The 2019 JUNO Gala Dinner & Awards Presented by SOCAN shines a spotlight on newly discovered Canadian talent

• Shawn Mendes takes the lead with four awards
• Twenty first time nominees take home a coveted JUNO statuette including hometown favourite, Loud Luxury
• Special awards given to industry icons David Foster and Duff Roman

LONDON, ON, March 16, 2019 /CNW/ - The Canadian Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences (CARAS) today recognized the country's top talent and industry veterans in the Canadian music industry at the 2019 JUNO Gala Dinner & Awards presented by SOCAN. Hosted by Ben Kowalewicz, lead singer of the seven-time JUNO Award winning band Billy Talent, and co-hosted by CBC Music's Julie Nesrallah, the exclusive industry event featured the presentation of 36 JUNO Awards and three special achievement awards.

FOR A COMPLETE LIST OF WINNERS AT THE 2019 JUNO GALA DINNER & AWARDS, VISIT WWW.JUNOAWARDS.CA

Shawn Mendes took the lead this year with a four awards, including Artist of the Year Presented with Apple Music, Single of the Year, Pop Album of the Year and Songwriter of the Year Presented by SOCAN.

More than half the evening's awards presented to first time winners: The Washboard Union (Breakthrough Group of the Year Sponsored by FACTOR, the Government of Canada, and Canada's Private Radio Broadcasters), Dizzy (Alternative Album of the Year, Sponsored by Long & McQuade), Loud Luxury (Dance Recording of the Year), Jeremy Dutcher (Indigenous Music Album of the Year, Presented by APTN), Donovan Woods (Contemporary Roots Album of the Year), LOVECOLLIDE (Contemporary Christian/Gospel Album of the Year), Wesli (World Music Album of the Year, Presented by Aeromexico), Mike Milosh (Album Artwork of the year), Ali Eisner(Video of the Year, Presented by Stingray), Laila Biali (Vocal Jazz Album of the Year), Andy Milne & Dapp Theory (Jazz Album of the Year: Group), Gordon Grdina(Instrumental Album of the Year), Loud (Francophone Album of the Year), Splash'N 'Boots (Children's Album of the Year), Ana Sokolović (Classical Composition of the Year), Milk & Bone (Electronic Album of the Year), Voivod (Metal/Hard Music Album of the Year), Dave Merheje (Comedy Album of the Year, Sponsored by SiriusXM Canada), and Post Malone (International Album of the Year) all took home their first JUNO statuettes.

Full press release available here.

SOURCE CARAS