Tate McRae, Daniel Caesar and Aysanabee Win Major Awards at 2024 Juno Opening Night Awards: Full Winners List

Tate McRae won both major awards she was nominated for at the 2024 Juno Opening Night Awards, which was livestreamed from the Halifax Convention Centre on Saturday (March 23). The Calgary-born breakout superstar continued her big year both in Canada and internationally, one that included a major Billboard chart hit and appearing on the cover of Billboard. She won single of the year for “greedy” and artist of the year, though the California-based singer was not in attendance to accept either award.

McRae performed at last year’s ceremony and was nominated for five 2023 awards but didn’t win any of them, but 2024 brought her to even bigger heights with the release of her album Think Later. She’s also nominated for the TikTok Juno Fan Choice Award on the main Juno Awards telecast on Sunday (March 24), which gives her the chance to win four this year.

Several breakout Canadian stars earned accolades at the Opening Night Awards. According to Allan Reid, President & CEO of the Juno Awards, 2024 had the most submissions in Juno Awards history, which led to 90 first-time nominees.

Aysanabee won for both songwriter of the year and alternative album of the year for Hear and Now, and talked about his rags-to-riches journey. “I grew up in a trailer in North Ontario without electricity or running water,” he said. “And now I’m here.”

Until recently, it was rare for Indigenous musicians to win Junos outside of the Indigenous category, but that’s begun to change as First Nations artists have made a major impact in the country’s music industry. Aysanabee shouted out Amanda Rheume and ShoShona Kish, who founded the female and Indigenous-owned label Ishkodé Records. He recognized that this was the most Indigenous artists who had ever been nominated, and invited them all to stand up.

Despite his two wins, he actually lost in the contemporary Indigenous artist or group of the year category to Quebec’s Elisapie, whose album Inuktitut reimagines classic pop and rock hits in the title language. Peguis First Nation singer-songwriter William Prince’s Stand in the Joy won for contemporary roots album of the year.

The Beaches and Charlotte Cardin both had their first American chart hits since last year’s Junos, and both won major awards this year. The Beaches won for rock album of the year for Blame My Ex, while Cardin won for pop album of the year for 99 Nights. The Montreal-based Cardin led all artists for most nominations this year and will have a chance to win two more on Sunday for the popular-voted fan choice and for the year’s biggest award, album of the year. “This is so cool!” she said, accepting the award.

New West won for breakthrough group of the year and joked that they were a “very very famous TikTok band.” Co-hosts Aba Amuquandoh and Damhnait Doyle, both CBC personalities, earlier commented that being an artist in 2024 often meant becoming a TikTok star or being rediscovered by a new generation, but that Canadians “punch above our weight” because of both hustle and support from government arts funding. That’s under the microscope in the industry right now during an updating of the Broadcasting Act. The event also recognized this year’s Walt Grealis Special Achievement Award to music executive, author and lawyer Chip Sutherland, one of the architects of the Radio Starmaker Fund, which helps launch emerging Canadian artists with support from radio.

Winning electronic album of the year for INFINITY CLUB, Bambii talked about the unparalleled strength of Toronto’s underground scene, “the real Toronto,” and implored journalists and industry stakeholders to “do your research” and dig deeper.

Several Juno winners have also done well in the U.S. market. R&B star SZA won for international album of the year for SOS, while Shawn Everett won for both producer of the year and recording engineer of the year for his work with Miley Cyrus and Brittany Howard. Daniel Caesar won in the contemporary R&B recording of the year category for Never Enough, while long-running singer-songwriter Feist won adult alternative album of the year for Multitudes. And Nashville-based Allison Russell’s video and its director Ethan Tobman won music video of the year for “Demons.”

A total of 42 awards were presented in rapid-fire succession at the Opening Night Awards. Performers included Aqyila, LU KALA, Begonia, Jah’Mila and Lili-Ann De Francesco.

Four more awards will be presented on the televised broadcast on Sunday night at 8 p.m. ET on CBC TV, CBC Gem, CBC Radio One, CBC Music, CBC Listen, and globally at CBCMusic.ca/junos and CBC Music’s Facebook, YouTube and Twitter pages.

Here’s the complete list of winners at the 2024 Juno Opening Night Awards.

