The Juno Award for Artist of the Year is an annual award presented by the Canadian Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences (CARAS) to the best individual musician in Canada. The five nominees in the category are decided through a combination of sales and CARAS member voting, and the recipient is chosen from among these nominees by member voting.
Prior to 2003, male and female artists were nominated and awarded in separate categories. The award was also known as Best Male Artist and Best Female Artist (2000–2002), Best Male Vocalist and Best Female Vocalist (1970–1974, 1999), and Male Vocalist of the Year and Female Vocalist of the Year (1975–1998).
Achievements
thumb|right|200px|Anne Murray in the 1970s.
With nine wins and 20 nominations, Nova Scotian singer Anne Murray is both the most awarded and most nominated artist in this category, and was also nominated for a record twelve years in a row, from 1979 to 1991 (excluding 1988, when no ceremony was held). Rock musician Bryan Adams is the male with the most wins in the category, with seven, including a record five wins in a row from 1983 to 1987. Neil Young is the most nominated male with 14 total nominations, and is also remarkable for the 32 years between his first nomination in 1979 and his most recent win in 2011.
Maestro Fresh-Wes was the first hip-hop/rap artist to be nominated for the award in 1992, and deadmau5 was the first electronica artist to be nominated in 2012.
Recipients
Outstanding Performance (1972–1973)
In 1972 and 1973 only, awards were given for Outstanding Performance of the Year – Female and Outstanding Performance of the Year – Male in addition to those for Best Male Vocalist and Best Female Vocalist.
{| class="wikitable sortable"
! scope="col" style="width:5em;" | Year
! scope="col" | Outstanding Performance of the Year – Male
! scope="col" | Outstanding Performance of the Year – Female
! scope="col" class="unsortable" | Refs.
|-
! scope="row" | 1972
| align="center" | Joey Gregorash
| align="center" | Ginette Reno
| align="center" |
|-
! scope="row" | 1973
| align="center" | Bob McBride
| align="center" | Ginette Reno
| align="center" |
|}
Male and Female Vocalists of the Year (1970–1998)
{| class="wikitable sortable"
! scope="col" style="width:5em;" rowspan="2" | Year
! scope="col" class="unsortable" colspan="2" | Best Male Vocalist
! scope="col" class="unsortable" colspan="2" | Best Female Vocalist
! scope="col" class="unsortable" rowspan="2" style="width:2em;"| Refs.
|-
! scope="col" style="width:10em;" | Winner
! scope="col" style="width:12em;" | Nominees
! scope="col" style="width:10em;" | Winner
! scope="col" style="width:12em;" | Nominees
|-
! scope="row" | 1970
| align="center" | Andy Kim
| align="center" | —
| align="center" | Ginette Reno
| align="center" | —
| align="center" |
|-
! scope="row" | 1971
| align="center" | Gordon Lightfoot
|
- Andy Kim
- Pierre Lalonde
- Gene MacLellan
- Tom Northcott
| align="center" | Anne Murray
|
- Susan Jacks
- Debbie Lori Kaye
- Joni Mitchell
- Ginette Reno
| align="center" |
|-
! scope="row" | 1972
| align="center" | Gordon Lightfoot
| align="center" | —
| align="center" | Anne Murray
| align="center" | —
| align="center" |
|-
! scope="row" | 1973
| align="center" | Gordon Lightfoot
| align="center" | —
| align="center" | Anne Murray
| align="center" | —
| align="center" |
|-
! scope="row" | 1974
| align="center" | Terry Jacks
|
- Keith Hampshire
- Gordon Lightfoot
- Bob McBride
- Murray McLauchlan
| align="center" | Anne Murray
|-
! scope="row" | 1975
| align="center" | Gordon Lightfoot
|
