Drake has had a challenging year, due to being widely seen as the loser of a high-profile diss battle with Kendrick Lamar, but he got a strong show of support at the Juno Awards in his native Canada on Sunday (March 30). His friend and frequent collaborator Boi-1da (pronounced Boy Wonder) sang his praises in accepting an International Achievement Award. Drake wasn’t present at the ceremony, which was held at Rogers Arena in Vancouver.

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 “I’m extremely humbled by this award and just to be mentioned among the legendary names as well – man I can’t even describe it,” the producer (who was born Matthew Jehu Samuels) began. “I want to have a huge shout-out to my brother Drake, the greatest rapper of all time, the greatest artist of all time and he’s from Canada – Drizzy Drake – that’s my brother.

“Listen…Drake, love you bro, we started this together, we did this together, I wouldn’t be where I am today if it wasn’t for Drake and all the sacrifices he made, all the doors he kicked down for a lot of people man, so shout-out to Drake. Thank you for life, man, I love that guy.”

Born in Kingston, Jamaica, the future producer moved to Canada when he was three and grew up in Toronto. His first production work was at age 18, when he worked on two tracks on a Drake mixtape (Room for Improvement).

Boi-1da won his only Grammy to date as the co-writer of Drake’s “God’s Plan,” which was voted best rap song. The producer has been nominated for 19 Grammys, including six times for album of the year, for his work on Eminem’s Recovery, Lamar’s To Pimp a Butterfly and Mr. Morale & the Big Steppers, Drake’s Views, Kanye West’s (now Ye’s) Donda and Beyonce’s Renaissance.

Boi-1da has received two Grammy nods for record of the year, for “God’s Plan” and Rihanna’s “Work” (featuring Drake), and one song of the year nod, also for “God’s Plan.” He has been nominated twice for producer of the year, non-classical.

This International Achievement Award was his first Juno Award or nomination.

The biggest winner at the 2025 Juno Awards wasn’t there to accept her awards.

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Tate McRae won four awards – for artist, single, album and pop album of the year – but was not able to make it to the Vancouver, British Columbia awards ceremony on Sunday (March 30) or the untelevised gala the night before to accept. That’s an ongoing issue at the Junos, where the responsibilities of the biggest international superstars often keep them from their home country’s award show.

Stars like Drake, The Weeknd and Shawn Mendes were not at Rogers Arena for the show, but there was an ongoing theme of Canadian excellence. At a time when U.S. President Donald Trump imposes tariffs on Canada and threatens to annex it as the 51st state, many used the Junos as a chance to wave the cultural flag.

McRae won four out of five of her nominations, taking artist of the year for the second year in a row, single of the the year for the second year in a row (with “Exes” taking the award won last year by “Greedy”) and album of the year and pop album of the year for the first time (with Think Later). She missed out only on the fan choice award. That was won by the perpetually viral rapper bbno$, a hit on TikTok, which sponsored the award. He used the acceptance speech to create another viral moment, using his time to call billionaire and top Trump advisor Elon Musk a “piece of garbage.”

That was a more direct criticism of the American administration than what ran through most of the show, where a more nationalistic “Canada is not for sale” message rang through. Accepting the award for country album of the year, breakout Ontario singer Josh Ross thanked his label Universal Music both in Canada and south of the border, reminding them that “friends are better than enemies.”

Host Michael Bublé began the show with a medley of his hits in four different languages, duetting with Canadian artists including Elisapie, Jonita Gandhi, Roxane Bruneau and Maestro Fresh Wes. That recognized the diversity of sounds and genres, while his opening monologue recalled the famous “I Am Canadian” ad with Canadian pride and an affirmation that Canada is “the greatest nation on earth.”

Other than special awards, only four awards were presented on CBC’s Sunday broadcast, with the vast majority given out at the industry gala the night before. One of those was for group of the year. While Sum 41 seemed like a safe prediction given that they also were inducted into the Canadian Music Hall of Fame on the show and closed it with a medley of their pop-punk classics, it was instead awarded for the second year in a row to The Beaches. That continued a hot few years for the Toronto band, who broke out with their hit “Blame Brett” in 2023 and haven’t looked back since.

The other big award of the night was for breakthrough artist of the year. That accolade went to Nemahsis, the Palestinian-Canadian artist who was reportedly dropped from her major label for her refusal to silence her pro-Palestinian advocacy after Oct. 7. The singer, who also won alternative album of the year and performed on the broadcast, dedicated the award to her fellow hijabis and said all she ever wanted was to turn on Canadian TV and see someone who looked like her. “I didn’t think it would take this long or that I would be the one to do it,” she said. She thanked OVO Sound producer Noah “40” Shebib and artist Jad El Khoury for helping her finish her album Verbathim when she was suddenly fully independent and didn’t have the money to do so on her own.

