December 13, 2005

THE COUNTDOWN BEGINS!

Only 110 Days Left Until Canada’s
Hottest Music Celebration of 2006

Venues and Dates Locked In For The 2006 JUNO Awards Events

Halifax, December 13, 2005 — The official countdown begins with just 110 days remaining until The 2006 JUNO Awards, Canada’s Music Awards. At a press conference held here today, Melanie Berry, President of the Canadian Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences (CARAS), announced a spectacular lineup of events to be held from March 31 – April 2, 2006 in Halifax, Nova Scotia, topped off by a nationwide live telecast of The JUNO Awards by broadcast partner CTV.

“The level of support and enthusiasm we have received from the Halifax community and host committee has been extraordinary,” said Melanie Berry, President of CARAS. “As we prepare to bring Canada’s music awards to Halifax, we believe this year’s Juno Awards weekend will be a very memorable experience not only for the Halifax Regional Municipality but for Canadians coast-to-coast.”

2006 Juno Weekend events and venues include:

The 35th Annual JUNO Awards

On Sunday, April 2nd, The 2006 JUNO Awards, Canada’s Music Awards will be broadcast for the fifth consecutive year on CTV. The show will kick-off with the star-studded red carpet special CTV at the Junos followed by the live broadcast which will be presented in High Definition and 5.1 Surround Sound for the second year in a row.

In April 2005, The 2005 JUNO Awards from Winnipeg peaked at 1.7 million viewers on CTV. In all, more than 5.7 million Canadians tuned in to watch some part of the show, an increase of almost half a million viewers compared to the 2004 broadcast, making it once again the most-watched Canadian awards telecast. 

On Saturday, February 18, 2006 at 10:00am (AST) tickets will go on sale for The 2006 JUNO Awards broadcast. Tickets will be available for purchase ranging in price from $50 - $125 (plus taxes and service charges) and will be available online at www.ticketatlantic.com, by phone at the Ticket Atlantic Call Centre at (902) 451-1221 or in person at the Ticket Atlantic Box Office at Halifax Metro Centre, located at 1800 Argyle Street. Last year, tickets for Winnipeg’s 2005 JUNO Awards sold out in 16 minutes.

Juno Cup
Returning for a third year, the Juno Cup pits Canadian musicians versus NHL Greats in a hockey game unlike any other. This celebrity fundraiser will take place Friday, March 31st at 7:30 p.m. at the Halifax Forum. Tickets will cost $15 each (plus service charges) and will go on sale Saturday, March 4, 2006 at 10:00 a.m. (AST). Fans will have the opportunity to purchase tickets to the Juno Cup either online at www.ticketatlantic.com, by phone at the Ticket Atlantic Call Centre at (902) 451-1221, in person at the Ticket Atlantic Box Office at Halifax Metro Centre, located at 1800 Argyle Street or at participating Atlantic Superstore ticket outlets throughout HRM, Elmsdale and Truro. The Juno Cup beneficiary is CARAS’ music education program, MusiCan.

JunoFest
Canadian music will hit the streets of Halifax with this multi-venue showcase. The clubs and music venues of Halifax will be packed with fans as more than 100 bands participate in JunoFest. All shows will take place from 9:00 p.m. until 2:00 a.m. on Friday, March 31st and Saturday, April 1st, 2006. Music fans will have the opportunity to purchase wristbands that offer priority access over the two nights (subject to capacity) at a cost of $25 each (plus service charges). Wristbands will go on sale on Saturday, March 4, 2006 at 10:00 a.m. (AST) and will be available for purchase either online at www.ticketatlantic.com, by phone at the Ticket Atlantic Call Centre at (902) 451-1221, in person at the Ticket Atlantic Box Office at Halifax Metro Centre, located at 1800 Argyle Street or at participating Atlantic Superstore ticket outlets throughout HRM, Elmsdale and Truro.

Juno Fan Fare
Each year an outstanding line-up of JUNO nominated artists participate in this Juno weekend event that brings them up close and personal with fans. Juno Fan Fare features artist interviews, contest giveaways and special autograph sessions with some of Canada’s top musical talent. This is a free event that takes place Saturday, April 1st, 2006 from 11:00 a.m. until 4:00 p.m. at the Lower 22 North Building, Pier 21 in Halifax.

Songwriters’ Circle
Songwriters’ Circle is an intimate afternoon concert featuring songs and stories from some of Canada’s finest songwriters. This event takes place on Sunday, April 2nd, 2006 beginning at 1:00 p.m. at the Rebecca Cohn Auditorium, Dalhousie Arts Centre. Tickets are $35 (plus service charges) and go on sale Saturday, February 25th, 2006 at 10:00 a.m. (AST). Tickets are available for purchase either online at http://artscentre.dal.ca, by telephone (902) 494-3820 or (toll free) 1-800-874-1669, or in person at the Rebecca Cohn Auditorium, Dalhousie Arts Centre. Songwriters’ Circle is sponsored by the Canadian Music Publishers Association (CMPA) and the Society for Composers, Authors, and Music Publishers of Canada (SOCAN). The Songwriters’ Circle is a benefit concert for MusiCan-CARAS’ Music Education program.

Early Bird Ticket Packages
Die-hard music fans will have a chance to secure their spot at Juno Weekend Events with the Early Bird Ticket Package. 500 Early Bird Ticket Packages will be made available to the public in advance of The 2006 JUNO Awards telecast on-sale date. The packages will include a ticket to the Juno Cup celebrity hockey game, a wristband for JunoFest and a ticket to attend The 2006 JUNO Awards at the Halifax Metro Centre. More details will be announced early in the New Year.

Sponsors for the 2006 JUNO Awards include FACTOR, Canada’s private radio broadcasters and the Government of Canada through the Department of Canadian Heritage’s “Canada Music Fund”, the Province of Nova Scotia, the Halifax Regional Municipality and Events Halifax.

About CARAS:
The Canadian Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences/L'academie canadienne des arts et des sciences de l'enregistrement (CARAS) is a not-for-profit organization created to preserve and enhance the Canadian music and recording industries and to contribute toward higher artistic and industry standards. The main focus of CARAS is the exploration and development of opportunities to showcase and promote Canadian artists and music through television vehicles such as the JUNO Awards. For more information on the 35th annual JUNO Awards, visit the Canadian Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences’ (CARAS) website at www.junoawards.ca. The 2006 JUNO Awards will air live on CTV, on Sunday, April 2nd, 2006.

About CTV:
CTV, Canada’s largest private broadcaster, offers a wide range of quality news, sports, information, and entertainment programming. It boasts the number-one national newscast, CTV National News With Lloyd Robertson, and is the number-one choice for prime-time viewing. CTV owns 21 conventional television stations across Canada and has interests in 14 specialty channels, including the number-one Canadian specialty channel, TSN. CTV is owned by Bell Globemedia, Canada’s premier multi-media company. More information about CTV may be found on the company website at www.ctv.ca.

Web Links:
JUNO Awards: www.junoawards.ca
CTV: www.ctv.ca