Single of the Year

“Confetti,” Charlotte Cardin, Cult Nation*The Orchard

“Always,” Daniel Caesar, Republic*Universal

“Pretty Girl Era,” LU KALA, LVK/Amigo Records*AWAL

“A Little Bit Happy,” TALK, Capitol*Universal

WINNER: “greedy,” Tate McRae, RCA*Sony

International Album of the Year

Gettin’ Old, Luke Combs, River House/Columbia*Sony

HEROES & VILLAINS, Metro Boomin, Boominati*Universal

One Thing At A Time, Morgan Wallen, Big Loud/Republic*Universal

WINNER: SOS, SZA, Top Dawg/RCA*Sony

1989 (Taylor’s Version), Taylor Swift, Taylor Swift*Universal

Artist of the Year

Charlotte Cardin, Cult Nation*The Orchard

Daniel Caesar, Republic*Universal

Lauren Spencer Smith, Universal

Shania Twain, Republic*Universal

WINNER: Tate McRae, RCA*Sony

Breakthrough Group of the Year

Busty and the Bass, Arts & Crafts*Universal

Crash Adams, Warner

Good Kid, Good People*The Orchard

Men I Trust, Independent

WINNER: New West, Republic*Universal

Songwriter of the Year

Allison Russell, Publisher: PO GIRL MUSIC / CONCORD MUSIC PUBLISHING

WINNER: Aysanabee, Publisher: SELF PUBLISHED

Charlotte Cardin, Jason Brando & Lubalin, Publisher: BIG BOY ED

Nicholas Durocher & Connor Riddell, Publisher: SUMMER CAMP MUSIC PUBLISHING LTD. / ARTHAUS MEDIA INC. / PEER MUSIC CANADA INC.

William Prince, Publisher: SELF PUBLISHED

Country Album of the Year

The Compass Project – South Album, Brett Kissel, Big Star*Universal

Right Round Here, Dean Brody, Starseed*Stem

Do It Anyway, Jade Eagleson, Starseed*Stem

WINNER: Ahead Of Our Time, James Barker Band, RECORDS/Columbia*Sony

Spillin’ My Truth, Tyler Joe Miller, MDM*Universal

Adult Alternative Album of the Year

Powder Blue, Begonia, Birthday Cake*The Orchard

WINNER: Multitudes, Feist, Universal

Are We Good, Hayden, Arts & Crafts*Universal

Motewolonuwok, Jeremy Dutcher, Secret City*F.A.B.

Revolution, Shawnee Kish, Amelia*Symphonic

Alternative Album of the Year

WINNER: Here and Now, Aysanabee, Ishkōdé*Universal

Dizzy, Dizzy, Royal Mountain*Universal

To Learn, Leith Ross, Republic*Universal

See You In The Dark, Softcult, Easy Life*The Orchard

Lord of the Flies & Birds & Bees, TALK, Capitol*Universal

Pop Album of the Year

WINNER: 99 Nights, Charlotte Cardin, Cult Nation*The Orchard

Mirror, Lauren Spencer Smith, Universal

Saturn Return, Rêve, 31 East*Universal

Queen Of Me, Shania Twain, Republic*Universal

Lost In Translation, Valley, Universal

Rock Album of the Year

Fearless, Crown Lands, Universal

Formentera II, Metric, Metric Music*Thirty Tigers/The Orchard

WINNER: Blame My Ex, The Beaches, AWAL*Independent

Pretty Monster, The Blue Stones, MNRK*Outside

Glory, The Glorious Sons, TGS*Warner

Vocal Jazz Album of the Year

Songwriter, Alex Bird & Ewen Farncombe, Independent

You’re Alike, You Two, Caity Gyorgy & Mark Limacher, La Reserve*Independent/The Orchard

Little Bit a’ Love, Denielle Bassels, Independent

WINNER: Our Roots Run Deep, Dominique Fils-Aimé, Ensoul*F.A.B./Believe

Your Requests, Laila Biali, Empress*Independent/Believe

Jazz Album of the Year (Solo)

WINNER: Day Moon, Christine Jensen, Justin Time*F.A.B./Nettwerk

Walls Made of Glass, Gentiane MG, TPR*Propagande/A-Train

Sonic Bouquet, Jocelyn Gould, Independent

Twelve, Noam Lemish, TPR*Independent/A-Train

The South Detroit Connection, Russ Macklem, TQM*Independent/IDLA

Jazz Album of the Year (Group)

Migrations, Allison Au with the Migrations Ensemble, Independent

Septology-The Black Forest Session, Canadian Jazz Collective, HGBS Blue*MIG/Proper/UMV/MVD/Independent

WINNER: Cry Me A River, Hilario Duran and His Latin Jazz Big Band, Alma*Universal

Recent History, Mike Murley & Mark Eisenman Quartet, Cornerstone*Outside/The Orchard

Convergence, Nick Maclean Quartet feat. Brownman Ali, Browntasauras/Independent

Instrumental Album of the Year

Néo-Romance, Alexandra Stréliski, Secret City* F.A.B.