Anne Murray was given the lifetime achievement award, marking only the second time in Junos history the award has been given (the other was to the architect of Canadian Content regulations and the namesake of the Junos, Pierre Juneau). Wearing a bedazzled Canada hockey jersey, the singer – who holds the record for most-ever Junos ahead of The Weeknd – talked about the importance of Canada to her multi-decade career and called the country her “safety blanket.” Producer Boi-1da won the international achievement award, recognizing his huge hits on the global stage – including four No. 1s on the Billboard Hot 100 – for artists like Rihanna, Drake and Eminem.

Other performances on the show included Haida Nation rap album of the year winners Snotty Nose Rez Kids with Tia Wood, Sunday night winners bbno$ and Josh Ross and an all-star Punjabi performance that featured Gminxr, Jazzy B, Inderpal Moga and Chani Nattan. Karan Aujla winning the fan choice award in 2024 showed the institution’s recognition of the Punjabi Wave, and the Junos implemented the new South Asian recording of the year award this year. AP Dhillon won for The Brownprint; however, the award was unfortunately not televised.

Find a full list of 2025 Juno Award winners below:

TikTok Juno Fan Choice

WINNER: bbno$ (Independent*Stem)

Dean Brody (Starseed)

Jade Eagleson (Starseed)

Josh Ross (Universal)

Karan Aujl (Independent)

Les Cowboys Fringants (Les Disques de La Tribu*Propagande)

Preston Pablo (Universal)

Shawn Mendes (Universal)

Tate McRae (RCA*Sony)

The Weeknd (XO*Universal)

Artist of the Year

Josh Ross (Universal)

Kaytranada (RCA*Sony)

Shawn Mendes (Island*Universal)

WINNER: Tate McRae (RCA*Sony)

The Weeknd (XO*Universal)

Single of the Year

“Single Again,” Josh Ross (Universal)

“Winning Speech,” Karan Aujla (Independent)

“Why Why Why,” Shawn Mendes (Island*Universal)

WINNER: “exes,” Tate McRae (RCA*Sony)

“Timeless,” The Weeknd & Playboi Carti (XO*Universal)

Album of the Year

Inuktitut, Elisapie (Bonsound*Sony)

Complicated, Josh Ross (Universal)

Submergé, Roxane Bruneau (Disques Artic*Sony)

UNDISPUTED, Sukha (GK*Universal)

WINNER: THINK LATER, Tate McRae (RCA*Sony)

Group of the Year

Crash Adams (Warner)

Mother Mother (Warner)

Spiritbox (BMG*Universal)

Sum 41 (Rise/BMG*Universal)

WINNER: The Beaches (Independent*AWAL)

Breakthrough Artist or Group of the Year

Alexander Stewart (FAE*The Orchard)

AP Dhillon (Republic*Universal)

AR Paisley (Warner)

Chris Grey (Rebellion Records)

EKKSTACY (Dine Alone*The Orchard)

WINNER: Nemahsis (Independent)

Owen Riegling (Universal)

Sukha (GK*Universal)

Tony Ann (Decca*Universal)

Zeina (Artist Partner Group)

Jack Richardson Producer of the Year

Aaron Paris — “intro (end of the world)” (Ariana Grande), “Bought the Earth” (Yeat), “Let it Breathe” (Ski Mask the Slump God), “Tiger Eye” (Loony), “Dishonored” (Sean Leon and Jessie Reyez, “R e a l W o m a n” (PartyNextDoor)

Akeel Henry — “Spin” (Megan Thee Stallion), “Smoke” (Ari Lennox), “Shake” (Chlöe), “Oh, Wait…” (Shae Universe), “I Choose You” (Melanie Fiona), “Love Ain’t Guaranteed” (Mist)

Evan Blair — “Pretty Slowly” (Benson Boone), “Beautiful Things” (Benson Boone), “club heaven” (Nessa Barrett), “No High” (David Kushner), “this is how a woman leaves” (Maren Morris), “i hope i never fall in love” (Maren Morris)

WINNER: Jack Rochon — “II Hands II Heaven” (Beyoncé), “Protector” (Beyoncé), “Jolene” (Beyoncé), “My Way” (Charlotte Day Wilson), “Crash” (Kehlani), “Tears” (Kehlani)

Shawn Everett — “II Most Wanted” (Beyoncé), “Found Heaven” (Conan Gray), “Bright Lights” (The Killers), “I Don’t” (Brittany Howard), “Eye of the Night” (Conan Gray), “Prove It to You” (Brittany Howard)

Recording Engineer of the Year

George Seara — “Soft Spot” (Keshi), “Dream” (Keshi)

Hill Kourkoutis — “Ghost” (Sebastian Gaskin), “Should We” (Emi Jeen)

Mitch McCarthy — “Good Luck, Babe!” (Chappell Roan), “Make You Mine” (Madison Beer)

WINNER: Serban Ghenea — “Please Please Please” (Sabrina Carpenter), “Lose Control” (Teddy Swims)

Shawn Everett — “Don’t Forget Me” (Maggie Rogers), “Deeper Well” (Kacey Musgraves)

Songwriter of the Year

Abel Tesfaye (The Weeknd) — “Dancing in the Flames,” “Timeless,” “São Paulo”

AP Dhillon — “Old Money,” “Losing Myself,” “Bora Bora”

