A stripped-back presentation of the 2020 Juno Awards on Monday will toast the Canadian music scene, and the showB次元官网网址檚 head organizer hopes itB次元官网网址檒l mark a bright moment for an industry hit hard by COVID-19.

With concert venues closed and most performers staying at home without gigs, Allan Reid said heB次元官网网址檚 focused on giving this yearB次元官网网址檚 Juno nominees the recognition they missed after the pandemic sidelined a weekend of accolades in Saskatoon several months ago.

But he said this yearB次元官网网址檚 show, which is skipping broadcast TV and going directly to CBC Gem, will look undeniably different than ones in the past.

B次元官网网址淭his is not the Juno broadcast that you would see on television B次元官网网址� itB次元官网网址檚 not 12 performances and six awards,B次元官网网址� explained Reid, who serves as president of the Canadian Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences (CARAS).

Instead, the show is cramming two nights of trophies into a brisk ceremony recorded in isolation.

Winners in a dizzying 42 categories will be announced over 90 minutes, putting the marquee nominees for single and album of the year in the same spotlight as more obscure ones, such as world music and childrenB次元官网网址檚 album.

Presenters include Toronto RaptorsB次元官网网址� Chris Boucher and two-time Juno winner Jessie Reyez, while songs will be performed by Iskwe, Neon Dreams, the Dead South, and Alessia Cara, who was originally supposed to host the cancelled television event.

The Junos will stream on CBC Gem, and CBCB次元官网网址檚 Facebook, YouTube and Twitter pages on Monday at 7 p.m. ET.

Reid spoke with The Canadian Press about making a different sort of Junos show, how the virus is slamming the music industry, and what it all means for the 50th anniversary of the awards set for next March.

CP: There are a number of significant changes to this yearB次元官网网址檚 Junos, including that Alessia Cara stepped away from hosting duties. But sheB次元官网网址檚 also this yearB次元官网网址檚 top nominee with six nods. How will she be involved in the show?

Reid: Alessia is going to have a one-time performance of B次元官网网址淩ooting for YouB次元官网网址� (a song that helped her pick up the songwriter of the year nomination). ItB次元官网网址檚 an exclusive premiere from her new EP called B次元官网网址淭his Summer: Live Off The Floor,B次元官网网址� which is coming out in July. She recorded it pre-pandemic.

CP: How about Jann Arden, who was originally supposed to be inducted into the Canadian Music Hall of Fame by Anne Murray on the broadcast? Those plans have been sidelined, but is something going to materialize later?

Reid: We felt this was not the timeB次元官网网址� those are lifetime moments. So we havenB次元官网网址檛 finalized details. We are trying to figure out how to accomplish that, whether itB次元官网网址檚 around the 50th anniversary, or another way, weB次元官网网址檙e not sure. (There were) so many disappointments with the show not happening and that was definitely one of them.

CP: Speaking of the 50th anniversary, the Junos are slated for Toronto next year to mark the momentous occasion. The celebration would be the first time in a decade that the awards have taken place in the city. But considering the virus, is that still on?

Reid: Obviously, COVID is has changed everything. As a music event that is a mass gathering B次元官网网址� from all of our events to the broadcast B次元官网网址� we have to be taking into consideration: What if there is a second wave? Things are still relatively unknown about what the future will hold, so we need to make plans, and alternate plans, to make sure that we can still do a celebration. But what exactly thatB次元官网网址檚 going to be, right now weB次元官网网址檙e still working through. I donB次元官网网址檛 think thereB次元官网网址檚 anybody who can say for sure if weB次元官网网址檙e going to be able to gather 15,000 people in the Scotiabank Arena next March.

CP: After the last-minute cancellation of the 2020 Junos, do you plan to return to Saskatoon?

Reid: WeB次元官网网址檙e working on a three- to five-year plan at all times with future cities. The challenge for Saskatoon is that everything was spent B次元官网网址� it wasnB次元官网网址檛 like we cancelled a month before the event, (it was) 48 to 72 hours. And so all the food had been delivered to the convention centre for the gala dinner, the stage was fully built, we were starting rehearsals. The whole machine was rolling. So, from an investment standpoint, it requires new investment to make that happen again. Hopefully weB次元官网网址檒l get a chance to go back.

CP: What about the Canadian music industry as a whole? Since the country effectively shut down live entertainment, weB次元官网网址檝e seen musicians rally for financial support from the federal government, but thereB次元官网网址檚 a more uncertain road ahead for live music. YouB次元官网网址檙e head of CARAS, a non-profit that supports performers, so how do you see this shaping up?

Reid: The music industry B次元官网网址� like sports, like restaurants B次元官网网址� has been hit incredibly hard. ItB次元官网网址檚 devastating to see artists lose their livelihoods who canB次元官网网址檛 tour. Yes, weB次元官网网址檙e very fortunate to have a government thatB次元官网网址檚 providing (assistance) to try to make ends meet, but IB次元官网网址檝e had so many conversations with artists who are just going, B次元官网网址淚 donB次元官网网址檛 know much how longer I can go. IB次元官网网址檝e got to find another way to make a living.B次元官网网址� If theyB次元官网网址檙e not on the radio and not generating that kind of performance income, it comes from performing live. And IB次元官网网址檓 extremely worried of whatB次元官网网址檚 going to happen to the venues across this country. If this is prolonged from three-and-a-half months into next year, how do those venues survive? And if they go away then where do the bands go to play?

EditorB次元官网网址檚 Note: This interview has been edited and condensed for clarity.

David Friend, The Canadian Press

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