New York, NY. (Top40 Charts/ Roadrunner Records) - THE 2009 JUNO AWARDS on CTV rocked Vancouver tonight during one of the most star-studded events in Canadian music.
Nickelback cranked up the show with an incredibly pyrotechnic opening number; and it was clear from the start that it would be a night to remember for the 6X platinumselling rock group. With a No 1 selling album, Dark Horse,
Nickelback received the JUNO Award for Album of the Year (sponsored by Canadian Recording
Industry Association), Group of the Year and the Juno Fan Choice Award (presented by Pepsi).
Highlights from the broadcast are now available on demand on The CTV Broadband Network at junos.CTV.ca. As well, MuchMoreMusic presents an encore broadcast of THE 2009 JUNO AWARDS on Thursday, April 2 at 8 p.m. ET.
The CTV broadcast was hosted for the second year in a row by comedian Russell Peters, who first appeared in a Bollywood/Breakdancing number and then went on to skewer musicians in the audience, from Loverboy and Sarah McLachlan to Bryan Adams and Michael Buble.
One after another, Canada's biggest names and most exciting recording artists graced The JUNO Awards stage to the delight of a packed audience at Vancouver's General Motors Place. Presenters included Aaron Pritchett, Feist, Hedley, k.d lang and Kreesha Turner as well as a rare appearance by music's power-couple Elvis Costello and Diana Krall, who together presented the last JUNO Award of the evening.
Seven JUNO Award statuettes were bestowed throughout the night including a win for indie-pop sensation Lights for New Artist of the Year (sponsored by FACTOR and Canada's Private Radio Broadcasters), and rap/reggae chameleon Kardinal Offishall for Rap Recoding of the Year, taking home a second award after a previous win for Single of the Year at yesterday's JUNO Gala Dinner & Awards.
The house erupted with applause when surprise guest Gordon Downie of The Tragically Hip joined newly minted Songwriter of the Year (sponsored by SIRIUS Satellite Radio) Dallas Green for an unforgettable performance of 'Sleeping Sickness.'
The night was full of unique collaborations counting a triple threat segment by three of Canada's hottest young stars Crystal Shawanda, Divine Brown and Serena Ryder who each performed their smash singles. Music icon Bryan Adams sang 'Walk On By' with the help of JUNO Award nominee Kathleen Edwards on violin. As well, Canadian folk-rockers Great Big Sea teamed up with Hawksley Workman and world music group Eccodek for a show-stopping closing number and one of a kind musical experience.
Other electrifying performances came from Sam Roberts who tonight received the JUNO Award for Artist of the Year and yesterday for Rock Album of the Year, Sarah McLachlan, Simple Plan and The Stills, who won two JUNO Awards last night for New Group of the Year (sponsored by FACTOR and Canada's Private Radio Broadcasters) and Alternative Album of the Year.
Famed music producer Bob Rock honoured 80s rock icon Loverboy during a special presentation. Members Mike Reno, Paul Dean, Doug Johnson, Matt Frenette, the late Scott Smith and Ken 'Spider' Sinnaeve are the newest inductees to the Canadian Music Hall of Fame. Alongside multiple hit albums and more than 20 million records sold worldwide, Loverboy is perhaps best known for the resonating party anthem 'Everybody's Working For The Weekend.'
And what a weekend it was in Vancouver! Tonight's CTV broadcast of THE 2009 JUNO AWARDS was the fantastical culmination of a four-day celebration of Canadian music that was packed with musical highlights, festivities, concerts and events.
For a complete list of 2009 JUNO Award winners in all 39 categories, go to www.junoawards.ca or www.junos.CTV.ca.
Broadcast in high definition and 5.1 surround sound and hosted by Russell Peters, it's the eighth year in a row that The JUNO Awards aired on CTV, the Official Broadcast partner of The JUNO Awards. Since CTV joined forces with CARAS in 2002, The JUNO Awards have traveled across Canada, bringing a live, electrified stadium show to millions of Canadians. CTV has broadcast The JUNO Awards from St. John's (2002), Ottawa (2003), Edmonton (2004), Winnipeg (2005), Halifax (2006), Saskatoon (2007) and Calgary (2008). The 2010 JUNO Awards will be broadcast once again from St. John's, NL.
THE 2009 JUNO AWARDS is produced by Insight Productions in association with CTV and The Canadian Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences (CARAS). Executive producers are John Brunton and Barbara Bowlby for Insight Productions and Melanie Berry and Stephen Stohn for CARAS. Louise Wood is Producer and Donna Luke is Line Producer. Susanne Boyce is President, Creative, Content and Channels, CTV Inc.
Broadcast sponsors for THE 2009 JUNO AWARDS are Garnier, Pepsi, Pontiac and Rogers.
Sponsors of THE 2009 JUNO AWARDS include FACTOR, Canada's Private Radio Broadcasters and the Government of Canada through the Department of Canadian Heritage's 'Canada Music Fund,' The Province of British Columbia, The City of Vancouver, Music BC and Radio Starmaker Fund.
About CARAS:
The Canadian Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences/L'academie canadienne des arts et des sciences de l'enregistrement (CARAS) is a not-for-profit organization created to preserve and enhance the Canadian music and recording industries and to contribute toward higher artistic and industry standards. The main focus of CARAS is the exploration and development of opportunities to showcase and promote Canadian artists and music through vehicles such as The JUNO Awards. For more information on The 38th Annual JUNO Awards or The Canadian Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences (CARAS) please visit our websites at www.carasonline.ca and www.junoawards.ca.
About CTV:
CTV, Canada's largest private broadcaster, offers a wide range of quality news, sports, information, and entertainment programming. It has the number-one national newscast, CTV NATIONAL NEWS WITH LLOYD ROBERTSON, and is the number-one choice for prime-time viewing. CTVglobemedia Inc. is Canada's premier multi-media company which owns CTV Inc. and The Globe and Mail. CTV Inc. also owns radio stations across the country, and leading national specialty channels. Other CTVglobemedia investments include an interest in Maple Leaf Sports & Entertainment Ltd., and in Dome Productions, a North American leader in the provision of mobile high definition production facilities. More information about CTV may be found on the company website at www.ctv.ca.
Web Links:
CTV's JUNO Awards website: www.junos.ctv.ca
Official JUNO Awards website: www.junoawards.ca
CARAS website: www.carasonline.ca
