The Canadian Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences (CARAS) has reversed its decision to place the Christian/Gospel, Reggae, and Children's Album of the Year categories on hiatus after widespread advocacy from Canadian music supporters.
CARAS CEO Allan Reid addressed the issue in a statement on Tuesday, acknowledging the importance of these categories to the Canadian music scene.
"Over the course of last year, CARAS underwent an extensive process reviewing all Award categories, taking into consideration data such as consumption, number of submissions, and other metrics. Given the feedback from the community, CARAS will not put these three categories on hiatus this year," said Reid.
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He added that further details regarding changes for the 2025 JUNO Awards will be provided on Monday, September 23rd. These updates will include the introduction of new categories to reflect the evolving music industry in Canada.
Reid emphasized CARAS' dedication to showcasing the diversity and excellence of Canadian music.
"We remain dedicated to ensuring the JUNO Awards reflect industry excellence and is representative of the diversity of the Canadian music industry," he said.
GMA Canada, a key advocate for the Christian/Gospel category, expressed its gratitude to CARAS and other organizations, such as ADVANCE Music Canada, for their efforts in reversing the decision. GMA Canada noted its excitement for continuing to celebrate Christian and Gospel music alongside other diverse genres in the country.
The JUNO Awards, often seen as Canada's premier music awards, are set to reveal more changes for the 2025 edition later this month, marking a continued focus on the growth and transformation of Canadian music.