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The Weeknd was the big winner on the first night of the Juno Awards, which honor the year’s best music by Canadian artists. The superstar took three of the 37 awards presented Friday (June 4) at a virtual event dubbed the Juno Opening Night Awards Presented by Music Canada. His megahit “Blinding Lights” won single of the year, his album After Hours won contemporary R&B recording of the year, and he took the prize for songwriter of the year in tandem with his collaborators Belly (Ahmad Balshe) and Jason “DaHeala” Quenneville.
The Weeknd was famously shut out in the nominations for the 63rd annual Grammy Awards. He has fared much better just about everywhere else. The Weeknd was the only multiple Juno winner on Friday. These three wins bring his career total of Juno Awards to 13. This is his second win for single of the year. He won in that category five years ago with “Can’t Feel My Face.”
The Weeknd did not accept his awards live via Zoom, as most of Friday’s recipients did. He is also nominated in three categories at the televised show, which is set to air Sunday, June 6. He is vying for album of the year, artist of the year and the fan-voted Juno fan choice award. Six awards will be presented on the telecast.
Kaytranada won dance recording of the year for Bubba. He is the first Black male solo winner in the dance category, which originated in 1992. Bubba won in the equivalent category, best dance/electronic album, at the Grammys on March 14.
WondaGurl (Ebony Naomi Oshunrinde) became the first Black woman to win the Jack Richardson producer of the year award. Moreover, WondaGurl is the first female of any race or ethnicity to win in this category who isn’t primarily known as an artist. WondaGurl, a Canadian producer, songwriter and record executive, has worked with such artists as Pop Smoke, JackBoys, Mariah Carey, Travis Scott, Jay-Z, Drake and Kanye West.
Harry Styles’ Fine Line won international album of the year. The album has been a global award magnet. Its biggest hit, “Watermelon Sugar,” won a Grammy for best pop solo performance and a Brit Award for British single.
Alanis Morissette won adult contemporary album of the year for Such Pretty Forks in the Road. This is the third distinct genre category in which Morissette has won a Juno. Jagged Little Pill won rock album of the year (1996). Flavors of Entanglement won pop album of the year (2009). This is Morissette’s 13th Juno Award.
JJ Wilde’s Ruthless won rock album of the year. She’s the first female winner in that category since Morissette won for Jagged Little Pill.
Tenille Townes won country album of the year for The Lemonade Stand. Townes won new female artist of the year at the Academy of Country Music Awards in September.
Jessie Reyez won music video of the year for “No One’s in the Room.” Reyez is the first Latin Canadian artist to win in this category since its inception in 1984. Reyez won the Juno for breakthrough artist of the year three years ago.
Serban Ghenea won recording engineer of the year for his work with The Weeknd and Ariana Grande. Ghenea won two Grammys this year, for work on Taylor Swift’s Folklore and Beck’s Hyperspace, bringing his total of Grammys to 18.
Arkells won group of the year for the fourth time, which puts them just one award behind category leaders Blue Rodeo, which won five times in the category between 1989 and 2008. (For all their success at home, neither group has ever cracked the Billboard Hot 100.)
The Orchestre Symphonique de Montréal won its 18th Juno by taking classical album of the year: large ensemble. That puts them in fourth place on the all-time winners list, just behind Anne Murray (25), Bryan Adams (21) and Céline Dion (20).
Pegi Cecconi, who has worked with Rush among many others in her 50-year career, received the Walt Grealis special achievement award. She is just the third woman to receive that award, which originated in 1984. Tellingly, all three of these women have received the award in the last five years.
Angeline Tetteh-Wayoe from CBC Music’s The Block hosted the Juno Opening Night Awards. The event featured performances by Ammoye, Kirk Diamond and TÖME, Crown Lands, Klô Pelgag, Lindsay Ell and MacKenzie Porter, Monowhales & TOBi.
Allan Reid, president/CEO of the Canadian Academy of Recording Arts & Sciences (CARAS), opened the show on a solemn note, acknowledging the recent discovery of 215 bodies at a former residential school for Indigenous children in Canada. Several award recipients also made note of that horrific discovery.
Reid also announced that the 2022 Junos will be return to Toronto, when, everyone hopes, pandemic worries will be behind us.