Jessie Reyez — “Child of Fire,” “Ridin,” “Shut Up”

WINNER: Mustafa Mustafa — “Name of God,” “Leaving Toronto,” “I’ll Go Anywhere”

Nemah Hasan (Nemahsis) — “stick of gum,” “you wore it better,” “coloured concrete”

Songwriter of the Year (Non-Performer)

Evan Blair – “Beautiful Things” (Benson Boone), “Pretty Slowly” (Benson Boone), “i hope i never fall in love” (Maren Morris)

WINNER: Lowell – “Texas Hold ‘Em” (Beyoncé), “Bodyguard” (Beyoncé), “Takes One to Know One” (The Beaches)

Nathan Ferraro“Texas Hold ‘Em” (Beyoncé), “Smoke” (Ari Lennox), “Who Do I Call Now? (Hellbent)” (Sofia Camara)

Shaun Frank – “Love Somebody” (Morgan Wallen), “Training Season” (Dua Lipa), “Sideways” (Gordo)

Tobias Jesso Jr.”Houdini” (Dua Lipa), “push me over” (Maren Morris), “Come Show Me” (Camilla Cabello)

Music Video of the Year

“Human,” Adrian Villagomez, Apashe & Wasiu (Kannibalen*Create)

“Nasty,” Jonah Haber, Tinashe (Independent)

“GRAVITY,” Jorden Lee, Sean Leon (Independent)

WINNER: “Name of God,” Mustafa, Mustafa (Arts & Crafts*Universal)

“Jump Cut,” Winston Hacking, Corridor (Bonsound*Sony/The Orchard)

Album Artwork of the Year

Erik M. Grice (Art Director), Vanessa Elizabeth Heins (Photographer); Chandler – Wyatt C. Louis (Independent*Universal)

Gabriel Noel Altrows (Art Director, Illustrator); Good Kid 4 – Good Kid (Independent/The Orchard)

Kee Avil, Jacqueline Beaumont (Art Director), Fatine-Violette Sabiri (Photographer); Spine – Kee Avil (Constellation*Secretly Canadian)

WINNER: Keenan Gregory (Art Director); Altruistic – Royal Tusk (MNRK)

Kevin Hearn, Lauchlan Reid (Art Director), Antoine Jean Moonen (Designer), Lauchlan Reid (Illustrator); Basement Days – The Glacials (Celery*IDLA)

GENRE-SPECIFIC AWARDS

Country Album of the Year

The Compass Project – West Album, Brett Kissel (Independent*Universal)

Dallas Smith, Dallas Smith (Big Loud*Universal)

WINNER: Complicated, Josh Ross (Universal)

Nobody’s Born With a Broken Heart, MacKenzie Porter (Big Loud*Universal)

Going Home, Tyler Joe Miller (Independent*The Orchard)

South Asian Music Recording of the Year

WINNER: “The Brownprint,” AP Dhillon (Republic *Universal)

“COOLIN,” Chani Nattan, Inderpal Moga & Jazzy B (Warner)

“Love Like That,” Jonita Gandhi (Warner)

“Tauba Tauba” (From Bad Newz), Karan Aujla (T-Series)

“Arul,” Yanchan, Produced & Sandeep Narayan (Independent)

Classical Album of the Year (Solo Artist)

Signature Philip Glass, Angèle Dubeau & La Pietà (Analekta*Naxos/The Orchard)

Messiaen, Barbara Hannigan (Alpha Classics*Naxos)

WINNER: freezing, Emily D’Angelo (Deutsche Grammophon*Universal)

Butterfly Lightning Shakes the Earth, India Gailey (Red Shift*Believe)

Williams Violin Concerto No. 1; Bernstein Serenade, James Ehnes (Pentatone*Naxos/The Orchard)

Classical Album of the Year (Small Ensemble)

Known To Dreamers: Black Voices in Canadian Art Song, Canadian Art Song Project (Centrediscs*Canadian Music Centre/Naxos)

Rituæls, collectif9 (Analekta*Naxos/The Orchard)

East is East, Infusion Baroque (Leaf*Naxos)

Marie Hubert: Fille du Roy, Karina Gauvin (ATMA*Universal)

Kevin Lau: Under a Veil of Stars, St. John–Mercer–Park Trio (Leaf*Naxos)

Classical Album of the Year (Large Ensemble)

Ispiciwin, Luminous Voices (Leaf*Naxos)

Alikeness, Newfoundland Symphony Orchestra Sinfonia, conducted by/dirigé par Mark Fewer featuring Aiyun Huang, Deantha Edmunds and Mark Fewer (Leaf*Naxos)

Sibelius 2 & 5, Orchestre Métropolitain, conducted by/dirigé par Yannick Nézet-Séguin (ATMA*Universal)

Schoenberg: Pelleas und Melisande & Verklärte Nacht, Orchestre symphonique de Montréal, conducted by/dirigé par Rafael Payare (Pentatone*Naxos/PIAS)

