploaded documents and product, as well as payment. The 12 physical copies of the product required for Album Artwork of the Year must be received in the CARAS office by November 9, 2018 by 5pm EST, however if you submit by the early bird deadline your product must be in the office by 5pm EST on October 19.
Can I pay for my submission online?
Yes. Once all fields are entered properly during the submission process you will be prompted to a screen which will allow you to pay online with VISA, MasterCard or AMEX.
Can I fax or mail in my application?
No. Applications must be completed and submitted online via the website (www.junosubmissions.ca), including uploading your music.
Exception: If you submitted to Album Artwork of the Year, you will complete the online submission process and mail 12 copies of your product to the CARAS office by the November 9, 2018 deadline day. However, if you submit by the early bird deadline your product must be in the CARAS office by October 19, 2018 at 5pm EST in order to qualify for early bird pricing.
Are Non-Canadians eligible for any of the categories?
The only category where a non-Canadian is eligible is the International Album of the Year category.
For all other categories, a Canadian is defined as:
- 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
- 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.
Can I submit to more than one category?
Non-genre category: categories that are not tied to one genre. These categories are: 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. These categories are: Songwriter (9), Classical Composition (24), Producer (35), Recording Engineer (36), Album Artwork (37), and Video (38).
Crossover category: a category that will fit into a type of music based on lyrical reflection but may also fit into a different category based on musical sound. These categories are: Francophone (19), Indigenous Music (29) and Contemporary Christian/Gospel (33).
Genre category: a category that is a specific genre such as Rock, Pop, Jazz, Classical, etc.
- You may only make one submission in any of the genre categories (10-18, 20-23, 25-28, 30-32, 34 and 40-43).
- You may make submissions in all the crossover categories if eligible (19, 29, 33)
- You may only make one submission in categories 5-8.
- You may make submissions in all the remaining categories if eligible (3-4, 9, 24, and 35-38).
Will an album/recording qualify if it has been previously nominated?
No, you may not re-submit an album/recording if it has been previously nominated in the same category.
Exception: An Artist/Group may be nominated for a performance category – ALBUM/ARTIST/GROUP/BREAKTHROUGH ARTIST/BREAKTHROUGH GROUP OF THE YEAR and resubmit the same material the following year for a genre/craft category such as COUNTRY ALBUM OF THE YEAR (provided the material still falls within the eligibility period).
Does previously released/newly arranged material qualify?
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 previously released songs are NOT eligible.
Albums that have been previously released and then re-released in a different language with the same musical arrangement do not qualify.
“Greatest Hits” packages are not eligible. Greatest hits packages are defined as albums containing over 50% of previously released cuts. Live albums are eligible only if 50% or greater of the cuts are new (not previously released or newly arranged).
If I am asked to provide proof of my release date, what information do I need to provide?
You may submit a manufacturing invoice, a letter from the distributor or record company, or a contract showing Internet point of sale.
What defines a full album vs. an EP?
A full album is defined as having a minimum running time of 20:00+ unique minutes or six unique tracks (meaning no remixes, acoustic, instrumental versions, added accompaniment etc). An EP is defined as having a maximum running of 20:00 minutes.
Are cover songs eligible?
Covers of songs by other artists are eligible – provided the artist who is submitting has not recorded the songs previously and released them for national sale.
Does an album/recording qualify if it is in a different language?
Yes, there are no restrictions on album/recordings being in English only.
If an album released in a different language is nominated, it cannot be nominated again if released in English. Change of language still constitutes the same material and therefore it would be considered to be previously released and not eligible. The same rule applies to removing a vocal track or adding a vocal track to previously released material.
Which categories have sales requirements?
- International Album of the Year
- Album of the Year
- Artist of the Year
- Group of the Year
- Breakthrough Artist of the Year
- Breakthrough Group of the Year
- Pop Album of the Year
- Rock Album of the Year
- Francophone Album of the Year
Which categories have NO sales requirements?
- Songwriter of the Year
- Country Album of the Year
- Adult Alternative Album of the Year
- Alternative Album of the Year
- Vocal Jazz Album of the Year
- Jazz Album of the Year: Solo
- Jazz Album of the Year: Group
- Instrumental Album of the Year
- Children’s Album of the Year
- Classical Album of the Year: Solo or Chamber
- Classical Album of the Year: Large Ensemble
- Classical Album of the Year: Vocal or Choral
- Classical Composition of the Year
- Rap Recording of the Year
- Dance Recording of the Year
- R&B/Soul Recording of the Year
- Reggae Recording of the Year
- Indigenous Music Album of the Year
- Contemporary Roots Album of the Year
- Traditional Roots Album of the Year
- Blues Album of the Year
- Contemporary Christian/Gospel Album of the Year
- World Music Album of the Year
- Jack Richardson Producer of the Year
- Recording Engineer of the Year
- Album Artwork of the Year
- Video of the Year
- Electronic Album of the Year
- Metal/Hard Music Album of the Year
- Adult Contemporary Album of the Year
- Comedy Album of the Year
Regarding the sales categories, what can be included when calculating the sales figures?
