Junos add 2 new awards, drop international album category ahead of 2025 show

There will be two new awards at next year's Junos.

The Canadian Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences (CARAS) announced via press release Monday that it will be adding categoriesfor songwriter of the year (non-performer) and South Asian music recording of the year for 2025.

CARAS also announced it is dropping the international album of the year category, while awards for breakthrough artist and breakthrough group of the year will be merged into a single category.

The announcement comes almost a week after CARAS president and CEO Allan Reid announced on Instagram the organization was backtracking on a plan to drop awards for reggae recording of the year, as well ascontemporary Christian/gospeland children's albums of the year.

CARAS says it has undergone a strategic review over the past year. The organization says Canada "has proven to be at the epicentre of South Asian music globally," and that the new award for South Asian music recording of the year "will celebrate recordings throughout the diaspora, supporting their tremendous growth and success."

The group says it will work closely with artists, industry professionalsand communities to inform future changes.

Submissions for the 2025 awards open Oct. 15, and close on Nov. 7. To be considered for nomination, music must have been released nationally between Sept. 1, 2023 and Nov. 1, 2024.

CARAS is a non-profit organization that was formed in 1975 to oversee the annual Juno Awards ceremony, which recognizes outstanding achievement in Canada's music industry.

The 2025 Juno Awards will take place on March 30 at Rogers Arena in Vancouver.