WINNER: Messiaen: Turangalîla-Symphonie, Toronto Symphony Orchestra, conducted by/dirigé par Gustavo Gimeno featuring Marc-André Hamelin and Nathalie Forget (Harmonia Mundi)

Jazz Album of the Year (Solo)

WINNER:Montreal Jazz Series 1 (Échanges Synaptiques), André Leroux (Disques BG*Believe)

The Head of a Mouse, Audrey Ochoa (Chronograph*Fontana North)

Portrait of Right Now, Jocelyn Gould (Independent)

Slice of Life, Larnell Lewis (Independent)

The Antrim Coast, Mark Kelso (Modica)

Jazz Album of the Year (Group)

Time Will Tell, Andy Milne and Unison (Sunnyside*AMPED)

Reverence, Carn Davidson 9 (Independent)

Harbour, Christine Jensen Jazz Orchestra (Justin Time*F.A.B./Nettwerk)

WINNER: Gravity, Jeremy Ledbetter Trio (Independent)

Jaya, Raagaverse (Independent)

Vocal Jazz Album of the Year

Oh Mother, Andrea Superstein (Cellar*La Reserve)

WINNER: Hello! How Are You?, Caity Gyorgy (La Reserve*The Orchard)

Winter Song, Kellylee Evans (Independent)

Wintersongs, Laila Biali (Independent/Believe)

Magpie, Sarah Jerrom (TPR*Outside In)

Instrumental Album of the Year

Disaster Pony, Disaster Pony (Independent*The Orchard)

Distant Places, Eric Bearclaw (Independent)

Ginger Beef, Ginger Beef (Independent)

WINNER: memory palace, Intervals (Independent*Believe)

Confluencias, Melón Jimenez & Lara Wong (Independent)

Blues Album of the Year

WINNER: This Old Life, Big Dave McLean (Cordova Bay*Fontana North)

New Orleans Sessions, Blue Moon Marquee (Independent)

YEAH!, David Gogo (Cordova Bay*Fontana North)

Samantha King and the Midnight Outfit, Samantha King & The Midnight Outfit (Independent)

One Guitar Woman, Sue Foley (Stony Plain*Fontana North)

Traditional Roots Album of the Year

Hemispheres, Inn Echo (Independent)

WINNER: Retro Man … More and More (Expanded Edition), Jake Vaadeland, Jayward*The Orchard Domino!, La Bottine Souriante (LABE*Sony/The Orchard)

The Road Back Home (Live), Loreena McKennitt (Independent*Universal)

At The End of the Day, Sylvia Tyson (Stony Plain*Fontana North)

Contemporary Roots Album of the Year

Anniversary, Abigail Lapell (Outside)

For Eden, Boy Golden (Six Shooter*The Orchard)

Things Were Never Good If They’re Not Good Now, Donovan Woods *End Times*The Orchard)

Pathways, Julian Taylor (Howling Turtle*ADA)

WINNER: Strange Medicine, Kaia Kater (acronym*The Orchard)

Adult Alternative Album of the Year

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

Revelation, Leif Vollebekk (Secret City*F.A.B.)

Healing Power, Terra Lightfoot (Sonic Unyon*Universal)

We were born here, what’s your excuse?, The Secret Beach (Victory Pool*The Orchard)

Never Better, Wild Rivers (Nettwerk*F.A.B./Nettwerk)

Alternative Album of the Year

When a Thought Grows Wings, Luna Li (In Real Life*AWAL)

WINNER: Verbathim, Nemahsis (Independent)

Magpie, Peach Pit (Columbia*Sony)

What’s The Point, Ruby Waters (Independent*Dine Alone)

Water The Flowers, Pray for a Garden, Valley (Universal)

Rock Album of the Year

Pages, Big Wreck (Sonic Unyon*Universal)

Vices, JJ Wilde (Black Box)

Grief Chapter, Mother Mothe (Warner)

WINNER: Set Your Pussy Free, NOBRO (Dine Alone*The Orchard)

Heaven :x: Hell, Sum 41 (Rise/BMG*Universal)

Metal/Hard Music Album of the Year

WINNER: Beyond the Reach of the Sun, Anciients (Season of Mist*The Orchard)

PowerNerd, Devin Townsend (InsideOutMusic*Sony)

Fire, Kittie (Sumerian*Virgin)

The Fear of Fear, Spiritbox (BMG*Universal)

ULTRAPOWER, Striker (Independent)

Adult Contemporary Album of the Year

Roses, Aphrose (Independent)

Boundless Possibilities (Celeigh Cardinal, Independent)

Transitions, Kellie Loder (Independent*Warner)

Songs of Love & Death, Maddee Ritter (Independent*Universal)

WINNER: Lovers’ Gothic, Maïa Davies (acronym)

Pop Album of the Year

bleeding heart, Alexander Stewart (FAE*The Orchard)

if this is it…, Jamie Fine, Universal)

Anywhere But Here, Preston Pablo (31 East*Universal)

Shawn, Shawn Mendes (Island*Universal)

WINNER: THINK LATER, Tate McRae (RCA*Sony)

