Juno nominees include Carly Rae Jepsen, Justin Bieber

Carly Rae Jepsen, the Mission, B.C., singer who had a breakout hit with Call Me Maybe last summer, has a leading five nominations for Juno Awards, it was announced today.

The Canadian Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences lavished love on pop stars Jepsen and Justin Bieber,including nods for artist of the year and Juno Fan Choice Award.

But there were also multiple nominations for Leonard Cohen, Cline Dion and bands such as Metric, Hedley and Marianas Trench.

Artist of the year nominees

For artist of the year, the top award, Cohen, Bieber and Jepsen are in the running. Sois adult contemporary singer Johnny Reid and electronic artist Deadmau5.

Jepsen, who came to international attention when Bieber tweeted about her video for Call Me Maybeto his legions of fans, also has nominations for single of the year and best pop album and best album for Kiss, the album she recorded with Biebers label.

Bieber has four nominations and is competing with her for best album and best pop album for his Believe.

Cohen is back in the limelight this year with an extensive international tour andthe album Old Ideas,which is recognized with a nomination for best songwriting.

His son, Adam Cohen, has earned his first Juno nominationbest contemporary album for Like a Man.

Rock veterans

The rock album category recognizes several veterans of the rock scene, including Rush with Clockwork Angels and the Tragically Hip for Now for Plan A. Also nominated are last years Juno darlings The Sheepdogs for their self-titled album, newly reunited band Big Wreck for Albatross and Billy Talent for Dead Silence.

There were a total of 178 artists recognized with nominations, about 90 of them first-time nominees, according to CARAS.

The newcomers include a trio of female singers who are breaking new groundToronto singer Cold Specks, Elisapie, who sings in Inuktitut and English on her latest album, and Montreals Grimes, with her expressive new album Visions. They are nominated for the breakthrough artist award, along with country singer Kira Isabella and alt R&B trailblazer the Weeknd.

Walk Off the Earth, the Burlington, Ont., groupthat struck YouTube gold withits unusual covers of songs such as Somebody That I Used To Know,is recognized in the breakthrough group category.

Newcomers and new category

Walk Off the Earth is in competition with Vancouver groups Hey Ocean! and The Pack, Hamilton rockers Monster Truck, and Kelowna, B.C.s Yukon Blonde.

A new category, adult contemporary album of the year, was added for the 2013 Junos. Adam Cohen is competing with Barlow, the late singer Raylene Rankin, the Tenors and Cline Dion.

There were also strong contenders in the alternative album categories, among them triple nominee Metric for Synthetica. The other nominees:

• Hannah Georgas for her self-titled album.
• Japandroids for Celebration Rock.
• Said the Whale for Little Mountain.
• Stars for The North.

Classical categories

In the classical categories, violinist James Ehnes earned two nominations, best solo or ensemble work for his Bartok: Works for Violin and Piano and best classical ensemble for his recording of Tchaikovskys Violin Concerto with the Sydney Symphony.

Torontos Amici Chamber Ensemble, the Canadian Brass, pianist Angela Hewitt and string trio Triple Forte also are vying for honours in the small ensemble category.

Other nominees for best large ensemble recording:

• Logos Futura, by Antonio Peruch and the Edmonton Symphony Orchestra.
• Fugitive Colours by Bramwell Tovey and the Vancouver Symphony Orchestra.
• Mozart: Piano Concertos Nos. 20 & 21 byCalgary piano prodigy Jan Lisiecki.
• The Galileo Project by Tafelmusik Baroque Orchestra of Toronto.

Theawards gala is set for April 21 in Regina, with 11-time Juno winner Michael Bublas host. Bublalso has a nomination for the Fan Choice Award.

Jepsen, Marianas Trench and Billy Talent are among the performers announced for the gala.

Last years big winnerswere singers Feist and Dan Mangan,and Saskatoon band the Sheepdogs.