More to come on this topic but to kick off the news, Raincity Studios President Kris Krug is part of the Juno Awards Host Committee for next year's show in Vancouver. If you are not in the know (or American), the Junos is the annual award program put on by Canadian Academy Of Recording Arts and Sciences - tube socks not required.

Anyhow, KK went to this year's awards show in Calgary to scout the event and came back brimming with ideas on how to engage Canadians and really accentuate the emerging artists throughout Canada (like CBC Radio 3 does). I suspect he'll bring big ideas about involving new media to expand the reach and enjoyment of the show through web communities, user generated content, and participatory culture.

The rest of the Juno Host team starts with Bob D’Eith of Music BC, the Pacific Music Industry Association who serves as the Host Committee Executive Chair with high-powered Committee Consultants being: mega-manager Bruce Allen; super-agent Sam Feldman; Pierre Tremblay; Jane Milner, Assistant Deputy Minister, Arts & Culture, Ministry of Tourism Sport and the Arts; and Vancouver City Councilor Elizabeth Ball.

Vancouver 2009 Juno Host Committee
Photo by Marissa Baecker www.shootthebreeze.ca
See KK's Photostream for names

Krug's working on branding and PR outreach tasks as part of the "Marketing and Pageantry: subcommittee along with CTV and Chris Lee. With the 2008 version being heralded as a great success, they have a high standard to reach but i'm looking forward to seeing what they brew up (and hopefully find my way in to the shows ;-).

{Note: I teased KK that this position is despite his relative lack of Canadian music history but i promised not to tease him in public if he diligently studies my collection of Can Con vinyl.}

Our pal Duane Storey also attended the 2008 Junos as a photographer and chronicled the night's activities and personalities in his 2008 Canadian Juno Awards In Calgary photojournal.

Also super blogger Arieanna covered the event (and the after-parties) in words and Juno photos on Flickr for B5Media. See: Juno Awards 2008 Day 1 - JunoCup and Juno Awards 2008 Day 2 - FanFare, Gala Awards & VIP Party.

Photos:

Blue Rodeo at the Junos by Duane Story
Lindsay Ell rocks the Junos by Duane Storey