Dance Recording of the Year

“UH HUH,” DijahSB (Never Worry*The Orchard)

WINNER: “No Time,” Interplanetary Criminal & SadBoi (Room Two*Columbia)

Give in to you, REZZ, Virtual Riot & One True God (Monstercat)

“Call Me When,” So Sus (Independent)

“FOUL TASTE,” WAWA (Independent)

Underground Dance Single of the Year

WINNER: “Bamboo,” Ciel (Independent)

“Keepsake,” Destrata (Independent)

“Distant Memories,” Hernan Cattaneo, Hicky & Kalo (Independent)

“La Vérité,” Jesse Mac Cormack, Charlie Houston & Brö (Secret City*F.A.B)

“WTP,” Suray Sertin (Altered States*Universal)

Electronic Album of the Year

Honey, Caribou (Merge*F.A.B)

Union, ÈBONY (Independent*ADA)

Love, Care, Kindness & Hope, Fred Everything (Lazy Days*Prime Direct)

Timeless, Kaytranada (RCA*Sony)

WINNER: This But More, Priori (NAFF*One Eye Witness)

Rap Single of the Year

“People,” Classified (Independent)

“Double The Fun,” Haviah Mighty (Independent)

WINNER: “SHUT UP,” Jessie Reyez (FMLY/Island*Universal)

“BBE,” Snotty Nose Rez Kids (Sony)

Hier encore, Souldia & Lost (Disques 7ième Ciel)

Rap Album/EP of the Year

96 Miles From Bethlehem, Belly (SALXCO*Universal)

Luke’s View, Classified (Independent)

The Flower That Knew, DijahSB (Lowly)

See You When I See You…, Dom Vallie (Awesome*The Orchard)

WINNER: RED FUTURE, Snotty Nose Rez Kids (Sony)

Traditional R&B/Soul Recording of the Year

Limbo, Aqyila (Sony)

The Worst, Benita (Independent*Believe)

Cyan Blue, Charlotte Day Wilson (Independent*The Orchard)

Halfway Broken, Luna Elle (Hot Freestyle*Independent)

WINNER: VELVET SOUL, THEHONESTGUY (Independent*Believe)

Contemporary R&B Recording of the Year

WINNER: Bloom, Aqyila (Sony)

Noire, Avenoir (Independent*LISTEN TO THE KIDS)

FOR THE BOY IN ME, Dylan Sinclair (Five Stone*The Orchard)

LOONY, LOONY (Independent*AWAL)

Eastend Confessions, Zeina (Artist Partner Group)

Reggae Recording of the Year

WINNER: Born to Be Free, Exco Levi (Independent)

FALLBACK, King Cruff & Runkus (Tuff Gong*Universal)

Destiny, Lee “Scratch” Perry & Bob Riddim (Independent)

Sky’s The Limit, Skystar (Independent)

Rise, Tonya P (Independent)

Children’s Album of the Year

Shun Beh Nats’ujeh: We Are Healing Through Songs, Kym Gouchie (Independent)

WINNER: Penny Penguin, Raffi & Good Lovelies (Independent*Universal)

Riley Rocket: Songs From Season One, Riley Rocket and Megablast (Independent)

Buon Appetito, Walk off the Earth & Romeo Eats (Golden Carrot*The Orchard)

Maestro Fresh Wes Presents: Young Maestro “Rhyme Travellers”, Young Maestro (Independent)

Comedy Album of the Year

Wonder Woman, Courtney Gilmour (Comedy Records*Downtown)

WINNER: Honourable Intentions, Debra DiGiovanni (Independent)

Popcorn, Ivan Decker (Independent)

Sad Witch, Jess Salomon (Independent)

Down With Tech, Nathan Macintosh (Comedy Records*Downtown)

Traditional Indigenous Artist or Group of the Year

WINNER: New Comings, Black Bear Singers (Independent)

Winston & I, Brianna Lizotte (Independent)

Travelling Home, Cree Confederation (Independent)

REZilience, Northern Cree (Independent)

Ostesihtowin-“Brotherhood”, Young Spirit (Independent)

Contemporary Indigenous Artist or Group of the Year

Precious Diamonds, Adrian Sutherland (Independent)

Boundless Possibilities, Celeigh Cardinal (Independent)

WINNER: Brown Man, Sebastian Gaskin (Ishkōdé*Universal)

RED FUTURE, Snotty Nose Rez Kids (Sony)

Pretty Red Bird, Tia Wood (Sony)

Francophone Album of the Year

Aliocha Schneider, Aliocha Schneider (Les Disques Audiogramme*Sony/The Orchard)

Demain il fera beau, Fredz (La Taniere*Believe)

Toutes les rues sont silencieuses, Jay Scøtt (Disques 7ième Ciel*Believe)

Abracadabra, Klô Pelgag (Secret City*F.A.B.)

