TORONTO – The Canadian Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences (CARAS) today announced the JUNO Awards are heading back to Saskatchewan in 2020. Affectionately dubbed the ‘Paris of the Prairies’, Saskatoon will once again host the largest music event in the country and all JUNO Week festivities beginning on March 9, culminating with the 49th annual JUNO Awards broadcast live on CBC from the SaskTel Centre on Sunday, March 15, 2020.
JUNO Week 2020 returns to Saskatchewan with the support of the Government of Saskatchewan, the City of Saskatoon, Tourism Saskatoon and the 2020 Host Committee. This is the second time the city has hosted Canada’s most prominent celebration of music, having hosted the JUNOS in 2007 when Nelly Furtado served as host.
“There is no question that Saskatchewan has a thriving and diverse music and cultural scene,” said Allan Reid, President & CEO, CARAS/The JUNO Awards and MusiCounts. “We’re truly delighted to bring JUNO Week back to Saskatoon, after more than a decade, to a city with a demonstrated commitment to supporting the arts and a city that was an exceptional host in the past.”
The 2020 JUNO Awards will shine a spotlight on Saskatchewan hospitality and our own wealth of talented artists,” the Honourable Scott Moe, Premier of Saskatchewan said. “Events of this scale deliver wide-reaching economic benefits and contribute to our exceptional quality of life. We look forward to welcoming artists and fans who will be coming together to celebrate music in our province.”
“It is great to once again be hosting the JUNOS—the biggest event on the Canadian music scene—in our city. Saskatoon is a cultural capital of our country, with a vibrant and growing arts and culture scene that is helping to define and shape our community. The events surrounding the JUNOS will be the perfect opportunity to showcase this to the rest of Canada as we welcome the rest of the country here in 2020. I would like to thank the organizing committee for their continued work in bringing these events to Saskatoon, said Mayor Charlie Clark.
“We are deeply proud to have won the competitive bid for the JUNO Awards in 2020,” said Scott Ford, Chair, 2020 JUNO Host Committee. “The opportunity to once again showcase our talent, enthusiastic and supportive community and the outstanding facilities of a city experiencing incredible growth, is a privilege. We look forward to executing another tremendous success with our partners at CARAS.”
As one of the premiere cultural destinations in Canada, Saskatoon is one of Canada’s youngest city with a palpable energy and a vibrant cultural scene. The SaskTel Centre has undergone numerous renovations and a seating expansion since the 2007 JUNO Awards, now boasting seating for more than 15,000 fans.
A province that celebrates artistry, Saskatchewan is home to numerous talented artists including 2019 JUNO Award nominees Jess Moskaluke, Megan Nash, The Deep Dark Woods, The Sheepdogs and 2018 Traditional Roots Album of the Year winners – The Dead South.
Over the years, the JUNOS has become an engine of economic yield, with each host city seeing an average impact of over $12M.
The 49th annual JUNO Awards and JUNO Week 2020 will be hosted in Saskatoon, SK from March 9 through March 15, 2020, culminating in The JUNO Awards, on Sunday, March 15, at the SaskTel Centre, broadcast live on CBC, CBC Radio One, CBC Music, the free CBC Gem streaming service in Canada and globally at cbcmusic.ca/junos
Exclusive Broadcast and Content Partner:
CARAS acknowledges the financial support of FACTOR, the Government of Canada and of Canada’s Private Radio Broadcasters.
Funding Partners: The Government of Saskatchewan, the City of Saskatoon, Tourism Saskatoon.
Links:
Official JUNO Awards website: www.junoawards.ca / Digital Toolkit
CBC Music: www.cbcmusic.ca/junos
JUNO Awards
Twitter: @TheJUNOAwards / Instagram: @TheJUNOAwards / Facebook: @TheJUNOAwards / Hashtag: #JUNOS
Tourism Saskatoon
Twitter: @VisitSaskatoon / Facebook: @TourismSaskatoon
About CARAS
The Canadian Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences/L’académie canadienne des arts et des sciences de l’enregistrement (CARAS) is a not-for-profit organization created to preserve and enhance the Canadian music industry and to contribute toward higher artistic and industry standards. CARAS’ mandate is comprised of four key pillars: Educate through our music education charity MusiCounts programs and initiatives, Develop emerging artists through mentorship and development programs, Celebrate Canadian artists with year round JUNO Awards showcasing, and Honour music industry icons through the Canadian Music Hall of Fame. For more information on the 49th Annual JUNO Awards or The Canadian Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences (CARAS) please visit www.junoawards.ca