WINNER: When we were that what wept for the sea, Colin Stetson, 52 Hz

Calibrating Friction, Haralabos [Harry] Stafylakis, New Amsterdam*Naxos

Fourth Album, Markus Floats, Constellation*Secretly

Tesseract, Meredith Bates, Phonometrograph*Independent

Francophone Album of the Year

Zayon, FouKi, Disques 7ième, Ciel*Believe

Dans la seconde, Karkwa, Simone*Sony/The Orchard

WINNER: En concert avec l’Orchestre symphonique de Montréal (sous la direction du chef Simon Leclerc), Les Cowboys Fringants & l’Orchestre symphonique de Montréal, Les Disques de La Tribu*Propagande/Believe

À boire deboutte, Salebarbes, Productions Grand V.*The Orchard

Non conventionnel Souldia, Disques 7ième Ciel*Independent/Believe

Children’s Album of the Year

Big Words, ABC Singsong, Independent/The Orchard

Going Back: Remembered and Remixed Family Folk Songs, Vol. 1, Ginalina, Independent

Love-a-By, Splash’N Boots, Independent/The Orchard

WINNER: Welcome to the Flea Circus, The Swinging Belles, Independent

Maestro Fresh Wes Presents: Young Maestro, Stick To Your Vision For Young Athletes, Young Maestro, Independent

Classical Album of the Year (Solo Artist)

Infinite Voyage, Barbara Hannigan, Alpha Classics*Naxos/Independent

WINNER: Nielsen: Violin Concerto, Symphony No. 4, James Ehnes, Chandos*Naxos/The Orchard

Fauré: Nocturnes & Barcarolles, Marc-André Hamelin, Hyperion*Universal

De Hartmann: Cello Concerto, Matt Haimovitz, Pentatone/Naxos

mouvance, Suzie LeBlanc, Centrediscs*Canadian Music Centre/Naxos

Classical Album of the Year (Large Ensemble)

Bekah Simms: Bestiaries, Cryptid Ensemble, Ensemble Contemporain de Montreal, Centrediscs*Canadian Music Centre/Naxos

WINNER: Maxime Goulet: Symphonie de la tempête de verglas, Orchestre classique de Montréal, conducted by/dirigé par Jacques Lacombe, ATMA*Universal

Sibelius 3 & 4, Orchestre Métropolitain, conducted by/dirigé par Yannick Nézet-Séguin, ATMA*Universal

Mahler: Symphony No. 5, Orchestre Symphonique De Montreal, conducted by/dirigé par Rafael Payare, Pentatone*Naxos

Rachmaninoff: Symphonies Nos. 2 & 3; Isle of the Dead, The Philadelphia Orchestra, conducted by/dirigé par Yannick Nézet-Séguin, Deutsche Grammophon*Universal

Classical Album of the Year

Mythes, Andrew Armstrong & James Ehnes, Onyx*The Orchard

Portrait: Alex Baranowski, Angèle Dubeau & La Pietà, Analekta*Naxos/The Orchard

Portrait, Cheng² Duo, Centrediscs*Canadian Music Centre/Naxos

WINNER: Il Ponte di Leonardo, Constantinople, Glossa*Naxos

Basta parlare!, Les Barocudas, ATMA*Universal

Classical Composition of the Year

Simulacra, Amy Brandon, Independent

Portrait of an Imaginary Sibling, Dinuk Wijeratne, Centrediscs*Canadian Music Centre/Naxos

…and the Higher Leaves of the Trees Seemed to Shimmer in the Last of the Sunlight’s Lingering Touch of Them…, Emilie Cecilia LeBel, Redshift

Shāhīn-nāmeh, for Voice and Orchestra, Iman Habibi, Analekta*Naxos/The Orchard

WINNER: Don’t Throw Your Head in Your Hands, Nicole Lizée, Redshift

Rap Album of the Year

bag or die, bbno$, Independent*Stem

Spin the Globe, Connor Price, Independent

Crying Crystals, Haviah Mighty, Mighty Gang*Foundation Media

KAYTRAMINÉ, KAYTRAMINÉ, Independent

WINNER: PANIC, TOBi, RCA*Sony

Dance Recording of the Year

“Eat Your Man,” Dom Dolla & Nelly Furtado, Three Six Zero*Sony

“Crew Thang,” DVBBS, Jeremih & Sk8, Ultra*Sony

WINNER: “Need Your Love,” Felix Cartal & Karen Harding, Physical Presents*Fontana North

