EMI Goes Carbon Neutral again for JUNO Awards Weekend Activities with Zerofootprint

Amongst the glamour of the JUNO Awards, EMI Music Canada always strives to bring greater awareness to significant social issues and this year the tradition proudly continues.

After donating $10,000 from the sale of tickets to their EMI post-JUNO Awards Party in 2007 for a school grant to Pope John Paul II Elementary School in Saskatoon, EMI Music Canada is again working to help keep music alive in Canadian schools.

This year there will be a designated MusiCounts area at the EMI JUNO 2010 post-show celebration where guests can learn more about the program and donate funds which will go towards a school grant for a local Newfoundland school (to be determined).  Anyone making a donation of $10 or more will receive a tax receipt.

In addition, EMI Music Canada will again make their JUNO weekend a green affair by offsetting all things associated with weekend travel and events. This year they partner once more with Zerofootprint to reduce their environmental impact.

EMI Music Canada is privileged to have many socially-minded artists on the label, so these types of initiatives help to better represent them and their values.  Last year EMI and their Label Services Division took home a very impressive 13 out of 39 Awards and this year the line-up of nominees, performers and presenters is equally as exciting, including: Nickelback, Johnny Reid, Terri Clark, Jarvis Church, Deadmau5, Amy Millan, Barenaked Ladies, Serena Ryder and Alex Cuba.

“The JUNO Awards are a wonderful celebration of the incredible musical talent that our country has to offer. Along with the excitement of the show, events and interaction with the fans, it is important for us to work with our artists to help make a difference,” says Deane Cameron, EMI Music Canada President. “EMI is humbled to rise to the occasion, especially with such outstanding organizations as MusiCounts and Zerofootprint.”

“I am always impressed with the unwavering support that EMI constantly delivers in spreading the awareness and importance of MusiCounts. Their dedicated staff and artist roster is always there to lend their time and talents to our cause, helping the charity reach its goals,” comments Steve Cranwell, Executive Director of MusiCounts. “This fund raiser is another wonderful example of what EMI can accomplish to help keep music alive in schools across Canada. MusiCounts can always ‘count’ on EMI!”

“We are thrilled to partner with EMI Music Canada again and admire their continued environmental efforts.  The music and entertainment industries are strong allies for us as their actions can really set the example for others,” comments Ron Dembo, the CEO and founder of Zerofootprint. “This is a great opportunity to empower other Canadians to reduce their collective carbon and ecological footprint. Together we really can make a difference.”

This year EMI has also partnered with MSN.ca as the exclusive media partner for their post-show celebration.  MSN.ca, Canada’s largest online portal, will be bringing you inside the JUNO Awards with exclusive video interviews, a live blog from backstage and inside all the hottest parties, red carpet fashion and highlights from the show on our special Junos microsite at http://entertainment.ca.msn.com/music/junos/. This will also be the only place you’ll find an exclusive photo gallery of shots from inside the private EMI post-show event.

About EMI Music Canada

EMI Music Canada is a unit of EMI Music, one of the world’s leading music companies. EMI Music Canada was founded in 1949 and the current roster of artists spans all musical tastes and genres. Artists include: Alice In Chains, Lily Allen, Charles Aznavour, Corinne Bailey Rae, Beastie Boys, The Beatles, Sarah Brightman, Rosanne Cash, Jarvis Church, Terri Clark, Coldplay, Stompin’ Tom Connors, Jesse Cook, Default, Depeche Mode, Gorillaz, David Guetta, Ben Harper, Iron Maiden, Norah Jones, Lady Antebellum, Massive Attack, Anne Murray, Nickelback, One More Girl, Katy Perry, Johnny Reid, Serena Ryder, Sweet Thing, Thirty Seconds To Mars, Kreesha Turner, Keith Urban and Karl Wolf. It also boasts a strong EMI Label Services Division with labels such as: Aquarius Records, Arts & Crafts, Century Media Records, Eleven Seven Records, Justin Time Records, Marquis, Raisin Records, Secret City Records, Side One Dummy Records, Sparks Music, Ultra Records, Upper Class Recordings and the Welk Music Group. www.emimusic.ca

About MusiCounts
MusiCounts, MusiCounts, Canada’s music education charity associated with The Canadian Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences (CARAS), is helping to keep music alive in schools across Canada. MusiCounts’ mission is to ensure that children in Canada have access to a comprehensive music program through their school. MusiCounts includes Band Aid musical instrument grants, the MusiCounts Teacher of the Year Award, Scholarships and other music education initiatives. MusiCounts is supported by various initiatives such as the JUNO Award nominee compilation CD; annual contributions by CTVglobemedia; EMI Music Canada Inc.; Sony Music Entertainment Canada Inc.; Universal Music Canada and Warner Music Canada Ltd.; as well as Songwriters’ Circle sponsored by CMPA and SOCAN; Juno Cup sponsored by The Keg Steakhouse and Bar; and individual and corporate contributions, including Astral Media, Baldwin Pianos, Bob FM, Corus Entertainment, The RBC Foundation, Rogers Broadcasting Ltd., The Shore 104 FM, and SIRIUS Canada Inc. Since the Program’s establishment in 1997, over $3 and a half million has been donated impacting 214 post secondary music program graduates and over 250,000 individual students, their schools and communities, from coast to coast. MusiCounts has also honoured 5 extraordinary music teachers through the MusiCounts Teacher of the Year Award. For more information, please visit: www.musicounts.ca

About Zerofootprint
Zerofootprint’s mission is to develop software, technology, design and rigorous risk management that together will achieve a massive reduction in our environmental footprint.  Zerofootprint targets large organizations such as collections of cities, multinational corporations, universities, schools and multinational communities, which may span many countries. We enable them with infrastructure that can measure, aggregate, track and manage their individual and combined footprint. www.zerofootprintsoftware.com