It’s the most musical time of the year — again. With the Grammy statues recently handed out and Juno Awards nominees set to be announced mid-month, the entire North American music industry is celebrating the tops in pop, rock, classical, jazz and country for 2005.
No doubt the Juno nominee list will be filled with talented, radio-friendly Canadian stars that made their mark on the charts and in the press. With the huge media attention focused on Montreal’s music scene alone in the past year, it would be seemingly simple to choose a strong, eclectic line-up of Canadian performers to belt it out on stage for the upcoming show, eh?
But it looks like the Juno spotlight has been handed over to U.K. natives, Coldplay.
The soft-ballad supergroup is slated to be the main attraction at this year’s Juno Awards in Halifax. They may be topping the charts, selling out shows across the globe and cropping up in numerous music magazines, but shouldn’t the Canadian music awards showcase Canuck content?
Despite the fact that Canadian artists Michael Bublé and Nickelback have also been added to the show, Coldplay is the band making headlines.
Setting the stage for international artists at our nation’s music awards only contributes to the idea that Canadian talent is often overlooked, even in our own cities.
International chart-toppers may be an audience draw, but it means one less spot on the bill for Canadian successes.
Each year a Juno is given out for international album of the year, but most of the other categories specifically celebrate our homegrown performers.
The Junos have received criticism in the past for snubbing quality talent out of a nomination — but at least all the nominees remained Canadian. Now the awards are snubbing Canadian talent out of the stage spotlights and replacing them with non-native performers.
And this isn’t the first time Canadian musicians have lost a spot to international stars in their own country.
When the Grey Cup was held in Vancouver last November, U.S. pop/hip-hip group the Black Eyed Peas was the half-time highlight. Why not showcase one of B.C.’s critically acclaimed bands like the New Pornographers or Hot Hot Heat?
International stars have many opportunities to be showered with fan affection. Coldplay already had their Grammy gig and have a number of sold-out tour dates.
The band may claim to love their Canadian fans, but they’re only making time to stop for three concerts in two Canadian cities on their tour — making them seem a little unworthy of a top spot on our awards show.
Typically, the Junos have welcomed Canadian artists with open arms and boasted a full line-up of national talent. Centretown was bustling with some of the nation’s best performers when the awards show came to town in 2003.
Barrymore’s hosted Sam Roberts, k-os, Gord Downie and local songstress Kathleen Edwards and an all-Canuck line-up played during the telecast.
Canadian musicians will play venues throughout Halifax over the awards weekend in April, though it’s tough to swallow the idea that a non-Canadian megastar gets top billing. Nova Scotia heroes Sloan or Buck 65 should be rocking the main mic.
Other Canadian music awards, like the Indies and the East Coast Music Awards, bring together many of the ambitious musicians that make up our national scene.
A Canadian event like the Junos is a perfect situation for our country to embrace what we have. And with staple songsters like Neil Young or lesser-known acts like Wolf Parade, our awards shows don’t need any imports.