- Michel Pagliaro
- Paul Anka
- Stompin' Tom Connors
- Terry Jacks
| align="center" | Anne Murray
|
- Alexis Rose Radlin
- Cathy Young
- Patsy Gallant
- Susan Jacks
| align="center" |
|-
! scope="row" | 1976
| align="center" | Gino Vannelli
|
- Gordon Lightfoot
- Jean-Pierre Ferland
- Murray McLauchlan
- Paul Anka
| align="center" | Joni Mitchell
|
- Anne Murray
- Charity Brown
- Suzanne Stevens
- Sylvia Tyson
| align="center" |
|-
! scope="row" | 1977
| align="center" | Burton Cummings
|
- Gino Vannelli
- Gordon Lightfoot
- Paul Anka
- Valdy
| align="center" | Patsy Gallant
|
- Anne Murray
- Carroll Baker
- Charity Brown
- Joni Mitchell
| align="center" |
|-
! scope="row" | 1978
| align="center" | Dan Hill
|
- Burton Cummings
- Gino Vannelli
- Gordon Lightfoot
- Valdy
| align="center" | Patsy Gallant
|
- Carroll Baker
- Charity Brown
- Claudja Barry
- Joni Mitchell
| align="center" |
|-
! scope="row" | 1979
| align="center" | Gino Vannelli
|
- Burton Cummings
- Dan Hill
- Gordon Lightfoot
- Neil Young
| align="center" | Anne Murray
|
- Carroll Baker
- Joni Mitchell
- Lisa Dal Bello
- Patsy Gallant
| align="center" |
|-
! scope="row" | 1980
| align="center" | Burton Cummings
|
- Bruce Cockburn
- Gino Vannelli
- Murray McLauchlan
- Neil Young
| align="center" | Anne Murray
|
- Carroll Baker
- Claudja Barry
- Joni Mitchell
- Lisa Dal Bello
| align="center" |
|-
! scope="row" | 1981
| align="center" | Bruce Cockburn
|
- Burton Cummings
- Gino Vannelli
- Gordon Lightfoot
- Neil Young
| align="center" | Anne Murray
|
- Carroll Baker
- Claudja Barry
- Joni Mitchell
- Susan Jacks
| align="center" |
|-
! scope="row" | 1982
| align="center" | Bruce Cockburn
|
- Burton Cummings
- Gino Vannelli
- Gordon Lightfoot
- Neil Young
| align="center" | Anne Murray
|
- Carole Pope
- Carroll Baker
- Joni Mitchell
- Lisa Dal Bello
| align="center" |
|-
! scope="row" | 1983
| align="center" | Bryan Adams
|
- Aldo Nova
- Burton Cummings
- Gordon Lightfoot
- Murray McLauchlan
| align="center" | Carole Pope
|
- Anne Murray
- Jessie Burns
- Joni Mitchell
- Shari Ulrich
| align="center" |
|-
! scope="row" | 1984
| align="center" | Bryan Adams
|
- Bruce Cockburn
- Corey Hart
- Gordon Lightfoot
- Stan Rogers
| align="center" | Carole Pope
|
- Anne Murray
- Dalbello
- Holly Woods
- Shari Ulrich
| align="center" |
|-
! scope="row" | 1985
| align="center" | Bryan Adams
|
- Bruce Cockburn
- Corey Hart
- Gowan
- Kim Mitchell
| align="center" | Luba
|
- Anne Murray
- Carole Pope
- Dalbello
- Lee Aaron
| align="center" |
|-
! scope="row" | 1986
| align="center" | Bryan Adams
|
- Bruce Cockburn
- Gino Vannelli
- Kim Mitchell
- Neil Young
| align="center" | Luba
|
- Anne Murray
- Carroll Baker
- Jane Siberry
- Martine St. Clair
| align="center" |
|-
! scope="row" | 1987
| align="center" | Bryan Adams
|
- Corey Hart
- Gino Vannelli
- Gowan
- Kim Mitchell
| align="center" | Luba
|
- Anne Murray
- k.d. lang
- Lee Aaron
- Véronique Béliveau
| align="center" |
|-
| align="center" colspan="6" | No award ceremony was held in 1988
|-
! scope="row" | 1989
| align="center" | Robbie Robertson
|
- Bruce Cockburn
- David Wilcox
- Leonard Cohen
- Neil Young
| align="center" | k.d. lang
|
- Anne Murray
- Celine Dion
- Johanne Blouin
- Rita MacNeil
| align="center" |
|-
! scope="row" | 1990
| align="center" | Kim Mitchell
|
- Bruce Cockburn
- David Wilcox
- George Fox
- Neil Young
| align="center" | Rita MacNeil
|
- Anne Murray
- Candy Pennella
- Lee Aaron
- Sass Jordan
| align="center" |
|-
! scope="row" | 1991
| align="center" | Colin James
|
- Gowan
- Maestro Fresh-Wes
- Neil Young
- Paul Janz