The sales portion will be calculated by averaging total net physical units shipped (CD/Vinyl/DVD) combined with scanned sales, which includes digital sales.
Sales are based on the total unit amount of physical product shipped (CD/DVD/Vinyl) from September 1, 2017 to December 31, 2018. Do not include digital album or track sales.
Scanned sales will be generated by reports from September 1, 2017 to year end 2018.
The total of all scanned track sales during the eligibility period will be generated. All songs that comprise the album and all remixes or alternate versions of those songs are eligible for inclusion in the digital tracks computation.
- There are no minimum sales requirements for any sales related categories.
- Shipped sales are defined as net CD units shipped to retail in Canada including CDs sold to artists for offstage or online sale. Sales captured include digital albums, digital tracks, DVDs and offstage sales.
- Special edition compact discs, picture discs, coloured vinyl or any other derivative of an album will have the same unit sales value as a standard album.
- Direct Response (TV) Sales may be included provided that the product is newly recorded material, the product is also available at retail and only sales during the period are counted.
- Sales of physical product transacted online and fulfilled by the artist or a third party fulfillment company can be included.
How are box sets counted for the sales category?
For sales purposes, box sets are counted as one unit.
Are live albums eligible?
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 a so-called “live in the studio” recording.
Exception:
Live albums submitted in the JAZZ & BLUES categories need only have 25% new material to qualify.
Are TV/Movie soundtracks eligible?
TV and movie soundtracks are eligible provided a featured artist or band is performing on 75% of the tracks.
If an artist was part of a group who has been nominated before and now is in a solo project, do they qualify for Breakthrough Artist of the Year?
An artist who has been recognized previously (with a different group) and has now gone SOLO or changed his/her name does not qualify for Breakthrough Artist, as they will be considered previously nominated.
What are the eligibility requirements for the Songwriter of the Year category?
Songs submitted must have been released on record, in any format (album, single, video, etc.) during the period September 1, 2017 to November 9, 2018 i.e., songs released as singles or videos during the eligibility period may stand for nomination, even if they were released on an album prior to the eligibility period.
A songwriter MAY NOT submit three different tracks from an album that contains tracks that were nominated previously – because the three tracks nominated previously were representing the entire body of work for that eligibility period.
An instrumental song does qualify.
Can I submit to two Classical categories in the same year?
An album entered into the Classical Composition of the Year category can also be submitted into one of the other Classical categories in the same year. The Classical Composition category is not considered a genre category.
If a single in a recording category was nominated last year, and is now on a full album, can the full album be submitted into the same category?
An artist MAY submit a single/recording and become nominated and the following year they ARE eligible to submit the FULL ALBUM as a separate piece of product to be considered for the same category – they must pick three listening cuts (that do not include the cut that was nominated the previous year).
However, the opposite is not true; artists cannot submit a full album one year and then submit the same album next year using different listening cuts.
If there is a project that has Co-Producers, how should it be entered?
A co-production team who contributed equal amounts should be listed as a production team.
Will a Production team qualify if one Producer is Canadian and one is NOT Canadian?
The Canadian producer must have done at least 50% or more of the work in order for the project to qualify.
The non-Canadian producers will be acknowledged as co-producers in the nominee listings (and will not receive a JUNO if the project wins).
Will a Recording Package team qualify if one of the Designers is not Canadian?
Yes, if the majority of the work or the driving force behind the project is done by Canadian(s).
American Artists/Groups with Album Graphics designed by Canadians are eligible.
Who is eligible to receive the Video of the Year award?
The award will go to the Director and the Artist (if they are Canadian). In order to submit, the Director must be Canadian. If the Artist is not Canadian, they will receive named credit only.
If a full album/EP is available and is submitted into Dance Recording of the Year, can a single be submitted or is it mandatory to select three listening cuts?
When submitting an album/EP for consideration, an artist/band can choose to submit three tracks or one single to represent the body of work. If an album/EP is nominated one year, it may not be resubmitted in any form the following year using three different tracks or another single.
If I have never been nominated before, should I submit into Artist/Group or Breakthrough Artist/Breakthrough Group?
If you have not been previously recognized for a JUNO Award in any category, then you must submit to Breakthrough Artist or Breakthrough Group. In order to submit to Artist or Group, you must have been a previously recognized.
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