TORONTO — Pop band MAGIC! tops the list of nominees for the 2015 Juno Awards, honouring the best in Canadian music.
The Toronto group earned five nods: Breakthrough Group of the Year, Pop Album of the Year, Single of the Year, Juno Fan Choice and Songwriter of the Year.
Calgary-born pop singer Kiesza and Montreal icon Leonard Cohen have four nominations each.
Going into the Junos with three nominations apiece are Hedley, Nickelback and Serge Fiori.
Nickelback is competing for Group of the Year against Arkells, Chromeo, Mother Mother, and You + Me. The Alberta band led by Chad Kroeger is also up for Album of the Year and Juno Fan Choice.
Cohen, who got noms for Album of the Year, Adult Alternative Album of the Year and Juno Fan Choice, will challenge Bryan Adams, deadmau5, Sarah McLachlan and The Weeknd for Artist of the Year.
Pop Album nominees Avril Lavigne, Down With Webster, Lights and Nikki Yanofsky are up against MAGIC!.
Nominated for Single of the Year are “Hold On (We’re Going Home) by Drake, “Crazy For You”by Hedley, “Hideaway” by Kiesza, “Rude” by MAGIC!, and “We’re All in This Together” by Sam Roberts Band.
“Canadian artists have had quite a year,” said Allan Reid, president and CEO of the Canadian Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences (CARAS), the JUNO Awards and MusiCounts.
“Many of our rising stars have had international breakthroughs.”
This year’s Juno Awards feature 86 first-time nominations.
Other Fan Choice nominees are Arcade Fire, Bobby Bazini, Drake, Michael Buble and You + Me.
One Direction (Midnight Memories), Katy Perry (PRISM), Lorde (Pure Heroine), Sam Smith (In the Lonely Hour), Taylor Swift (1989) are up for International Album of the Year.
Songwriter of the Year nominees include Nova Scotia native Henry Walter, who co-wrote hits for Katy Perry and Pitbull.
Dallas Smith, Jess Moskaluke, Kira Isabella, Mackenzie Porter and The Road Hammers for Country Album of the Year nods.
Music veterans Fred Penner and Raffi both have nominations for Children’s Album of the Year.
For a full list of nominations, click here.
The Juno Awards will be handed out March 15 at the FirstOntario Centre in Hamilton.
Performers announced so far include Arkells, Hedley, Kiesza, MAGIC! and Shawn Mendes.
Rush will be honoured with the Allan Waters Humanitarian Award at a gala the night before the Juno Awards broadcast.
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