| align="center" | Celine Dion
|
- Anne Murray
- Candy Pennella
- Lee Aaron
- Rita MacNeil
| align="center" |
|-
! scope="row" | 1992
| align="center" | Tom Cochrane
|
- Bryan Adams
- Bruce Cockburn
- Maestro Fresh-Wes
- Robbie Robertson
| align="center" | Celine Dion
|
- Lee Aaron
- Loreena McKennitt
- Mitsou
- Sarah McLachlan
| align="center" |
|-
! scope="row" | 1993
| align="center" | Leonard Cohen
|
- Corey Hart
- Francis Martin
- Kim Mitchell
- Neil Young
| align="center" | Celine Dion
|
- k.d. lang
- Michelle Wright
- Rita MacNeil
- Sass Jordan
| align="center" |
|-
! scope="row" | 1994
| align="center" | Roch Voisine
|
- Daniel Lanois
- John McDermott
- Snow
- Stef Carse
| align="center" | Celine Dion
|
- Alannah Myles
- Anne Murray
- Rita MacNeil
- Sarah McLachlan
| align="center" |
|-
! scope="row" | 1995
| align="center" | Neil Young
|
- Bruce Cockburn
- Colin James
- John McDermott
- Roch Voisine
| align="center" | Jann Arden
|
- Julie Masse
- Loreena McKennitt
- Michelle Wright
- Sass Jordan
| align="center" |
|-
! scope="row" | 1996
| align="center" | Colin James
|
- Charlie Major
- Mario Pelchat
- Neil Young
- Tom Cochrane
| align="center" | Alanis Morissette
|
- Celine Dion
- Rita MacNeil
- Shania Twain
- Susan Aglukark
| align="center" |
|-
! scope="row" | 1997
| align="center" | Bryan Adams
|
- Corey Hart
- John McDermott
- Neil Young
- Paul Brandt
| align="center" | Celine Dion
|
- Alannah Myles
- Amanda Marshall
- Deborah Cox
- Lara Fabian
| align="center" |
|-
! scope="row" | 1998
| align="center" | Paul Brandt
|
- Bruce Cockburn
- Bruno Pelletier
- John McDermott
- Roch Voisine
| align="center" | Sarah McLachlan
|
- Jann Arden
- Loreena McKennitt
- Shania Twain
- Terri Clark
| align="center" |
|}
Best Male Vocalist and Best Female Vocalist (1999)
{| class="wikitable"
! scope="col" style="width:6.5em;" rowspan="2" | Year
! scope="col" colspan="2" | Best Male Vocalist
! scope="col" colspan="2" | Best Female Vocalist
! scope="col" rowspan="2" | Refs.
|-
! scope="col" style="width:10em;" | Winner
! scope="col" style="width:12em;"| Nominees
! scope="col" style="width:10em;" | Winner
! scope="col" style="width:12em;" | Nominees
|-
! scope="row" | 1999
| align="center" | Jim Cuddy
|
- Colin James
- Corey Hart
- David Usher
- Kevin Parent
| align="center" | Celine Dion
|
- Deborah Cox
- Ginette Reno
- Holly Cole
- Lynda Lemay
| align="center" |
|}
Best Male and Female Artists (2000–2001)
{| class="wikitable sortable"
! scope="col" style="width:5em;" rowspan="2" | Year
! scope="col" class="unsortable" colspan="2" | Best Male Artist
! scope="col" class="unsortable" colspan="2" | Best Female Artist
! scope="col" class="unsortable" rowspan="2" | Refs.
|-
! scope="col" style="width:10em;" | Winner
! scope="col" style="width:12em;" | Nominees
! scope="col" style="width:10em;" | Winner
! scope="col" style="width:12em;" | Nominees
|-
! scope="row" | 2000
| align="center" | Bryan Adams
|
- Paul Brandt
- Choclair
- Tom Cochrane
- Edwin
| align="center" | Chantal Kreviazuk
|
- Alanis Morissette
- Amanda Marshall
- Celine Dion
- Lynda Lemay
| align="center" |
|-
! scope="row" | 2001
| align="center" | Neil Young
|
- Nicola Ciccone
- Jesse Cook
- Sylvain Cossette
- Snow
| align="center" | Jann Arden
|
- Isabelle Boulay
- Lara Fabian
- Lynda Lemay
- Terri Clark
| align="center" |
|}
Best Artist (2002)
{| class="wikitable sortable"
! scope="col" style="width:5em;" | Year
! scope="col" class="unsortable" style="width:10em;" | Best Artist
! scope="col" class="unsortable" style="width:12em;" | Nominees
! scope="col" class="unsortable" | Ref.
