The Canadian Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences (CARAS) and Slaight Music are honoured to announce the Top 10 artists in the running to participate in Canada’s premier artist development program, the Allan Slaight JUNO Master Class.
On September 20, 2018, the three winners will be announced, selected by a Super Jury of music industry influencers.
For the first time, this year’s winners will be joined by the 2018 winner of CBC’s Searchlight competition, Aquakultre.
The winning artists will receive mentorship and access to industry leaders, including a week – long customized program curated by Canada’s Music Incubator at Coalition Music.
The artists will also get to attend Canada’s biggest night in music with a trip to the 2019 JUNO Awards in London, ON, complete with access to JUNO Week events and a performance opportunity during JUNOfest.
One artist will be selected to perform in front of over 1,200 music industry elite at the JUNO Gala Dinner and Awards.
Canadian hip-hop is represented by two artists on the JUNO Master Class shortlist including Brampton’s own Haviah Mighty of The Sorority, and Winnipeg’s own smrtdeath.
The full list of artists advancing to the next round of the competition include:
- Dylan Menzie – Charlottetown, Prince Edward Island (@Dylan_Menzie)
- Haviah Mighty – Brampton, Ontario (@HaviahMighty)
- I M U R – Vancouver, British Columbia (@WeAreIMUR)
- Port Cities – Cape Breton, Nova Scotia (@Port_Cities)
- Sc Mira – Winnipeg, Manitoba (@ScMiraMira)
- Shay Esposito – Edmonton, Alberta (@Shay_Espo)
- smrtdeath – Winnipeg, Manitoba (@sloppymakeout)
- The Katherines – Vancouver, British Columbia (@KatherinesBand)
- The Royal Foundry – Edmonton, Alberta (@TheRoyalFoundry)
- Wolf Saga – London, Ontario (@EnterWolfSaga)
Full prize details can be found here.
Last year’s Allan Slaight JUNO Master Class winners included Montreal alt-pop trio Caveboy, London-bred rockers, Ivory Hours and Halifax hip-hop artist Quake Matthews.
Check out the “2017/2018 Life After Master Class” video below. For additional information on the program, visit JunoMasterClass.ca.
About Allan Slaight JUNO Master Class
The Allan Slaight JUNO Master Class is an initiative that provides the crucial tools to help the three winners develop their careers, build their own sustainable business and become ‘JUNO ready’. The ‘Master Class’ includes a week-long customized artist development program co-developed with Canada’s Music Incubator at Coalition Music. This development program provides hands-on mentoring, networking and collaboration opportunities.
About CARAS
The Canadian Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences/L’académiecanadienne des arts et des sciences de l’enregistrement (CARAS) is a not-for-profit organization created to preserve and enhance the Canadian music industry and to contribute toward higher artistic and industry standards. CARAS’ mandate is comprised of four key pillars: Educate through our music education charity MusiCounts programs and initiatives, Develop emerging artists through mentorship and development programs, Celebrate Canadian artists with year round JUNO Awards showcasing, and Honour music industry icons through the Canadian Music Hall of Fame. For more information on The 48th Annual JUNO Awards or The Canadian Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences (CARAS) please visit junoawards.ca.
About Allan Slaight
A pioneer of rock and roll, Allan parlayed his entrepreneurial flair with his knowledge of radio to create Canada’s largest privately owned multi-media company, Standard Broadcasting Corporation Limited.
Born in 1931, Allan hosted his own radio program, Spins and Needles, a late night jazz program, at age 16 at CHAB in Moose Jaw, Saskatchewan. He moved to Edmonton in 1950, working his way up the ladder being appointed in 1956 as the National Sales Manager at CHED. There he came to the attention Allan Waters, owner of CHUM Radio in Toronto, who hired Allan to turn around the fortunes of his struggling station. Allan’s programming, promotions, and business acumen propelled CHUM into a household name. Allan left the station in 1966 to coordinate programming and sales of Radio Caroline, the infamous pirate radio station. He returned to Canada in 1967, to become the President and General Manager of Stephens and Towndrow.
In 1970, Allan established Slaight Communications and acquired radio stations CFGM in Toronto and CFOX in Montreal. In 1977, Allan launched a new rock and roll radio station, CILQ-FM, known as Q107, in Toronto. In 1985, Slaight Communications sold CFGM and Q107, and purchased Standard Broadcasting Corporation Limited from Conrad Black. Under Allan’s leadership, Standard Broadcasting and Standard Radio grew from seven radio stations to a national network of over fifty. In 2007, the Slaight’s sold Standard Broadcasting to Astral Media.
Radio was not Allan’s only passion. He served as a trustee of Women’s College Hospital (1978- 1982), a director of the United Way of Greater Toronto (1979-1987), director of the Shaw Festival (1982-1988), a governor of York University (1986-1987), and a director of the Festival of Festival (1989-1993).
An inductee into the Broadcast Hall of Fame (1997), the recipient of an Honorary Doctor of Commerce from Ryerson Polytechnic University (2000), appointed a Member of the Order of Canada (2001), the recipient of the Walt Grealis Special Achievement Award (2005) for his contribution to the growth and development of the Canadian music industry, Allan has also maintained a lifelong interest in conjuring.
About Slaight Music
Slaight Music was started in 2011 with a mandate to support the Canadian music community through a variety of initiatives, and to develop Canadian talent via strategic partnerships with industry peers.
About Canada’s Music Incubator
Canada’s Music Incubator (CMI) is a national not-for-profit organization based in Toronto specializing incustomized professional development and ongoing mentorship for artists and artist managers. CMI’s mission is to empower creative entrepreneurs, across all genres, in the development of sustainable careers and businesses, which meet their definitions of success. CMI also curates live events for partner organizations, which provide paid performance opportunities for artists, and works with industry partners, community organizations and all levels of government to support music sector infrastructure development. Since 2012, CMI has delivered over 5,000 hours of in-house and custom third-party professional development programs and actively mentors hundreds of artists and managers across Canada.