Juno Nominees 2014: Arcade Fire Leads With Six Nods, Drake Lands Four

TORONTO -- Montreal's Arcade Fire, whose Haitian-inspired fourth album "Reflektor'' was one of the most critically acclaimed releases of the year, has nabbed a leading six Juno nominations.

Michael Buble (who won a Grammy last week) and "Stompa'' singer Serena Ryder are close behind with five nominations apiece.

Tegan and Sara, Drake, Celine Dion and Hedley round out the field with four nods each heading into the March 30 show in Winnipeg.

The nominations were announced Tuesday morning at a news conference in Toronto.

Arcade Fire will compete in the album of the year category against Dion's "Loved Me Back to Life,'' Drake's "Nothing Was the Same,'' Buble's "To Be Loved'' and Ryder's "Harmony.''

"Blurred Lines'' crooner Robin Thicke — who pulled in three Juno nominations — was announced as a performer at the show, as were indie darlings Tegan and Sara, and Ryder.

The host has yet to be announced.

Thicke — who has dual citizenship by way of his sitcom star father Alan Thicke — will compete for artist of the year against Dion, Drake, Buble and Ryder.

Group of the year, meanwhile, will be contested by Arcade Fire, Blue Rodeo, Hedley, Tegan and Sara, and Walk off the Earth. The Burlington, Ont., band — known for their innovative videos — earned three nominations overall.

Arcade Fire will also compete for alternative album of the year along with Rah Rah's "The Poet's Dead''; Royal Canoe's "Today We're Believers''; "Warring'' by The Darcys" and ''Uzu" from Yamantaka//Sonic Titan.

Canadian musicians who released albums between Sept. 1, 2012 and Nov. 13, 2013 were eligible for nominations.

Chantal Kreviazuk and Raine Maida will receive the Allan Waters Humanitarian Award, while classic rock outfit Bachman-Turner Overdrive will be ushered into the Canadian Music Hall of Fame.

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