|-
! scope="row" | 2002
| align="center" | Diana Krall
|
- Amanda Marshall
- Garou
- Leonard Cohen
- Nelly Furtado
| align="center" |
|}
Artist of the Year (2003–present)
{| class="wikitable sortable"
! scope="col" style="width:5em;" | Year
! scope="col" style="width:10em;" | Artist of the Year
! scope="col" class="unsortable" style="width:12em;" | Nominees
! scope="col" class="unsortable" | Ref.
|-
! scope="row" | 2003
| align="center" | Shania Twain
|
- Alanis Morissette
- Celine Dion
- Daniel Bélanger
- Remy Shand
| align="center" |
|-
! scope="row" | 2004
| align="center" | Sam Roberts
|
- Celine Dion
- Nelly Furtado
- Sarah McLachlan
- Shawn Desman
| align="center" |
|-
! scope="row" | 2005
| align="center" | Avril Lavigne
|
- Bryan Adams
- Celine Dion
- Diana Krall
- k.d. lang
| align="center" |
|-
! scope="row" | 2006
| align="center" | Michael Bublé
|
- Boom Desjardins
- Diana Krall
- Kalan Porter
- Rex Goudie
| align="center" |
|-
! scope="row" | 2008
| align="center" | Feist
|
- Avril Lavigne
- Celine Dion
- Michael Bublé
- Pascale Picard
| align="center" |
|-
! scope="row" | 2009
| align="center" | Sam Roberts
|
- Bryan Adams
- City and Colour
- k.d. lang
- Serena Ryder
| align="center" |
|-
! scope="row" | 2010
| align="center" | K'naan
|
- Diana Krall
- Jann Arden
- Johnny Reid
- Michael Bublé
| align="center" |
|-
! scope="row" | 2011
| align="center" | Neil Young
|
- Drake
- Johnny Reid
- Justin Bieber
- Sarah McLachlan
| align="center" |
|-
! scope="row" | 2012
| align="center" | Feist
|
- City and Colour
- deadmau5
- Drake
- Michael Bublé
| align="center" |
|-
! scope="row" | 2013
| align="center" | Leonard Cohen
|
- Justin Bieber
- deadmau5
- Carly Rae Jepsen
- Johnny Reid
| align="center" |
|-
! scope="row" | 2014
| align="center" | Serena Ryder
|
- Céline Dion
- Drake
- Michael Bublé
- Robin Thicke
| align="center" |
|-
! scope="row" | 2015
| align="center" | The Weeknd
|
- Bryan Adams
- deadmau5
- Leonard Cohen
- Sarah McLachlan
| align="center" |
|-
! scope="row" | 2016
| align="center" | The Weeknd
|
- City and Colour
- Shawn Mendes
- Drake
- Justin Bieber
| align="center" |
|-
! scope="row" | 2017
| align="center" | Leonard Cohen
|
- Alessia Cara
- Drake
- Shawn Mendes
- The Weeknd
| align="center" |
|-
! scope="row" | 2018
| align="center" | Gord Downie
|
- Daniel Caesar
- Lights
- Ruth B
- Shania Twain
| align="center" |
|-
! scope="row" | 2019
| align="center" | Shawn Mendes
|
- Michael Bublé
- Alessia Cara
- The Weeknd
- Tory Lanez
| align="center" |
|-
! style="text-align:center;" scope="row"|2020
| align=center| Shawn Mendes
|
- Bryan Adams
- Alessia Cara
- Tory Lanez
- Jessie Reyez
|align="center"|
|-
! style="text-align:center;" scope="row"|2021
| align=center| The Weeknd
|
- Ali Gatie
- Céline Dion
- Jessie Reyez
- Justin Bieber
|align="center"|
|-
! style="text-align:center;" scope="row"|2022
| align=center| Charlotte Cardin
|
- Justin Bieber
- Shawn Mendes
- JP Saxe
- The Weeknd
|align="center"|
|-
! scope="row"|2023
| align=center| The Weeknd
|
- Michael Bublé
- Avril Lavigne
- Shawn Mendes
- Lauren Spencer-Smith
|align="center"|
|-
! scope="row"|2024
| align=center| Tate McRae
|
- Charlotte Cardin
- Daniel Caesar
- Lauren Spencer-Smith
- Shania Twain
|align="center"|
|-
! scope="row"|2025
| align=center| Tate McRae
|
- Kaytranada
- Shawn Mendes
- Josh Ross
- The Weeknd
|align="center"|
|-
! scope="row"|2026
| align=center| Tate McRae
|
- bbno$
- Justin Bieber
- Daniel Caesar
- The Weeknd
|align="center"|
|}
See also
- List of Canadian musicians