In a move that has left many in the Black community stunned and disappointed, the JUNO Awards, Canada’s premier music event, has announced the removal of the Best Reggae Recording category from its 2025 awards lineup. This decision, first reported by Reggaenorthca.com on September 6, has ignited widespread frustration and demands for more transparency from the Canadian Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences (CARAS), which organizes the event.
The sudden announcement came via an email to the JUNO Awards’ Reggae committee on September 5. In the message, CARAS revealed that not only the reggae category but also awards for children’s albums, Christian/gospel albums, and international albums of the year would be put on “hiatus” for 2025. According to the organizers, factors such as declining streaming numbers, reduced sales, repetitive submissions, and the same artists dominating year after year were behind the decision. However, critics argue that this explanation lacks detail and clarity, leaving many reggae fans and musicians in Canada searching for answers.
The Community Speaks Out
Since the announcement, social media platforms have been buzzing with reactions from fans, musicians, and other stakeholders in the reggae community, many of whom are calling for a reversal of the decision.
Music producer, Brian Kotler, expressed his frustration on Facebook, writing, “They made a grave mistake. Once you start to remove these awards, they isolate themselves from lots of minorities. And it’s not what music is about or even Canada. In an era where they should be adding, they are removing.”
JF Cuthbert echoed these sentiments, noting that this decision follows a long history of sidelining Black music genres in Canada. “The history of what they have done to multiple Black music categories in this country is nothing short of abhorrent,” he stated. “The reggae music community deserves clarity and transparency on what has animated this recent decision of theirs.”
While some lament the lost visibility for reggae, others are concerned about how this decision will impact the future of the genre in Canada. Progress Reggae, a vocal member of the community, pointed out, “Not good to be removed from a national platform. Does the reggae community have enough unity to protest? What will fill the void?”
A Cultural Legacy in Jeopardy
For many, the removal of the reggae category from the JUNOs feels like a step backward for a genre that has been a part of the awards since 1985. Neto Yuth, a Canadian reggae artist, remarked, “This is a very bad look for reggae music here in Canada on the international stage. We took a big loss yesterday, but we can gain from it tomorrow if we do the right things.”
Chris Serre expressed a broader view, highlighting that while the reggae category has been cut from the JUNOs, reggae music continues to thrive through other avenues. “We gained the Reggae North Music Awards, and we still have the Reggae Xclusive Awards,” Serre noted, adding that reggae is still very much alive through events like the Little Jamaica festival and mainstream projects like the Bob Marley One Love movie.
Yet, for JUNO Award-winning artist Kirk Diamond, the issue cuts deeper. “The fight isn’t a reggae fight—reggae will always be alright,” Diamond wrote. “The fight is for the artists that live in Canada that do reggae music and express themselves through reggae.”
Other prominent voices like Lenn Hammond and Lazo Finn, both JUNO winners, spoke about the challenges reggae artists face in Canada even with the JUNO category. “Too often winners don’t even leave the country,” Hammond said. “That’s not on the JUNO. The JUNO is a platform to help propel one to stardom.”
The Path Forward: Reggae North Music Awards
As the community grapples with this loss, there is still hope. The inaugural Reggae North Music Awards (RNMA), set to take place on September 29 at the Rose Theatre in Brampton, aims to fill the void left by the JUNOs. With 18 categories, the RNMA is designed to celebrate and uplift the reggae and dancehall artists in Canada, providing a platform to recognize the talent within the community.
In a statement from the organizers, they emphasized that the RNMA is not meant to replace the JUNO Awards. “We are not trying to replace or compete with the 40-year history of the JUNO Awards. The RNMA is here to celebrate reggae and dancehall music in Canada. We are for us, by us, and it won’t be successful without the Black community’s acceptance and support.”
What’s Next?
The JUNO Awards have stated that they will provide additional information regarding the changes in the coming weeks. Until then, the reggae community in Canada is left wondering what the future holds for a genre that has long been part of the fabric of Canadian music.
In the meantime, fans and artists are urged to support the upcoming Reggae North Music Awards and continue advocating for reggae’s place on Canada’s national music stage. As 7-time JUNO nominee Ammoye optimistically noted, “Follow the love, not the chaos or the drama unfolding. Better is coming so just relax… #TheBestIsYetToCome!”
For more information on the Reggae North Music Awards, visit reggaenorthmusicawards.com.