Pub Royal, Les Cowboys Fringants (Les Disques de La Tribu*Propagande/Believe)

Contemporary Christian/Gospel Album of the Year

elenee., Elenee (Independent)

My Foundation, Jordan St. Cyr (Independent*The Orchard)

WINNER: Restore, Ryan Ofei (Independent*Platoon/Believe)

Miracle in the Making, Tehillah Worship (Independent)

Hymns Alive (Live), Toronto Mass Choir (Independent*Believe)

Global Music Album of the Year

Aarambh, Abby V (Sufiscore)

Kanzafula, Ahmed Moneka (Lulaworld*Independent)

Malak, Didon (Electrofone*Independent)

WINNER: Dankoroba, Djely Tapa (Independent*Believe)

Niebla, Ramon Chicharron (Independent*Believe)

Classical Composition of the Year

WINNER: Angmalukisaa, Deantha Edmunds (Independent*Leaf/Naxos)

the fog in our poise, Gabriel Dharmoo (Centrediscs*Canadian Music Centre/Naxos)

L’écoute du perdu : III. « Voix jetées », Keiko Devaux (ATMA*Universal)

Dark Flowe, Linda Catlin Smith (Redshift*Independent)

String Quartet No. 4 “Insects and Machines”, Vivian Fung, (Independent)

Longtime REO Speedwagon vocalist Kevin Cronin has taken to social media to share his thoughts on his lack of inclusion in an upcoming one-off reunion event.

Cronin, who has been touring with his own Kevin Cronin Band, addressed a fan on Facebook who noted the singer’s absence from REO Speedwagon’s forthcoming concert in Champaign, Illinois on June 14, responding that organizers of the event could have picked a date when many of the band’s former members were readily available to attend.

“Instead they chose June 14, 2025, a date where it was public knowledge that I was previously committed to perform with Styx and Kevin Cronin Band in Bend, Oregon,” Cronin wrote. “Bottom line, I am being asked to participate in an event on a date when I can’t possibly be there in-person. And then being falsely accused of turning down the invitation. I am deeply disturbed and hurt by all of this.

“After all I have done to help build the legacy of REO Speedwagon, I feel I have earned and deserve to be included in any event honoring that legacy. Instead, I have been knowingly excluded.”

Cronin joined REO Speedwagon in early 1972, taking over from Terry Luttrell who reportedly left due to personal issues with guitarist Gary Richrath. Though Cronin was himself briefly replaced by Mike Murphy the following year, he returned in 1976 and remained in the band until their end, performing on tracks such as their two Hot 100 chart-toppers “Keep On Loving You” and “Can’t Fight This Feeling.”

In late 2024, REO Speedwagon announced that they would cease touring as of Jan. 1, 2025. In a note shared to fans, the group explained that bassist Bruce Hall had not recovered sufficiently from previous back surgery and his inability to tour led to “irreconcilable differences” between Hall and Cronin. 

REO Speedwagon played their final live performance on Dec. 21 at The Venetian Theatre in Las Vegas, but in March announced they would be playing a special one-off show at the State Farm Center in their hometown of Champaign, Illinois on June 14. Officially titled as an event ‘Honoring the Legacy of REO Speedwagon,’ the show is described as a “concert retrospective featuring special guests & former members.”

Indeed, Hall and Neal Doughty from the final REO Speedwagon lineup are confirmed to attend, as are previous vocalists Luttrell and Murphy. Founding drummer Alan Gratzer and 1969 guitarist Steve Scorfina are also listed as appearing, while a special tribute will be held to late members Gary Richrath and Gregg Philbin.

In his social media comment, Cronin also claimed that the remaining members of the band’s final lineup – who currently perform alongside him in the Kevin Cronin Band – weren’t given the option of appearing at the forthcoming show. “35-year REO veterans Dave Amato and Bryan Hitt were not even shown the respect of being invited to the Champaign event,” he added. 

Cronin spoke to Billboard ahead of REO Speedwagon’s final show in December, explaining that the circumstances behind the band’s ending were less than ideal, and admitted there is still a level of acrimony between he and Hall. “It’s kind of like a divorce of sorts,” he explained, “and during a divorce things get a little muddy and things get a little sticky. I wish it could’ve been more amicable, but the minute attorneys get involved it just changes the atmosphere of things.”

“I think it’s unfortunate that some fans were kind of brought into something that I really feel should’ve been kept as a private, personal matter,” he continued. “It’s never thrilling when things are said that are inaccurate and hurtful. My hope is that there will come a time where the dust will have settled. My intention is to ask forgiveness for anything that I’ve done or any hurt that I have caused Bruce. I don’t like to have grudges with people. I like to forgive and be forgiven.”

Billie Eilish and Finneas have hired new management.

The siblings are now being managed by Sandbox Entertainment’s Jason Owen, whose clients include Brandi Carlile, Kacey Musgraves, Kelsea Ballerini and more.

The Hollywood Reporter broke the news.

Eilish and Finneas were previously managed by Best Friends co-founders Danny Rukasin and Brandon Goodman for the duration of their careers. Rukasin and Goodman formed Best Friends in 2019 and built it into a management, publishing and recording powerhouse. The two have since signed Bishop Briggs, breakout artists including Role Model and Mimi Webb and more.

