Jurors

Thank you for your interest in being a juror for the 2025 CFMAs!

Applications for CFMA 2024 Jurors are now closed. Due to the volume of applicants, only selected jurors will be contacted. If you are interested in applying as a juror for future years, be  sure to subscribe to our mailing list.

General Info

  • All submissions are digital, and the juror voting process is conducted online.
  • Categories which exceed more than 60 submissions are generally split between two juror pools (i.e. 5 jurors in each set).
  • In selecting jurors, we attempt to respect our mandate as a national entity, i.e. by having diverse representation from all geographical regions of Canada
  • We aim to incorporate new jurors each year and try not to select jurors for the same categories two years in a row.
  • Due to the volume of applications, not all applicants will be placed. Many highly-qualified Jurors, both new and returning, may not be selected this year.
  • As a thank you for their participation, Jurors are offered one comp ticket to the Awards Ceremony evenings and their name is listed in the event program.

For a quick overview of the CFMA submissions eligibility please visit folkawards.ca/eligibility.

For a list of all 20 CFMA categories: folkawards.ca/eligibility/criteria/.

Conflict of Interest

Tentatively selected jurors are sent a list of submissions for their category/ies to check for any conflicts of interest. The Canadian Folk Community is tightly connected. You may know some of the artists personally. However, by ‘conflict of interest’ we mean that if you, or your immediate family, are involved with any of the recordings in this category – as a musician, songwriter, agent, producer, manager, etc. you must declare this. Uncertain? Here is the main indicator: if you have received any financial benefit from this recording in the past year, or may receive financial benefit in the next year from this artist or this recording, this is a conflict of interest.

Juror Pools

Jurors in larger categories will be divided into Juror Pools. In Round 1 of voting, Jurors in pooled categories will assess a portion of the total number of submitted albums to the category. In Round 2, all jurors in pooled categories will assess the same list of nominees (in Round 2 jurors will be required to assess a few submissions that did not previously assess in Round 1). Note that while pooled jurors will be reviewing only a portion of albums in Round 1, we require jurors to review the full list of submissions for any conflicts of interest.

2025 JUROR TIMELINE

(Note: Dates are Subject to Change)

  • [Aug 7, 2024]: Deadline for Juror Application
  • [Aug 7- 30, 2024]: Selected Jurors will be tentatively assigned placements
  • [Sept 4, 2024]: Date by which confirmed Jurors provided Round 1 voting access & instructions
  • [Sept 4 – Oct 9, 2024]: Round 1 voting period (to determine nominees in each category)
  • [Oct 24, 2024]: Jurors provided Round 2 voting access & instructions
  • [Oct 24-November 4, 2024]: Round 2 voting period (to determine recipients in each category)

JUROR APPLICATION FORM

 

Thank you in advance for considering lending your expertise to this extremely important process. The Canadian Folk Music Scene is strengthened by the contribution of your time and expertise.

Join us to celebrate the 20th anniversary of the Canadian Folk Music Awards, in the Nation's Capital, Ottawa, Ontario!

Canadian Folk Music Awards
71 Markland Cres.,
Ottawa Ontario K2G5Z6

CFMA is a registered non-profit organization, and gratefully accepts donations to support our operations.

CRA Number : 827183542RC0001

The Board, Staff, and Volunteers at the Canadian Folk Music Awards acknowledge that we live, work, meet and travel on the traditional territories of Indigenous Peoples that have cared for this land, now called Canada, since time immemorial. These lands are either subject to First Nations self-government under modern treaty, unceded and un-surrendered territories, or traditional territories from which First Nations, Métis and Inuit Peoples have been displaced.