The Juno Awards of 1981, representing Canadian music industry achievements of the previous year, were awarded on 5 February 1981 in Toronto at a ceremony hosted by multiple co-presenters at the O'Keefe Centre. The first co-hosts were Andrea Martin and John Candy of SCTV fame, then Frank Mills and Ginette Reno, and finally Ronnie Hawkins and Carroll Baker. Ceremonies were broadcast nationally on CBC Television from 7pm Eastern Time. More capacity was now available at the O'Keefe Centre and tickets were made available to the public at $15 each. The television show was seen by an estimated 1,880,000 viewers. Juno awards organiser CARAS announced the major nominees 6 January 1981, with additional nominees in classical, jazz and album graphics announced 20 January 1981. The Emeralds, previously nominated four times for the Country Group award, were not nominated this year. Controversy ensued when a committee declared to CARAS that the band was a polka band that should not be nominated in a country category. A reported attempt to file their nomination in a folk category was rejected due to a relative lack of sales. The Emeralds then looked to the courts to stop CARAS from issuing ballots that omitted their group. The group's legal challenge was unsuccessful, but the settlement required the Juno awards to mention the band and its previous nominations during the broadcast. Performers during the broadcast included Frank Mills on piano with Ginette Reno singing "The Poet and I", Ronnie Hawkins and Carrol Baker singing "Hey, Bo Diddley", Graham Shaw singing his hit "Can I Come Near", and single songs each from Diane Tell, Shari Ulrich and the Powder Blues Band. Although she received four awards, Anne Murray was once again absent from this year's show. Joni Mitchell's entry into the Canadian Music Hall of Fame was introduced by then Prime Minister Pierre Trudeau. During her acceptance speech, Mitchell quipped that she felt like hockey star Bernie "Boom Boom" Geoffrion for receiving this honour. The "Single of the Year" award was a tie between Anne Murray and Martha and the Muffins, and is the only time a tie for this award has occurred in the history of the Juno's.

Nominees and winners

Female Vocalist of the Year

Winner: Anne Murray Other nominees:

Male Vocalist of the Year

Winner: Bruce Cockburn Other nominees:

Most Promising Female Vocalist of the Year

Winner: Carole Pope Other nominees:

Most Promising Male Vocalist of the Year

Winner: Graham Shaw Other nominees:

Group of the Year

Winner: Prism Other nominees:

Most Promising Group of the Year

Winner: Powder Blues Band Other nominees:

Composer of the Year

Winner: Eddie Schwartz, "Hit Me with Your Best Shot" by Pat Benatar Other nominees:

Country Female Vocalist of the Year

Winner: Anne Murray Other nominees:

Country Male Vocalist of the Year

Winner: Eddie Eastman Other nominees:

Country Group or Duo of the Year

Winner: The Good Brothers Other nominees:

Folk Artist of the Year

Winner: Bruce Cockburn Other nominees:

Instrumental Artist of the Year

Winner: Frank Mills Other nominees:

Producer of the Year

Winner: Gene Martynec, "Tokyo" by Bruce Cockburn and "High School Confidential" by Rough Trade Other nominees:

Recording Engineer of the Year

Winner: Mike Jones, "Factory" and "We're OK", Instructions Other nominees:

Canadian Music Hall of Fame

Winner: Joni Mitchell

Nominated and winning albums

Album of the Year

Winner: Greatest Hits, Anne Murray Other nominees:

Best Album Graphics

Winner: Jeanette Hanna, We Deliver by Downchild Blues Band Other nominees:

Best Children's Album

Winner: Singing 'n' Swinging, Sharon, Lois & Bram Other nominees:

Best Classical Album of the Year

Winner: Stravinsky – Chopin Ballads, Arthur Ozolins Other nominees:

International Album of the Year

Winner: The Wall, Pink Floyd Other nominees:

Best Jazz Album

Winner: Present Perfect, Rob McConnell & The Boss Brass Other nominees:

Nominated and winning releases

Single of the Year

Winner (tie): Other nominees:

International Single of the Year

Winner: "Another Brick in the Wall (Part 2)", Pink Floyd Other nominees:

Citations

General