Owen is CEO of Sandbox Entertainment. He boasts country star Kelsea Ballerini as a longtime client, along with Kacey Musgraves. Last week, Sandbox scored a total of five Academy of Country Music Awards, including for Entertainer of the Year (Ballerini), Female Artist of the Year (Ballerini and Musgraves), Group of the Year (Little Big Town) and more.

Alongside Rukasin and Goodman, Eilish charted 44 songs on the Hot 100, including one No. 1 with “Bad Guy.” She’s earned 32 Grammy nominations and nine wins, including her 2020 sweep of all Big Four categories. She and Finneas have won two Oscars, for  “No Time to Die,” from the James Bond film of the same name and “What Was I Made For?” from Barbie.

Finneas has 21 Grammy nominations and 10 wins.

Next month, Eilish will continue touring her celebrated third album Hit Me Hard and Soft. The album reached No. 2 on the Billboard 200 and spawned the No. 2 Hot 100 hit “Birds of a Feather.”

Remember Hilary Duff‘s 2007 performance for the Today show’s summer concert series? SNL‘s Barry the Midwife (Bowen Yang) and Dr. Richards (Mikey Madison) do.

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In “Barry the Midwife” on the latest episode (March 29) of Saturday Night Live, the midwife-and-doctor duo at first have an awkward run-in when their patient is giving birth and the OB-GYN doesn’t remember that she’s met Barry before. They later reconnect over their apparent love of Duff’s early 2000s pop discography — namely the music she sang and danced to from her 2007 studio album, Dignity, on the early morning show’s stage many years ago. As it turns out, they met at the the barricade of Duff’s Today show concert.

The comedic sketch has Yang and Madison, the Oscar-winning Anora actress who hosted the episode, recreating Duff’s choreography.

Duff’s understated dance moves to her song “With Love” — choreo that was considered by many to be somewhat low effort, in retrospect — at some point went viral. Videos of her 2007 televised performance remain on YouTube, where to this day pop fans are still commenting (with love). Top-rated comments over the years include remarks like, “She gave unbothered, day drinking energy … I LOVE HER,” “Slay me lazy queen,” and “It’s not just a video. It’s a piece of history. I do, indeed, stan.” “

On Sunday, following the “Barry the Midwife” skit, the comments section on the old Duff clip was revived, with one person praising SNL for rebooting “this get-up-and-no-go classic.”

Saturday night’s episode of SNL aired another music-inspired sketch, “Big Dumb Line,” which featured a surprise cameo from Joe Jonas, plus two live performances from musical guest Morgan Wallen. Wallen played “I’m the Problem” and “Just in Case”; curiously, the country star also walked off the stage quite abruptly at the show’s end, when the cast and special guests say goodnight to viewers and mingle with one another.

Watch the SNL tribute to Duff’s pop star days in “Barry the Midwife” below.

Ariana Grande‘s deluxe edition of her Eternal Sunshine album, Brighter Days Ahead, tops this week’s new music poll.

Music fans voted in a poll published Friday (March 28) on Billboard, choosing the pop star’s refreshed set, which adds six new tracks to the original studio album that arrived last year, as their favorite new music release of the past week.

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This week’s poll presented solid options across genres, but the latest from Grande resulted in the singer/actress earning 50% of vote from music fans. Voters this week chose Eternal Sunshine Deluxe: Brighter Days Ahead over new music releases from artists such as Feid ft. Ty Dolla $ign, Selena Gomez, Playboi Carti, Linkin Park, Lucy Dacus and more.

Pop fans got to revisit Grande’s Eternal Sunshine era with the extended cut of the singer’s album that in 2024 debuted at No. 1 on the Billboard 200. Brighter Days Ahead not only adds six extra songs to the story — “Intro (End of the World) – Extended,” “Twilight Zone,” “Warm,” “Dandelion,” “Past Life” and “Hampstead” — but is also accompanied by a short film. The film is set at the same Brighter Days clinic seen in Grande’s “We Can’t Be Friends (Wait for Your Love)” music video, where memories were erased. But now, patients can visit the facility to relive their best memories.

Among the new music trailing behind Eternal Sunshine Deluxe: Brighter Days Ahead on this week’s poll are Feid feat. Ty Dolla $ign’s “DALLAX,” with 20% of the vote; Selena Gomez’s “Stained,” with 17% of the vote, and Playboi Carti’s Music – Sorry 4 Da Wait, with 2% of the vote.

See the final results of this week’s poll below.

Congratulations are in order for Dave Navarro and Vanessa DuBasso, who tied the knot in Scotland on Saturday (March 29).

The 57-year-old Jane’s Addiction guitarist and 31-year-old actress and fashion designer exchanged vows at Dunskey Estate in Stranraer, Scotland, People reports. The couple’s gothic-inspired ceremony took place within a castle nestled at the secluded coastal estate, surrounded by lush greenery and views of the sea.

“It exudes a moody, ethereal charm,” DuBasso told the publication. “Surrounded by a towering forest, a serene lake and the ruins of a castle along the shoreline, it felt like stepping into a fairytale.”