Next year will also have three new categories – traditional indigenous artist or group of the year, rap single of the year and rap album/EP of the year.
Here’s the complete list of winners from Friday’s presentations:
Single of the year: “Blinding Lights,” The Weeknd (The Weeknd XO/Republic/Universal)
Songwriter of the year: The Weeknd (Abel Tesfaye), Belly (Ahmad Balshe), & Jason “DaHeala” Quenneville; publishers – Kobalt Songs Music Publishing, Warner Chappell Music Canada, & Universal Music Publishing Canada; “After Hours” – co-songwriters Carlo “Illangelo” Montagnese, Mario Winans; “Blinding Lights”, “Save Your Tears” – co-songwriters Max Martin, Oscar Holter; After Hours – The Weeknd (The Weeknd XO/Republic/Universal)
Group of the year: Arkells (Arkells/Universal)
Breakthrough group of the year: Crown Lands (Universal)
International album of the year: Fine Line, Harry Styles (Columbia/Sony)
Dance recording of the year: Bubba, Kaytranada (RCA/Sony)
Contemporary R&B recording of the year: After Hours, The Weeknd (The Weeknd XO/Republic/Universal)
Rap recording of the year: Elements Vol. 1, TOBi (RCA/Sony)
Country album of the year: The Lemonade Stand, Tenille Townes (Sony)
Adult alternative album of the year: Sad Hunk, Bahamas (Barchords/Universal)
Alternative album of the year: Pray for It, July Talk (Sleepless/Universal)
Rock album of the year: Ruthless, JJ Wilde (Black Box/Fontana North)
Electronic album of the year: Suddenly, Caribou (Merge/F.A.B.)
Metal/hard music album of the year: Abyss, Unleash the Archers (Napalm/Sony)
Adult contemporary album of the year: Such Pretty Forks in the Road, Alanis Morissette (Epiphany Music/Sony/The Orchard)
Music video of the year: “No One’s in the Room,” Emma Higgins/Jessie Reyez, FMLY/Island/Universal. Canadian Contributors — director of photography: Jack Yan Chen; producers: Alison Honey Woods, Cherie Sinclair, Katy Maravala; editor: Kat Webber; art department: Stephen Trivieri; special effects: The Butcher Shop, Urban Prairie Post
Jack Richardson producer of the year: WondaGurl; “Aim for the Moon” (featuring Quavo) (co-producers 5ive Beatz, 808Melo, Dani, Dez Wright, Tyy Beats); Shoot for the Stars Aim for the Moon – Pop Smoke, Victor Victor/Republic/Universal; “Gang Gang” (co-producer Vou); Jackboys – Jackboys & Sheck Wes, Epic/Cactus Jack/Sony
Recording engineer of the year: Serban Ghenea; “Blinding Lights”/After Hours – The Weeknd (The Weeknd XO/Republic/Universal); “positions”/Positions – Ariana Grande (Republic/Universal)
Reggae recording of the year: “I Pray,” TÖME x Sean Kingston (Kiza Music/M.A.D. Solution)
Indigenous artist or group of the year: “North Star Calling,” Leela Gilday (Diva Sound/Outside)
Contemporary roots album of the year: Bravado, Rose Cousins (Outside)
Traditional roots album of the year: Bet on Love, Pharis & Jason Romero (Lula/Fontana North/Free Dirt)
Blues album of the year: Church House Blues, Crystal Shawanda (True North/Fontana North/IDLA)
Contemporary Christian/gospel album of the year: The Way, Shawna Cain (SOG Entertainment/Independent)
World music album of the year: Espiral, Okan (Lulaworld/Symphonic)
Album artwork of the year: Julien Hébert (art director), David Beauchemin (designer), Florence Obrecht (illustrator), Marc-Étienne Mongrain (photographer); Notre-Dame-Des-Sept-Douleurs – Klô Pelgag Secret City/Fontana North
Comedy album of the year: Horse Power, Jacob Samuel (800 Pound Gorilla/Independent/ADA/Warner)
Vocal jazz album of the year: With You, Sammy Jackson (Independent)
Jazz album of the year, solo: Elegant Traveler, Jocelyn Gould (Posi-tone/Alliance/The Orchard)
Jazz album of the year, group: The reMission, Andy Milne and Unison (Sunnyside/AMPED/eOne)
Instrumental album of the year: Movements III, Blitz/Berlin (Wax/Universal)
Album Francophone de l’année: Quand la nuit tombe, Louis-Jean Cormier (Simone/The Orchard)
Children’s album of the year: Heart Parade, Splash’N Boots (Independent/The Orchard)
Classical album of the year, solo or chamber: Mosaïque, Ensemble Made in Canada (Independent/Canadian Music Centre)
Classical album of the year, large ensemble: Ginastera – Bernstein – Moussa: Œuvres pour violon et orchestre / Works for Violin and Orchestra, Orchestre symphonique de Montréal, conducted by Kent Nagano, featuring Andrew Wan (Analekta/Select/The Orchard)
Classical album of the year, vocal or choral: Massenet: Thaïs Erin Wall, Joshua Hopkins, Andrew Staples, Toronto Mendelssohn Choir with Toronto Symphony Orchestra, conducted by Sir Andrew Davis (Chandos/Naxos)
Classical composition of the year: Violin Concerto “Adrano,” Samy Moussa (Analekta/Select/The Orchard)
First Stream Latin is a compilation of the best new Latin songs, albums and videos recommended by the Billboard Latin editors. Check out this week’s picks below.