“I Go Dancing” (feat. Ella Henderson), Frank Walker, Ultra*Sony

“Next To You” (feat. Kane Brown), Loud Luxury & DVBBS, Armada*Sony

Contemporary R&B Recording of the Year

“For the Better,” Aqyila, Sony

WINNER: “Never Enough,” Daniel Caesar, Republic*Universal

“Heartbreak Hill,” Jon Vinyl, Vinyl*Foundation Media

“When It Blooms,” Nonso Amadi, Universal

FACETS, Shay Lia, AWAL

Reggae Recording of the Year

“Stir This Thing,” Ammoye, Donsome*Ingrooves/Virgin

“Feel Like Home,” Exco Levi, Penthouse*High Priest/ONErpm

“Roots Girl,” Jah’Mila, Independent

WINNER: “Dread,” Diamond & Finn, Independent

“Rush Dem” (feat. 4Korners, Haviah Mighty), Omega Mighty, Independent*Foundation Media

Contemporary Indigenous Artist or Group of the Year

Here and Now, Aysanabee, Ishkōdé*Universal

Scream, Holler & Howl, Blue Moon Marquee, Independent*IDLA

WINNER: Inuktitut, Elisapie, Bonsound*Sony/The Orchard

Revolution, Shawnee Kish, Amelia*Symphonic

Bekka Ma’iingan, Zoon, Paper Bag*Fontana North

Contemporary Roots Album of the Year

The Returner, Allison Russell, Fantasy*Universal

We Will Never Be The Same, Good Lovelies, Outside

Beyond The Reservoir, Julian Taylor, Howling Turtle*Warner

A Light in the Attic, Logan Staats, Red Music Rising*Believe

WINNER: Stand in the Joy, William Prince, Six Shooter*The Orchard

Traditional Roots Album of the Year

Paint Horse, Benjamin Dakota Rogers, Good People*The Orchard

WINNER: The Breath Between, David Francey, Independent

Roses, Jackson Hollow, Mountain Fever*Syntax Creative

Second Hand, James Keelaghan, Borealis*Universal/IDLA

Resilience, Morgan Toney, Ishkōdé*Universal

Blues Album of the Year

SoulFunkn’BLUES, Blackburn Brothers, Electro-Fi*Isotope Music/The Orchard

WINNER: Scream, Holler & Howl, Blue Moon Marquee, Independent/IDLA

One Step Closer, Brandon Isaak, Independent

The Big Bottle of Joy, Matt Andersen, Sonic*Warner

Gettin’ Together, Michael Jerome Browne, Borealis*Universal/IDLA

Contemporary Christian/Gospel Album of the Year

Glory To God, Brooke Nicholls, Independent

ALL YE LEPERS, Joshua Leventhal, Independent

WINNER: Arrow, K-Anthony, Independent

Where I’m Meant to Be, Stirling John, Independent

Alive, Tuzee, Independent

Global Music Album of the Year

Donte sann yo, Bel and Quinn, Independent

Kizavibe, Kizaba, Disques Nuits d’Afrique*Believe

SMS for Location Vol. 5, Moonshine, Moonshine/FORESEEN*MNRK

WINNER: Okantomi, OKAN, Lulaworld*Symphonic

Soap Box, Waahli, Wyzah Musk*Lemont

Jack Richardson Producer of the Year

Hill Kourkoutis

Jason Brando, Lubalin, Mathieu Sénéchal & Sam Avant

Joel Stouffer

WINNER: Shawn Everett

“Used To Be Young” (co-producers/coproducteurs Michael Pollack, Miley Cyrus)

ENDLESS SUMMER VACATION – Miley Cyrus Columbia*Sony

“What Now” (co-producer/coproducteur Brittany Howard)

WHAT NOW – Brittany Howard Island*Universal

Wondagurl

Recording Engineer of the Year

Denis Tougas

George Seara

Matty Green

Serban Ghenea

WINNER: Shawn Everett

“Used To Be Young” (co-producers/coproducteurs Michael Pollack, Miley Cyrus)

ENDLESS SUMMER VACATION – Miley Cyrus Columbia*Sony

“What Now” (co-producer/coproducteur Brittany Howard)

WHAT NOW – Brittany Howard Island*Universal

Album Artwork of the Year

Carolyne De Bellefeuille (Art Director/Directeur artistique), Jessica Ledoux (Designer & Illustrator/Concepteur & Illustrateur), Mali Savaria-Ille (Designer & Illustrator/Concepteur & Illustrateur), Veronique Lafortune (Designer & Illustrator/Concepteur & Illustrateur), Leeor Wild (Photographer/Photographe); INUKTITUT – Elisapie, Bonsound*Sony/The Orchard

