mini|Daniel Caesar gewinnt die Auszeichnung im Jahr 2026. Der Juno Award für den Songwriter of the Year („Songwriter des Jahres“) ist ein kanadischer Musikpreis, der seit 1971 von der Canadian Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences (CARAS) vergeben wird.
Hintergrund Die Auszeichnung wird jährlich vergeben, um den besten kanadischen Songwriter zu würdigen. Sie wurde erstmals bei den Juno Awards 1971 verliehen und hieß bis 1974 Best Songwriter. Von 1975 bis 1990 firmierte der Preis unter dem Namen Composer of the Year, von 1991 bis 1998 unter dem Namen Songwriter of the Year und von 1999 bis 2002 wieder unter Best Songwriter. Seit dem Jahr 2003 heißt der Musikpreis Songwriter of the Year.
Während der Preis zunächst für ein einzelnes Lied verliehen wurde, wird er in seiner heutigen Form für zwei oder drei Lieder desselben Songwriters vergeben; sofern der Songwriter Kanadier ist, kann er auch für Lieder nominiert werden, die von nicht-kanadischen Künstlern aufgenommen oder aufgeführt wurden. An der Nominierung sind auch Co-Autoren beteiligt, sofern sie ebenfalls Kanadier sind und an allen nominierten Liedern mitgewirkt haben; Co-Autoren werden zwar namentlich erwähnt, jedoch nicht formal in die Nominierung aufgenommen, wenn sie nicht an allen nominierten Liedern beteiligt waren oder keine Kanadier sind.
Bei den Juno Awards 2025 wurde die neue Kategorie Songwriter of the Year (Non-Performer) eingeführt, um Künstler, die ihr selbstgeschriebenes Material selbst aufführen, besser von Songwritern abzugrenzen, die Material für andere Künstler verfassen.
Gewinner und Nominierte Best Songwriter (1971–1974) 1971 – Gene MacLellan (Special Award Canadian Composer) 1972 – Rich Dodson 1973 – Gordon Lightfoot 1974 – Murray McLauchlan
Composer of the Year (1975–1990) JahrGewinnerLiederNominierteRef.1975Paul Anka Tommy Chong Terry Jacks Fred Turner Randy Bachman Neil Young Joni Mitchell Gordon Lightfoot Burton Cummings Andy Kim 1976Hagood HardyThe Homecoming Terry Jacks – Christina and Holly (Terry Jacks) Smith & McGuire – Baby Woncha Please Come Home (Trooper) Robert Leger – Harmonie du Soir a Chateauguay (Beau Dommage) Randy Bachman – You Ain’t Seen Nothing Yet (Bachman-Turner Overdrive) Paul Anka – Don’t Like To Sleep Alone (Paul Anka) Myles Goodwyn – Tonight’s a Wonderful Time to Fall in Love (April Wine) Murray McLauchlan – Down By The Henry Moore, Do You Dream Of Being Somebody, Little Dreamer (Murray McLauchlan) Mollin-Savath-Mollin – Santa Jaws (Homemade Theatre) Gino Vannelli – Love Me Now (Gino Vannelli) 1977Gordon LightfootThe Wreck of the Edmund Fitzgerald André Gagnon – Surprise (André Gagnon) Vignault/Williams – From NY to LA (Patsy Galland) Ra McGuire – Two For The Show (Trooper) Hagood Hardy – The Homecoming (Hagood Hardy) Nick Gilder James McCulloch – Roxy Roller (Sweeney Todd) André Gagnon – Wow (André Gagnon) Burton Cummings – Stand Tall Paul Anka – Happier 1978Dan Hill (Co-Komponist)Sometimes When We Touch Myles Goodwyn – You Won’t Dance With Me (April Wine) Burton Cummings – My Own Way To Rock (Burton Cummings) G. Thurston – It Always Happens This Way (Toulouse) Carlisle Miller – Sugar Daddy (Patsy Gallant)1979Dan Hill (Co-Komponist)Sometimes When We Touch Brian Smith Ra McGuire – Raisee a Little Hell (Trooper) Frank Mills – Music Box Dancer (Frank Mills) Nick Gilder James McCulloch – Hot Child In The City (Nick Gilder) Burton Cummings – Break It To Them Gently (Burton Cummings)1980Frank MillsPeter Piper Tony Green – Everybody Get Up And Boogie (Freddie James) Gino Soccio – Dancer (Gino Soccio) Brian Smith Ra McGuire – The Boys In The Bright White Sports Car (Trooper)1981Eddie SchwartzHit Me with Your Best Shot L. Mitchell A. Harlow – Young & Restless (Prism) M. Gane – Echo Beach (Martha & The Muffins) Burton Cummings – Fine State of Affairs (Burton Cummings) Doug Bennett – Too Bad/The Move 1982Mike