Noriel & Manuel Turizo, “Mala Influencia” (Sony Music Latin)
After “Cuatro Babys” in 2016, Noriel became known as one of the pioneers of the Latin trap movement. He was on fire but suddenly, after his 2020 track “Prende,” he vanished. “I was dealing with some legal issues,” he tells Billboard. After more than a year of not releasing music or being active on his social media, the Puerto Rican artist returns with his official comeback track “Mala Influencia” next to Manuel Turizo, marking their third collaborative effort. “More than colleagues, we’re brothers. I have a lot of chemistry and trust with him, that’s why it’s special,” says Noriel. “All the collabs we have were born after talking and hanging out for hours. We talk about life, we have a great friendship, and then we create music,” Turizo adds. “Mala Influencia,” about a good girl-turned-bad, is a bop and conceptual visual in its entirety: Turizo kicks off with a romantic intro before the perreo drop 35-seconds in at the helm of Noriel’s distinct rap verses. — JESSICA ROIZ
Watch the exclusive Billboard Live Latin with both artists here.
Luis Fonsi & Myke Towers, “Besame” (UMG Recordings)
Teaming up for the first time ever, Luis Fonsi and Myke Towers released their new single “Besame,” a very catchy song that from the very beginning combines reggaeton pop with Dominican bachata. Co-written by Fonsi, Towers, Andres Torres, Mauricio Rengifo, and Keaton, the song tells the story of a game of seduction and mischief between a man and a woman. “I know that you are using me for the weekends,” Fonsi said of the lyrics. “But the reality is that it does not bother me. I play your game, but if you want to stay, stay because there is something interesting between us.” The video was filmed in Miami and directed by Elastic People’s Carlos Perez. Overall, “Besame” is a mix of island flavors that will make you want to dance to the melodies and positive vibes. — INGRID FAJARDO
Andres Cepeda, Ximena Sariñana, “Lo Que Se Va” (Sony Music Colombia)
Andres Cepeda reeled in Ximena Sariñana for his new single “Lo Que Se Va,” a taste of what will be his upcoming 14th studio album. On “Lo Que Se Va,” a track about a fiery relationship that’s diminishing and has no future, Cepeda and Sariñana fuse their powerhouse vocals over a sultry and innovative rhythm. Produced by George Noriega and penned by Javier Andrés Cuello and Giovanny Andrés Fernández Manzur, the track fuses bolero, son, and Caribbean melodies, bringing to the forefront an experimental sound with live instruments, synth, and electronic beats. — J.R.
El Fantasma, “Agarra tu camino” (Afinarte Music)
“Agarra tu camino” is the new powerful vein-cut ballad from El Fantasma. The song is composed by the artist in collaboration with his wife, Perla Limón. This is not the first time the power couple works together on his songs, as he has mentioned before that she has been by his side since the beginning of his career and debuted a couple of years ago in his compositions. Accompanied by the sound of acoustic guitars and a tuba, in this song of spite, El Fantasma ventures into the Sierreño style. The lyrics take us to a story of a person that is ready to move on and has had enough of the manipulations and lies in the relationship. “Crees que puedes destruirme, manipularme a tu antojo.” – I.F.
