The JUNOs, Canada's Music Awards Turns 40 This Weekend in Toronto

- Canadians celebrate their own with A-List bash at THE 2011 JUNO AWARDS hosted by Superstar hip hop artist Drake -
- Arcade Fire, Barenaked Ladies, Broken Social Scene, Bryan Adams, Buffy St. Marie, City and Colour, Daniel Lanois, Feist, Rush's Alex Lifeson and Geddy Lee, K'NAAN, Robbie Robertson, Sarah McLachlan, Neil Young, Shania Twain, and more set to appear -

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TORONTO, March 25 /PRNewswire/ - The awards celebration recognizing Canada's music industry celebrates its 40^th Anniversary this weekend at a star-studded broadcast in Toronto Sunday night. THE 2011 JUNO Awards brings together the likes of critically acclaimed, Grammy-winners Arcade Fire, beloved superstar Shania Twain, and the legendary Neil Young in a two-and-a-half hour broadcast on CTV hosted by Toronto's own hip hop superstar, Drake.

After a successful, decade-long road trip across the great white north, during which Canada's Music Awards were broadcast from nine different cities in seven provinces and from two coasts, the Canadian music industry descends upon Toronto this weekend to celebrate the past 40 years in Canadian music. The Sunday night broadcast will feature a special tribute to Joni Mitchell, Neil Young, Gordon Lightfoot and The Band performed by some of Canada's most popular young artists.

**Media Note** - Photos for THE 2011 JUNO AWARDS are available at www.ctvmedia.ca/ctv and www.junoawards.ca.

Originally an industry-only awards show, The JUNO Awards evolved into a nationally broadcast event featuring Canada's best and brightest musical talent. THE JUNO AWARDS took to the road in 2002 when it began to be broadcast on CTV with a live, stadium production featuring tens of thousands screaming local fans. Travelling from St. John's, Newfoundland, to Vancouver, British Columbia and nearly every major Canadian city in between, The JUNO Awards showcases the local flavour of the host city, while promoting regional music and culture and inviting local fans to join the celebration. Now, Canada's Music Awards returns to the city which hosted the first JUNO Awards 40 years ago.

Toronto's very own Drake has been nabbed to M.C. the show. Vocally, and on social media, Drake is a very proud Canadian who is set to bring his hip hop sensibilities, red carpet cool, and signature smile to the broadcast, airing live on Sunday, March 27 at 8 p.m. ET on CTV.

Some of the performers include Arcade Fire, Broken Social Scene, Chromeo, City and Colour, Down With Webster, Hedley, Johnny Reid, Sarah Harmer, Sarah McLachlan, and Tokyo Police Club, with special appearances by Barenaked Ladies, Ben Mulroney, Billy Talent, Bryan Adams, Buck 65, Buffy Sainte-Marie, Chilly Gonzales, Classified, Dan Hill, Daniel Lanois, deadmau5, Feist, Great Big Sea, Keshia Chanté, K'NAAN, Lady Antebellum's Charles Kelley, Maestro Fresh Wes, Melanie Fiona, members of Metric, Randy Bachman, Robbie Robertson, Royal Wood, Rush's Alex Lifeson and Geddy Lee and Shad.

Broadcast sponsors of THE 2011 JUNO AWARDS are Chevrolet, Garnier, Molson Canadian and Rogers.

Sponsors of the 2011 JUNO Awards include FACTOR, Canada's Private Radio Broadcasters and The Government of Canada through the Department of Canadian Heritage's "Canada Music Fund," Radio Starmaker Fund, Ontario Media Development Corporation (OMDC), The City of Toronto, Tourism Toronto, Aeroplan and funding partner Ontario Cultural Attractions Fund.

About CTV
CTV, Canada's Olympic Network, is also Canada's largest private broadcaster. Featuring a wide range of quality news, sports, information, and entertainment programming, CTV is Canada's most-watched television network. CTV Inc. also owns radio stations across the country and owns or has interests in leading national specialty channels, featuring news, sports, factual, arts, entertainment, music, youth and fashion programming. Official broadcaster of the Vancouver 2010 Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games and London 2012 Games of the Olympiad, CTV Inc. is owned by CTVglobemedia Inc., Canada's premier multimedia company. More information about CTV may be found on the network's website at www.ctv.ca.

About CARAS
The Canadian Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences/L'académie 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 vehicles such as The JUNO Awards. For more information on the 40th Annual JUNO Awards or The Canadian Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences' (CARAS) website please visit www.junoawards.ca or www.carasonline.ca.

SOURCE CTV Inc.