[edit March 1: Congratulations to winners Zeus (Album of the Year), Hannah Georgas (Emerging Artist of the Year) and Michou (Artist of the Year)!]
In non-Juno Awards related news, the 2011 finalists for the XM Verge Music Awards have been announced. Among them are earbuds & ticket stubs favourites Zeus, Hannah Georgas, Tegan and Sara, Arcade Fire, and more in the three categories: Album of the Year, Artist of the Year and Emerging Artist of the Year. The former two awards will net the winner a cool $25,000, while the latter winner will go home with $5000. Which is pretty sweet, and you know that anything makes more sense than the "best new artist" category of the Junos.
For the full list of finalists, as well as details on attending the show in Toronto on March 1st, click here.
Here's a pretty cool video of Toronto band Make Your Exit covering nominee Zeus' "River by the Garden":