Ecko, Géminis (UMG Recordings)
Ecko dropped his new EP, Geminis, with eight new tracks that not only continue to flaunt his musical versatility but also his personal side. Geminis honors Ecko’s horoscope sign and most perfectly what the album is all about. On the opening track, “Preso,” his intense rap verses remind fans of why he’s considered one of the pioneers of the Argentine trap movement. In “Como Antes,” he teams up with Lyanno for a sensual reggaeton song. But it goes beyond trap and reggaeton. On this small but mighty production, Ecko experiments with drill (“Go”), old-school reggaeton (“Reggaeton de Antes”), futuristic perreo (“No Le Bajo”), and even urban-pop (“Pa Que Vuelva”). With collabs that include Mariah Angeliq, Omar Varela, Blunted Vato, and M4, Ecko is definitely a Gemini, bringing to the forefront the two sides of him: Ecko the artist and Ignacio the person. – J.R.
Morat, Danna Paola, “Idiota” (Universal Music Spain)
Colombian quartet Morat and Mexican renowned actress and singer-songwriter Danna Paola join their voices for their new song “Idiota.” It’s not the first time they collaborate, but this time, the song reinforces the bonds that unite Morat with Mexico. The song, originally composed by Morat, together with Mauricio Rengifo and Andrés Torres, has a rhythmic pattern that resembles dembow, and closely represents the current Latin landscape. That’s why they reeled in a female voice to complete and effectively narrate the story behind it. It’s a beautiful mix of vocals that perfectly give life to the story adding Danna’s pop fusions. The lyrics talk about a love that is gone but you can’t forget, and you are trying to get back. It phrases the advice that you have probably given or gotten from your friends: “If you love something, let it go. If it comes back to you, it’s yours forever. If it doesn’t, then it was never meant to be.” – I.F.
Nobeat, Khea, “Medio Crazy” (Young Flex/Interscope Records)
If Lele Pons’ “Se Te Nota” and Khea’s “Ayer Me Llamo Mi Ex” are any indication, which he produced, Nobeat is the future of Latin hitmakers. But besides being behind a song, Nobeat does not shy away from taking the forefront, as heard in his new track “Medio Crazy” in collaboration with Khea. On the juicy collaboration, produced by Nobeat and co-penned by him and the Argentine artist, Nobeat flaunts his creative musical ear and innovative fusions, as he’s been serving since his official debut single “Perreo Sano.” “Medio Crazy,” dedicated to las chicas toxicas, is no exception, marrying dancehall, reggaeton, funk, and ’80s-inspired sounds. “It is a song that never falls but advances, in terms of sound, while the lyrics have a current factor so that all youth can identify with it. That is why we use simple language, like when we chat on WhatsApp,” he said in a press statement. — J.R.
One of the stars of the popular Nickelodeon children’s show Drake & Josh faces criminal charges regarding a girl he had met online and who attended his 2017 concert in Ohio when she was 15.
Jared “Drake” Bell, 34, pleaded not guilty on Thursday in a Cleveland courtroom to a felony charge of attempted endangering children and a misdemeanor charge of disseminating matter harmful to juveniles.
“All facts will be revealed in a courtroom,” Bell’s attorney Ian Friedman said Friday (June 4), declining to comment further.
Bell was charged by information, which typically indicates a plea agreement has been reached. He is scheduled to appear before a judge on June 23.
Tyler Sinclair, spokesperson for Cuyahoga County Prosecutor Michael O’Malley, said the girl filed a complaint with Canadian police in October 2018. Police there contacted Cleveland police, prompting an investigation.
The attempted endangering children charge relates to the concert, Sinclair said, where Bell “violated his duty of care” and created a risk of harm to the victim. He didn’t elaborate further.
Bell and the girl had “developed a relationship” online several years prior to the concert, Sinclair said. The disseminating harmful material charge concerns Bell having sent the girl “inappropriate social media messages,” Sinclair said.
Bell, also a singer, began acting as a child, but was catapulted to stardom as a teen with Nickelodeon’s The Amanda Show and later Drake & Josh, which debuted on the channel in January 2004. The final episode aired in September 2007. Bell and co-star Josh Beck also starred in two Drake & Josh movies.