Navarro added, “We wanted our wedding to feel like a dream. It was important to us to find a place that felt unlike anywhere we had ever been, a place that embraced nature and transported us to another world. We wanted our loved ones to share in this intimate experience.”

The pair exchanged handwritten vows in a forest ceremony officiated by Dunskey Estate owner Ali Orr Ewing. Among the guests was comedian Pete Davidson. It’s unclear if any members of Jane’s Addiction were in attendance.

The Grammy-nominated guitarist, who also played with the Red Hot Chili Peppers from in the 1990s, shared glimpses of the magical weekend on his Instagram Stories the following day. Among the behind-the-scenes moments were photos of the couple skeet shooting in the countryside, a heartwarming video of them exchanging smiles during a candlelit dinner, and a stunning clip of a fireworks display.

Navarro and DuBasso met eight years ago after the veteran musician saw a movie trailer featuring the actress. Navarro reached out to the film’s director, a friend of his, asking if DuBasso would be interested in going on a date with him, according to People.

This marks Navarro’s fourth marriage. He was previously married to Tania Goddard in the early ’90s, followed by a brief marriage to Rhian Gittins in the mid-’90s, and then to Carmen Electra in the early 2000s.

While Morgan Wallen was the official musical guest on SNL this weekend, Joe Jonas co-starred in a musical sketch poking fun at New Yorkers waiting in stupidly long lines just to try a trendy new treat they’ve heard about on TikTok.

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Picture this: It’s spring in New York City. It’s the weekend. It’s a beautiful day. You don’t have work. Your friends don’t have work.

As Mikey Madison, Ego Nwodim, Chloe Fineman, Bowen Yang and Sarah Sherman — the stars of one of SNL‘s latest spoofs to make use of a catchy pop tune — point out, you could go to brunch, see a movie, ride a bike, have a fling.

Or you could wait in a big, dumb line.

That’s right. You could spend your day waiting in a line that goes around the block — for a limited-supply bagel, slice of pizza or creamy taco that showed up on your “For You” feed. While you’re waiting, you could sing about it like they do in Saturday night’s (March 29) “Big Dumb Line” sketch.

“Must be worth it — it’s a really long line,” Fineman emphasizes in an ad-lib directed straight to the viewer.

Perhaps there will be cronuts (the croissant-donut hybrid), or a concoction one can only hope was dreamt up by an SNL writer: palad (pizza and salad combined), frasca (fries as pasta), fandy (fish that’s candy) or choda (cheese that’s soda).

“Big Dumb Line,” a sketch that was pre-taped ahead of the live show, is all good fun until Bowen Yang cracks under the pressure of the line, to his own horror and that of his pals. “I’m leaving. I’m leaving!” he screams.

That’s where Joe Jonas pops in with a motivational ballad, urging the NYC line dropout to trust the process. “Believe in the line/ You deserve this viral Greek yogurt/ Or to try Lisa Rinna’s wine,” the Jonas Bro sings with feeling in a surprise cameo.

Watch the “Big Dumb Line” sketch from Saturday Night Live below.

Gracie Abrams caught up with Billboard’s Rania Aniftos & Jazzy on the red carpet at the Billboard Women in Music 2025.

Billboard’s Women in Music event took over the YouTube Theater at Hollywood Park in Inglewood, Calif., on Saturday (March 29). Airing for free on VIZIO TVs and in the VIZIO mobile app, the annual event honors influential women in music, from artists to industry power players.

The 2025 Billboard Women in Music event was hosted by Laverne Cox and honored: Doechii, 2025 Woman of the Year Award; aespa, Group of the Year Award; Ángela Aguilar, Breakthrough Award; ANNA, Billboard Italy Woman of the Year; Charlotte Cardin, Billboard Canada Woman of the Year; Erykah Badu, Icon Award; GloRilla, Powerhouse Award; Gracie Abrams, Songwriter of the Year Award; JENNIE, Global Force Award; Megan Moroney, Rulebreaker Award presented by Crown Royal Whisky; Meghan Trainor, Hitmaker Award; Muni Long, Rising Star Award presented by Honda Stage; Tina Knowles, Mother of the Year Award; and Tyla, Impact Award presented by Bose.

Additionally, dozens of music industry moves and shakers were honored at the event for their remarkable contributions to the business. Five of those women – agents from some of the top booking agencies in the industry – were honored as the 2025 Executives of the Year: Jenna Adler, Lucy Dickins, Samantha Kirby Yoh, Cara Lewis and Marsha Vlasic.

From distinctive performances (honorees aespa, Ángela Aguilar, Erykah Badu, Gracie Abrams, Megan Moroney, Muni Long and Tyla all rocked the stage) to meaningful speeches, here are some of the best moments from Billboard’s Women in Music 2025 event.

VIZIO TV owners can watch Billboard Women in Music 2025 and the live event by opening the WatchFree+ app on their TV. For those who do not have a VIZIO TV, anyone can download the free VIZIO mobile app to their mobile device, click on the WatchFree+ button in the bottom row menu, and tune in to the Billboard Women in Music 2025 channel.