In Canada: Morgan Wallen, Bruno Mars & Lady Gaga Top List of Most Popular Albums & Songs at Midyear

Canadians love Morgan Wallen.

In the first half of 2025 in Canada, the country star’s I’m the Problem was the most popular album, while Lady Gaga and Bruno Mars’ “Die With a Smile” was the most-streamed song (by on-demand audio streams), according to Luminate’s Midyear Music Report.

The report, which covers a tracking period from Jan. 3 to July 3, 2025, boasts a variety of metrics, including a few insights into the Canadian music market.

In Canada, total album consumption increased 4.5%, hitting 57.2 million — up from 2024’s 54.8 million — which accounted for the period of Dec. 29, 2023, to June 27, 2024.

Wallen’s I’m the Problem earned 231,000 equivalent album units in the first half of the year. Released May 16, the country juggernaut’s impact has reached the charts, with the album peaking at No. 1 on the Billboard Canadian Albums chart for eight weeks, only to be dethroned last week by Justin Bieber’s Swag. Problem reemerged atop the chart this week, however.

Canadians fare well on the albums list, including Scarborough native The Weeknd, who has two entries. His compilation album, The Highlights, is at No. 2 with 151,000 units, while his 2025 record, Hurry Up Tomorrow, came in at No. 7 with 118,000 units. PartyNextDoor & Drake’s $ome $exy $ongs 4 U project came in at No. 4 (133,00 units), while Gen Z darling Tate McRae amassed 124,000 with her third studio album, So Close to What, at No. 6.

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Top 10 Albums in Canada

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Top 10 Songs in Canada

Read more here. – Heather Taylor-Singh

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Juno Awards Add Latin Music Recording of the Year Category Starting in 2026

The Junos has a new category.

On Tuesday (Aug. 5), the Canadian Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences (CARAS) announced the introduction of Latin Music Recording of the Year.

A CARAS media release notes that the new category “celebrates the vibrant and growing contributions of Latin artists to the Canadian music scene. This crossover category will recognize excellence across all Latin American genres and languages, giving artists a platform to shine on Canada’s biggest music stage.”

In a statement, Ricardo Taco (Live Nation Canada), who serves as co-chair of the committee, said, “We are extremely grateful to The Junos for giving us the opportunity to elevate our music and culture through the introduction of this new category. This recognition not only highlights the growing impact of Latin music in Canada, but also gives our artists a powerful platform to share their stories, rhythms, and heritage with a wider audience.”

The introduction of the category follows criticism around the Canadian award show’s lack of representation and support of the growing genre.

Last October, a new national report explored the rise of Latin music in Canada and the need for more industry support. Entitled “Understanding The Barriers and Opportunities of the Latin Music Community in Canada,” the report, commissioned by the group Speaking Non-English, emphasized the need for music industry investment to avoid “a massive missed opportunity.” It also identified structural and financial challenges in the Canadian music ecosystem and the lack of support and representation of Latin artists and industry professionals.

The report highlighted the Junos specifically as an institution lacking in support, with researchers noting that of the country’s top 11 genres, Latin music was the only one without its own category. “Many Latin artists already surpass the average Junos winner in terms of consumption — even without accounting for major names like Jessie Reyez,” said Martín Añón, co-founder/president of Speaking Non-English, at the time. “The community is aware of this disparity, which only heightens their frustration.”

Añón also said that a proposal for a Latin Music Recording of the Year category was in development, with more than 50 letters of endorsement from the music community.

The announcement of the new category follows a controversy that erupted last year after CARAS announced plans to put the reggae recording, Christian/gospel album and children’s album categories on hiatus. But after outcry from the industry — including some who raised inclusivity concerns around the removal of two predominantly Black-led genres — those plans were cancelled.

Last year, the Junos also introduced the South Asian recording of the year category, which was won by AP Dhillon.

CARAS is also refining submission guidelines for both rap album/EP of the year and rap single of the year. Starting this year, vocalists must be Canadian citizens or permanent residents to be eligible. 

Read more here. – Kerry Doole

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