The Canadian Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences (CARAS) today announced that 2022 JUNO Awards Submissions are now open until Friday, Nov. 5, 2021 11:59 p.m. ET at Junosubmissions.ca.

To be considered for nomination for the 2022 JUNO Awards, national music release dates must fall between the eligibility period of Sept. 1, 2020 and Nov. 5, 2021.

Key submission dates and deadlines:

• October 4, 2021 –JUNO Awards Submissions Powered by TD open
• October 15, 2021; 5:00 p.m. ET – Deadline for discounted early-bird submissions
• November 5, 2021; 11:59 p.m. ET – Final Submission Deadline

Submission eligibility:

Eligible music must be available to all Canadians and for national sale (1) or via a recognized national music streaming provider (2).

1. Product must be released nationally via brick and mortar stores or third-party online retailers.
2. Product must be released via a nationally accessible streaming service that has paid subscriptions, full catalogue, or on-demand streaming.

Eligible products must be released during the eligibility period:  September 1, 2020 through to November 5, 2021. Albums available for pre-order online no later than November 5, 2021 will also qualify. Pre-ordered online albums (digital or physical copies) must be delivered to the consumer no later than November 19, 2021. Proof of transaction may be requested. Pre-order eligibility does not apply to Music Video of the Year.

Eligible musicians must be Canadian citizens/permanent resident(s). This is defined by CARAS as 50% or more of group members holding Canadian birth certificates, passports or are Canadian Permanent Resident(s) with residency in Canada during the last six months of the eligibility period.

*All dates are subject to change.

NEW FOR THIS YEAR:

TD says it is proud to be the powering sponsor of the JUNOS Submissions Access Program created by CARAS to support independent Canadian artists from underrepresented communities, to help cover the cost of a submission fee for the 2022 JUNO Awards. The program has been created to assist these artists with the costs involved in submitting their work in a single JUNOS category. Approved applicants will be reimbursed their submission fee. For more information and to apply click here.

Also, in response to Canada’s evolving music landscape, CARAS announced the creation of three new categories for 2022:

Indigenous Artist or Group of the Year will be split into two categories: Contemporary Indigenous Artist or Group of the Year and Traditional Indigenous Artist or Group of the Year

When the category was first created in 1994, the goal was always to create a second category which celebrated Traditional Indigenous music. With the category split, the JUNO Awards want to celebrate the diversity of Indigenous artists and groups, the music they create, and educate Canada on music being made by the original peoples of this land, and its roots in the spiritual, mental, physical, and emotional connections to the land and cultures they belong to.

As well, Rap Recording of the Year will be split into two categories: Rap Album/EP of the Year and Rap Single of the Year

As the most consumed genre of music around the world, the creation of a second Rap category allows for even more domestic talent to be celebrated at the JUNO Awards by highlighting the success of both albums, EPs and singles in each respective category.

A new category for Underground Dance Single of the Year has also been created for 2022.

Underground dance is a thriving genre of music focusing on preserving the origins of electronic music, created in underrepresented communities. This category will provide a space for the roots of the music to thrive and be celebrated.

ADDITIONAL UPDATES:

World Music Album of the Year has been renamed Global Music Album of the Year and will now be a crossover category for 2022.

This update provides a more inclusive category for artists. The goal of this category is to create a broad, borderless musical world that features contemporary and/or traditional sounds of regions from around the globe (IE: South & Central America, Asia, Africa, Europe, West Asia, North Africa, Pacific Islands, Polynesia, Melanesia, Micronesia, and the Caribbean) and will allow artists to submit their music to this category as well as another genre category that best fits their music (Rock, Rap, Electronic, etc.).

Classical Categories
The Classical categories (excluding Classical Composition) have been updated this year to better reflect the classical music recording industry in Canada. This change will merge both vocal and instrumental artists into the same categories and focus on size. Category 21 has been updated from Solo or Chamber Ensemble to Solo Artist. This award will go to the Solo Artist only, who must be the focal point of the recording and/or artwork.

Category 22 remains Large Ensemble. Instrumental and/or vocal ensembles, as well as soloists with large ensemble accompaniment, and conductor must consist of 15 or more LIVE members.

Category 23 has been updated from Vocal or Choral to Small Ensemble. Instrumental and/or vocal small ensembles, instrumental and/or vocal soloists with chamber accompaniment, and conductor must consist of 14 or fewer LIVE members.

For more specific criteria, please visit the Criteria by Category page here.

For a complete list of JUNO Awards categories, eligibility rules, and voting criteria, visit www.junoawards.ca/submissions.