Reno / Paul DeanTurn Me Loose Carole Pope Kevan Staples – High School Onfidential (Rough Trade) Baron Longfellow – Amour (Baron Longfellow) Jack Lavin – Thirsty Ears (Powder Blues) Bill Henderson Brian MacLeod – My Girl (Gone, Gone, Gone) (Chilliwack)1983Bob Rock / Paul HydeEyes of a Stranger Michael Roth Geoff Iwamoto – Your Daddy Don’t Know Neil Peart Geddy Lee Alex Lifeson – New World Man (Rush) Mike Reno Paul Dean Matt Frenette – Working For The Weekend (Loverboy) Robert Buckley David Sinclair – Letting Go (Straight Lines)1984Bryan Adams / Jim VallanceCuts Like a Knife Ivan – Safety Dance Corey Hart – Sunglasses at Night Lorraine Segato Billy Bryans Laurie Conger Steve Webster Lynn Fernie – Rise Up Bryan Adams Eric Kagna – Straight from the Heart 1985Bryan Adams / Jim Vallance Eddie Schwartz Luba Corey Hart David Foster1986Jim Vallance Luba Corey Hart David Foster Bryan Adams1987Jim Vallance Eddie Schwartz Bob Rock Paul Hyde David Foster Tom Cochrane Bryan Adams1989Tom Cochrane Eddie Schwartz Jim Vallance Rita MacNeil David Foster Greg Keelor Jim Cuddy1990David Tyson / Christopher Ward Jim Vallance Greg Keelor Jim Cuddy Lighthouse Luba Eddie Schwartz
Songwriter of the Year (1991–1998) JahrGewinnerLiederNominierteRef.1991David Tyson Leonard Cohen Greg Keelor Jim Cuddy Jane Child Eddie Schwartz Daniel Lanois1992Tom Cochrane Shirley Eikhard Marc Jordan Bryan Adams Bruce Cockburn1993k.d. lang / Ben Mink Tom Cochrane Neil Young Joan Besen Bryan Adams1994Leonard Cohen Jane Siberry Sarah McLachlan Greg Keelor Jim Cuddy Jann Arden1995Jann Arden Neil Young Joni Mitchell Greg Keelor Jim Cuddy Bryan Adams1996Alanis Morissette Shania Twain Odds Bryan Adams1997Alanis Morissette (Glen Ballard, Co-Songwriter) The Tragically Hip Amy Sky Dean McTaggart Bryan Adams1998Sarah McLachlan mit Pierre MarchandBuilding a Mystery (Sarah McLachlan) David Tyson – Dark Horse (Amanda Marshall) Odds – Someone Who’s Cool, Nothing Beautiful, Suppertime (Odds) Dean McTaggart – Dark Horse (Amanda Marshall) Jann Arden – Wishing That, Ode To a Friend (Jann Arden)
Best Songwriter (1999–2002) JahrGewinnerLiederNominierteRef.1999Bryan AdamsOn a Day Like Today, When You’re Gone Loreena McKennitt – The Mummet’s Dance Ed Robertson – One Week Amy Sky – Love Pain and the Whole Damn Thing, Heaven, Ordinary Miracles Shania Twain – Don’t Be Stupid (You Know I Love You), From This Moment On, You’re Still the One2000Shania TwainMan! I Feel Like a Woman!, You’ve Got a Way, That Don’t Impress Me Much Tal Bachman – If You Sleep, She’s So High Bruce Cockburn – Last Night of the World, Mango, Pacing the Cage Amanda Marshall – Believe in You, If I Didn’t Have You, Love Lift Me Alanis Morissette – So Pure, Thank U, Unsent 2001Nelly FurtadoTurn Off the Light, I’m like a Bird, ...on the Radio (Remember the Days) Bryan Adams – The Best of Me Darrin O’Brien, Robbie Patterson – Everybody Wants to Be Like You, Joke Thing, Nothin’ On Me Steven Page, Ed Robertson – Pinch Me, Too Little Too Late, Falling For The First Time Blaise Pascal – Angel Baby, 10 Feet High, Rush2002Jann ArdenNever Mind, Thing for You Leonard Cohen – Boogie Street, In My Secret Life, You Have Loved Enough Sarah Harmer – Don’t Get Your Back Up, Hideout, Uniform Grey Ron Sexsmith – April After All, Just My Heart Talking, This Song Rufus Wainwright – Cigarettes and Chocolate Milk, Grey Gardens, Poses
