Why the Juno Awards matter to artists

Have you ever ever wondered in regards to the impact being nominated for — or winning — a Juno Award has on an artist’s profession?

Well, wonder no more: it seems it will probably be quite substantial.

For instance, when Caity Gyorgy won the Vocal Jazz Album of the Yr last 12 months on the fiftieth anniversary of the awards show that celebrates Canadian recording artists, the advantages of her victory didn’t take long to manifest.

“It modified my life,” said Gyorgy (pronounced “George”), who won following her first-time nomination for her album “Now Pronouncing: Caity Gyorgy.”

“I’ve been capable of book so much more performances across Canada and within the U.S., and I just got here back from Mexico. What I’ve noticed is that each time I’ve been announced through these gigs by the promoters and venues, they at all times start with, ‘We’re promoting Juno Award-winning Caity Gyorgy.’

“It’s definitely added an enormous sense of validity to my music and me as an artist.”

Other than the added bookings, there was one other bottom-line profit to Gyorgy’s stature as a Juno Award winner.

“Almost each show that I’ve played since winning the Juno has been sold out,” said Gyorgy, who will compete in the identical category this 12 months for her sophomore album “Featuring” when the Junos are presented in Edmonton on March 13.

Gyorgy has also been surprised to be told how much she’s artistically motivated the private students she tutors vocally.

“So many individuals have told me, ‘Oh, that is so great that you just’ve won with original music. Now I need to write down original music,’” she said. “For me, that’s probably the most inspiring part, especially to encourage young women to write down and record albums.”

First-time Juno nominee Francois Klark has yet to experience the advantages related to an awards nomination, however the Adult Contemporary Album of the Yr contender says the incontrovertible fact that he’s in pretty heavy company for his category is offers great validation.

“All those years of exertions where it appears like you don’t know where you going or in the event you’re getting in the precise direction, the Juno nomination is a nod out of your peers and the industry that serves as a little bit reminder that you just’re doing OK,” said Klark, who was born in South Africa and commenced his musical journey in 2017.

“It’s a little bit little bit of a relief and inspiration to maintain going.”

And while he’s not bullish about his probabilities of winning as a consequence of Michael Bublé’s Grammy-winning “Higher” being in his category,Klark will at the very least stage a performance throughout the Juno Week JunoFest concert series that weekend in Edmonton … and maybe gain a collaborative opportunity or two.

“I’m looking forward to hearing among the other artists in concert and possibly working with them as a author or a producer,” Klark said.

After all, one in all the prime positions you may achieve via the Junos is a spot on the two-hour program, as was the case for London, Ont., electronic artists Loud Luxury after they won their first of two Junos of their hometown in 2019. Hosted by actor Simu Liu, this 12 months’s ceremony shall be nationally broadcast on CBC and available via its other digital media platforms.

While the duo of Andrew Fedyk and Joe De Pace were already a known entity through hits like “Body” by the point the Junos rolled around (capturing the award for Dance Recording of the Yr), they said their performance on the show with singer Brando and the Western Mustang Band helped make clear public understanding in regards to the sort of music they create.

“I don’t think that electronic music is the most effective understood genres,” said Fedyk, whose outfit won Group of the Yr in 2020 and is again nominated for Dance Recording this 12 months for “These Nights” featuring Kiddo.

“To place it in a public space the best way the Junos did made sense across all generations. To people of an older age — my parents for instance — it helped them understand why the music we’re doing matters and the way it is sensible.

“That aspect was really necessary. That cemented popular culture for us.”

It’s necessary to notice that every one the magical moments that may change a musician’s profession don’t necessarily occur on camera.

Allan Reid, president and CEO of the Canadian Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences and the Juno Awards, recalls the 2017 “In Memoriam” segment on the Juno Gala Dinner and Awards portion of the weekend that endlessly modified the lifetime of William Prince.

Reid said booking agent Julien Paquin really useful Prince sing a song he wrote called “Breathless” throughout the “In Memoriam” and the organization took him up on the offer.

“William’s voice is just stunning, a stupendous baritone bass,” said Reid. “He performed the song and, at the tip, received a rousing ovation, since the song really resonated with everyone within the room.”

Reid attended the Western Canadian Music Awards just a few months later and was approached by Prince’s manager, Nathalie Kleinschmit, who thanked him for changing her client’s life.

Kleinschmit told Reid that the moment Prince walked off the stage after performing “Breathless,” she had been besieged by offers from quite a few labels to become involved with the singer/songwriter’s profession.

Prince, who won Contemporary Roots Album that 12 months for his debut album, “Earthly Days,” ended up signing a worldwide recording and publishing take care of Glassnote Records, home to Mumford & Sons, Phoenix, the Strumbellas and others.

“Here was William, from the Peguis First Nation, couch browsing at his sister’s house in Winnipeg, attempting to make ends meet as a young father, and suddenly he was able to think about home ownership and do away with his personal debt,” Reid said. “He also bought a Gibson guitar that he was eyeing and wrote five songs on it over the subsequent two weeks.”

Reid said Kleinschmit told him, “For some people, the awards are seen as ephemeral and intangible. For William, the impact of the Junos is real, very raw and galvanizing.”

Concluded Reid: “The Junos can put wind in your sails as an artist.”