Heather Goodchild (Art Director/Directeur artistique), Colby Richardson (Designer/Concepteur), Colin Fletcher (Illustrator/Illustrateur), Sara Melvin (Photographer/Photographe), MULTITUDES – Feist, Universal

Kit King (Illustrator), Vanessa Heins (Photographer/Photographe), THE LOVE STILL HELD ME NEAR – City and Colour, Dine Alone*The Orchard

WINNER: Nicolas Lemieux (Art Director/Directeur artistique), Mykaël Nelson (Designer & Illustrator/Concepteur & Illustrateur), Albert Zablit (Photographer/Photographe), RIOPELLE SYMPHONIQUE – Orchestre Symphonique de Montréal, GSI*Independent

Quinton Nyce (Art Director/Directeur artistique), Brodie Metcalfe (Designer/Concepteur), Davis Graham (Illustrator/Illustrateur), Kaylee Smoke (Photographer/Photographe), I’M GOOD, HBU? – Snotty Nose Rez Kids, Independent*Fontana North

Music Video of the Year

“Of Woods and Seas,” Andrew De Zen, Alaskan Tapes, Nettwerk*Amped

WINNER: “Demons,” Ethan Tobman, Allison Russell, Fantasy*Universal

“onetwostep” (feat. juicelover), Jordan Clarke, des hume des hume*Independent

“DAMN RIGHT,” Sterling Larose, Snotty Nose Rez Kids, Distorted Muse*Fontana North

“feral canadian scaredy cat,” Sterling Larose & Zachary Vague, young friend Nettwerk

Electronic Album of the Year

WINNER: INFINITY CLUB, Bambii, Innovative Leisure*Red Eye

Birds, Bees, The Clouds & The Trees, Harrison, Last Gang*MNRK

Creatures of the Late Afternoon, Kid Koala, Envision*Amplified/Believe

Synthetic Season 2, Rich Aucoin, We Are Busy Bodies*Redeye

No Highs, Tim Hecker, Sunblind/Kranky*The Orchard

Metal/Hard Music Album of the Year

WINNER: As Gomorrah Burns, Cryptopsy, Nuclear Blast*AEC/Believe

Electric Sounds, Danko Jones, Sonic Unyon*Universal

Goliath, Kataklysm, Nuclear Blast*AEC/Believe

VOID, KEN mode, Artoffact*MVD/The Orchard

Morgöth, Tales, Voivod Century*Sony

Adult Contemporary Album of the Year

WINNER: Heavy Lifting, Amanda Marshall, Metatune*The Orchard

I Wish I Was Flawless, I’m Not, BANNERS, Nettwerk*Amped

To Be Loved, Vol. 1, Josh Sahunta, Independent*Believe

Run Where the Light Calls, Luca Fogale, Amelia*Symphonic

Wildflower, Steph La Rochelle, Independent

Comedy Album of the Year

Life of Leisure, Derek Seguin, Independent

Never Was, Graham Clark, Independent

WINNER: A Lylebility, Kyle Brownrigg, Independent

Sexiest Fish in the Lake, Laurie Elliott, Howl & Roar*Independent

SAP, Mae Martin, Independent*Netflix

Traditional R&B/Soul Recording of the Year

WINNER: “Hello,” Aqyila, Sony

“Unbreakable,” Jhyve, Independent

“Where To Find Me,” Katie Tupper, Arts & Crafts*Universal

“9 to 5,” Luna Elle, Hot Freestyle*Independent/Believe

“Real World,” RealestK, Columbia*Sony

Rap Single of the Year

“American Nightmare,” Belly, XO/Roc Nation*Universal

“Spinnin” (feat. Bens), Connor Price, Independent

“Honey Bun,” Haviah Mighty, Mighty Gang*Foundation Media

“Minimum Wage,” Pressa, RCA*Sony

WINNER: “Someone I Knew,” TOBi, Same Plate/RCA*Sony

Underground Dance Single of the Year

WINNER: “Call My Name,” BLOND:ISH, Warner

“Mad Mess,” DJ Karaba, DJ Karaba*The Orchard

“Could Be Wrong,” LOSTBOYJAY, Universal

“Eclipse,” Peach, Psychic Readings*One Eye Witness/Music Deli

“Concorde Groove,” Smalltown DJs, Fool’s Gold*Virgin Music

Traditional Indigenous Artist or Group of the Year

WINNER: Sing. Pray. Love., Joel Wood, Independent

LFS5, Nimkii & the Niniis, Independent

Mitòòdebi (For My Relatives), The Bearhead Sisters, Independent

Reverie, The Red River Ramblers, Independent

Drum Nation, Young Scouts, Independent