Songwriter of the Year (2003 – heute) JahrGewinnerLiederNominierteRef.2003Chad Kroeger und NickelbackHero, Too Bad, How You Remind Me Avril Lavigne – Complicated, I’m with You, Sk8er Boi Ron Sexsmith – Former Glory, Gold in Them Hills, These Days Remy Shand – Burning Bridges, Take a Message, The Way I Feel Shania Twain mit Robert John "Mutt" Lange – I’m Gonna Getcha (Good)2004Sarah McLachlanWorld on Fire, Fallen, Stupid Kathleen Edwards – Six O’clock News, Hockey Skates, Mercury Nelly Furtado – Saturdays, Powerless (Say What You Want), Childhood Dreams Ron Sexsmith – You Were There, On a Whim, Someway Somehow Hawksley Workman – Anger As Beauty, We Will Still Need a Song, Smoke Baby2005Ron SexsmithWhatever It Takes, Not About to Lose, Hard Bargain Buck 65 – Wicked and Weird, 463, Sore Marc Jordan – Let’s Waste Some Time, Shot Down My Heart, Tears of Hercules Avril Lavigne – Don’t Tell Me, My Happy Ending, Nobody’s Home Gordie Sampson – Sunburn, Paris, You (Or Somebody Like You) 2006Arcade FireNeighborhood #3 (Power Out), Rebellion (Lies), Wake Up Kathleen Edwards – Back to Me, Copied Keys, In State Joel Plaskett – Happen Now, Lying on a Beach, Natural Disaster Ron Sexsmith – Lemonade Stand, Listen, One Less Shadow Neil Young – The Painter, Prairie Wind, When God Made Me2007Gordie SampsonJesus, Take the Wheel, Words Get in the Way, Crybaby Sarah Harmer – I Am Aglow, Oleander, Escarpment Blues k-os – Sunday Morning, The Rain, Flypaper Nickelback – Far Away, If Everyone Cared, Rockstar Ron Sexsmith – All in Good Time, Never Give Up, Hands of Time 2008FeistMy Moon My Man, 1234, I Feel It All Daniel Bélanger – La Fin de l’homme, Television, Sports et loisirs Avril Lavigne – Girlfriend, Keep Holding On, When You’re Gone Joel Plaskett – Fashionable People, Nothing More to Say, Face of the Earth Rufus Wainwright – Going to a Town, Release the Stars, Do I Disappoint You2009Dallas GreenWaiting..., Sleeping Sickness, The Girl Nathan Ferraro – Never Again, Change For You, Unaware Hedley – Old School, For the Nights I Can’t Remember, Never Too Late Alanis Morissette – Underneath, Not As We, In Praise of the Vulnerable Man Gordie Sampson – When I Said I Would, Just a Dream, Davey Jones2010K’naanWavin’ Flag, Take A Minute, If Rap Gets Jealous Michael Bublé – Haven’t Met You Yet, Hold On Emily Haines, James Shaw – Gimme Sympathy, Sick Muse, Help I’m Alive Carly Rae Jepsen, Ryan Stewart – Tug of War, Bucket, Money and the Ego Joel Plaskett – Through & Through & Through, Deny, Deny, Deny, All the Way Down the Line 2011Arcade FireReady to Start, Sprawl II (Mountains Beyond Mountains), We Used To Wait Drake – Fireworks, Over, Show Me a Good Time Hannah Georgas – Chit Chat, The Deep End, Lovers Breakdown Sarah McLachlan – Forgiveness, Illusions of Bliss, Loving You Is Easy Royal Wood – On Top of Your Love, Tonight I Will Be Your Guide, Waiting2012Dallas GreenFragile Bird, We Found Each Other, Weightless Jim Cuddy – Everyone Watched the Wedding, Skyscraper Soul, Watch Yourself Go Down Feist – How Come You Never Go There, Graveyard, The Circle Married the Line Dan Mangan – About as Helpful As You Can Be Without Being Any Help at All, Post-War Blues, Oh Fortune Ron Sexsmith – Get in Line, Believe it When I See It, Middle of Love2013Leonard CohenAmen, Going Home, Show Me the Place Arkells – Michigan Left, On Paper, Whistleblower Kathleen Edwards – A Soft Place to Land, Chameleon/Comedian, Change the Sheets Hannah Georgas – Enemies, Robotic, Somebody Afie Jurvanen – Be My Witness, Caught Me Thinkin, Lost in the Light2014Serena RyderStompa, What I Wouldn’t Do, When You Know Arcade Fire – Afterlife, Here Comes the Night Time, Reflektor Henry "Cirkut" Walter – Roar, Timber, Wrecking Ball Ron Sexsmith – Deepens with Time, Nowhere to Go, Snake Road Tegan and Sara – Closer, I Was a Fool, Now I’m All Messed Up2015Afie JurvanenAll the Time, Bitter Memories, Stronger Than That Catherine MacLellan – Jack’s Song, Tell Me Luella, The Raven’s Sun Henry "Cirkut" Walter – Birthday, Dark Horse, Wild Wild Love Jenn Grant – Bring Me a Rose, No One’s Gonna Love You (Quite Like I Do), Trailer Park Magic! – Don’t Kill the Magic, Let Your Hair Down, Rude 2016Abel TesfayeCan’t Feel My Face, In the Night, The Hills Béatrice Martin – Carry On, Crier tout bas, Oceans Brawl Dallas Green – Blood, Lover Come Back, Wasted Love Tobias Jesso Jr. – When We Were Young, Alive, Without You