If you’re seeing multiple celebrities unboxing some Sour swag from Olivia Rodrigo, don’t worry: You’re not experiencing “Deja Vu.” The singer/songwriter just wanted to spread the word far and wide about her debut album, so she sent some very special gift boxes to a few famous friends.
The latest recipient is Gwen Stefani, who took to Instagram on Friday (June 4) to unbox her gift and share a personal letter from the “Drivers License” singer. “I just got this amazing, sweetest, kindest note,” Stefani says on her Stories, adding, “I don’t know if I’m supposed to post it, but I’m going to.” In the note, Rodrigo tells the No Doubt frontwoman: “I absolutely adore you. I’ve looked up to you since I was a little girl. I think your songwriting is so powerful & unique. Your music is one of the reasons I became a songwriter. I just put out my 1st album and I wanted to give you a few SOUR tingz lol. Thank you for everything you’ve done for girls like me. You’re truly my hero.”
Another pal who took to social media to show off the goodies included Joe Jonas, who tagged his wife, Game of Thrones actress Sophie Turner, on his Instagram Stories alongside a video captioned: “Look what @OliviaRodrigo sent us!” The clip showed off Olivia-branded Sour Patch Kids, a box of tissues (“Important. Crying while listening to this music,” Joe says), “Drivers License” bumper stickers, “Deja Vu” candy hearts, a notebook, some T-shirts, Sour safety-pin earrings and his-and-hers hoodies.
Kim Kardashian also showed off the Sour box on her Instagram Stories, which came with a handwritten note from Rodrigo. “How cute is Olivia Rodrigo?” Kardashian asks. “I can’t wait for her album. You guys know I love ‘Drivers License.’” Well, her 7-year-old daughter North took issue with that statement, sassily chiming in, “You never listen to it.” Kim begged to differ, even pulling her 5-year-old Saint into it: “Yes I do! I listen to it all the time! Stop, North. Saint, don’t we listen to it in the car all the time?”
Another lucky recipient was Tate McRae, who received a handwritten note as well, in which Olivia tells the “You Broke Me First” singer, “I’m obsessed with you!” McRae returned the love, captioning her Instagram story: “Stop it @OliviaRodrigo i love you so much … congrats on ur album.” Ben Platt showed off his Sour trunk too, with his dog Georgie posing nearby. “Thank u for the treats sweet @OliviaRodrigo,” Platt wrote on the pic.
Check out all the celebs showing off their Sour boxes below:
Gwen Stefani
Joe Jonas
Kim Kardashian
Tate McRae
Ben Platt
We need, we need SZA and Travis Scott to perform their 2017 collab “Love Galore” again — and SZA and Scott agree.
The R&B singer first made her desire known via Twitter on Thursday when she asked, “Can somebody ask Travis to perform love galore w me one last time for old times sake. Ion got his number lol.” Between The Tonight Show and at Scott’s Houston hometown stop during SZA’s CTRL Tour, the artists have only shared the stage twice to perform their hit, which topped Billboard’s Adult R&B Airplay chart and earned a Grammy nomination for best rap/sung performance.
But who needs the rapper’s number when you have Twitter? Scott reached back out on Friday (June 4) with another major gig he had in mind for their grand return. “Of courseeeee. 1 last time, a couple more times !!!! When and where? We got the fest coming soon Love galore and Good dayzzzz,” he tweeted back about his own Astroworld Festival.
His third annual hometown festival sold out all 100,000 passes in under an hour earlier last month for the Nov. 5-6 two-day event. Scott will once again headline at Texas’ NRG Park, but the remainder of the artist-curated lineup has yet to be announced. SZA is already gearing up to perform her Grammy-nominated debut studio album Ctrl and more new songs for her “first full 50 min set in two years” for American Express Unstaged, just in time for the album’s fourth anniversary this month. And performing at Astroworld later this year aligns perfectly with her bucket list.
“AAHHH PERIADDD!!!count me INN for the fest for all the things!!! I BEEN wanted to play astro ! iss WAY PAST time !” she wrote back excitedly.
Read SZA’s wish come true below.
This is breaking news and will be updated when new information is available. A third person shot in the mass shooting outside El Mula Banquet Hall has died, the Miami … Click to Continue »
