by Howard Campbell
TORONTO, Canada – There shall be no Finest Reggae Recording class on the 2025 JUNO Awards, Canada’s model of the Grammy Awards. The Canadian Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences (CARAS) has eliminated it, reportedly citing sluggish gross sales for reggae in that nation and repetitive submissions.
No official assertion has been made by CARAS however Carrie Mullings, a member of that group for a few years, confirmed the disappointing information.
“It’s a setback for reggae in Canada from the angle that wherever reggae has a voice together with the JUNO Awards, dropping that voice is an impact on our reggae business,” stated Mullings, who was chairman of the Finest Reggae Recording class for 12 years.
Initially often known as Finest Reggae/Calypso Recording, the slot debuted in 1985. Since then, it has been received by various prime Jamaican artists who lived in Canada together with Leroy Sibbles, Nana McLean and Exco Levi.
Dread by singer Kirk Diamond received the Finest Reggae Recording class in 2024. Since 2012, Exco Levi has dominated the Best Reggae Recording category, successful 5 occasions.
Toronto was dwelling to a number of prime acts throughout the Nineteen Seventies and Eighties, together with Sibbles, Jackie Mittoo, Johnny Osbourne, Willi Williams and Messenjah. Nevertheless, Canada has by no means produced any main reggae album or songs like New York, South Florida or London, different main facilities in Jamaica’s Diaspora.
