B.C.’s South Asian Music Scene Shines in Juno Award Nominations

The growing prominence of South Asian music in British Columbia is taking center stage at this year’s Juno Awards, as several B.C.-connected artists are nominated in the newly introduced South Asian Music Recording of the Year category.

Among the five nominees in the category, three have strong B.C. ties:

• AP Dhillon (based on Vancouver Island)

• Karan Aujla (Vancouver)

• Jazzy B (Surrey), nominated for COOLIN, alongside Chani Nattan and Inderpal Moga

“Vancouver—Surrey in particular—is at the global epicenter of this music,” said Juno Awards president Allan Reid, speaking shortly after the nominees were announced.

A New Era for South Asian Music in Canada

This marks a significant moment for South Asian artists in Canada, but their success has been building for years.

AP Dhillon made history in 2023 as the first artist to perform entirely in Punjabi at the Juno Awards. This year, he is also nominated for Breakthrough Artist and Songwriter of the Year. Meanwhile, Karan Aujla is in the running for Single of the Year for Tauba Tauba.

The influence of South Asian music is growing, reflecting B.C.’s evolving cultural landscape. According to the 2021 census, nearly 500,000 people (9.6% of B.C.’s population) identify as South Asian.

Events like 5X Fest, a celebration of South Asian music and art in Metro Vancouver, and the sold-out concert by Indian superstar Diljit Dosanjh at Rogers Arena in 2022, highlight how the genre is reshaping B.C.’s music industry.

B.C. Artists Strongly Represented at the Junos

Beyond the South Asian music category, B.C. artists have a strong presence at the 2025 Junos.

B.C. artists account for 13.5% of nominees, up from 10% last year, placing the province behind Ontario (45%) and Quebec (20%), but ahead of all other regions.

Among the most-nominated acts:

• Snotty Nose Rez Kids (Haisla Nation) – Nominated for Best Rap Single, Rap Album, and Contemporary Indigenous Artist of the Year

• bbno$ (Vancouver-born), Dean Brody (Smithers), and Karan Aujla – Nominated for the TikTok Juno Fan Choice Award

• Mother Mother (Quadra Island) – Nominated for Best Rock Album and Group of the Year

• Spiritbox (Victoria), Devin Townsend (New Westminster), and Anciients (Vancouver) – Competing for Metal/Hard Music Album of the Year

The children’s album category—nearly eliminated last year—features B.C. nominees Kym Gouchie (Lheidli T’enneh Nation) and legendary Salt Spring Island artist Raffi, nominated alongside Good Lovelies.

Vancouver to Host Junos with Michael Bublé as Host

B.C.’s connection to the Juno Awards extends beyond the nominees.

The event will be hosted by Burnaby’s Michael Bublé and take place at Vancouver’s Rogers Arena on March 30.

The show will be broadcast live at 5 p.m. PT across multiple CBC platforms, including CBC-TV, CBC Gem, CBC Radio One, CBC Music, and CBC Listen, as well as CBCMusic.ca/junos and CBC Music’s YouTube page.

With B.C. artists taking center stage, this year’s Junos are set to celebrate the province’s diverse and growing musical talent.