The 2023 Polaris Music Prize Short List Is Here
The Polaris Music Prize, presented by CBC Music, has unveiled the 10 albums on its 2023 Short List as well as who will be performing at this year’s Polaris Gala at Massey Hall on September 19. Tickets are available now!
The 2023 Polaris Music Prize Short List is:
Alvvays – Blue Rev
Aysanabee – Watin
Begonia – Powder Blue
Daniel Caesar – Never Enough
Feist – Multitudes
Debby Friday – Good Luck
Gayance – Masquerade
Dan Mangan – Being Somewhere
The Sadies – Colder Streams
Snotty Nose Rez Kids – I’m Good, HBU?
Polaris thanks the 205 jury members whose hard work, thoughtfulness and dedication led to the selection of these Short List albums. One of these albums will win the 2023 Polaris Prize of $50,000, thanks to Slaight Music.
Polaris has confirmed the following acts will take the stage at this year’s marquee winner reveal event (subject to change): Aysanabee, Begonia, Debby Friday, Gayance, Dan Mangan, The Sadies and Snotty Nose Rez Kids. Expect the legendary 129-year-old Massey Hall to be transformed on Polaris Gala evening with an experience for your senses like no other, all in the name of celebrating exceptional Canadian music and the artists who create it.
The nominated albums were revealed during the Polaris Prize Short List Special, which broadcast nationwide earlier today across Canada on CBC Music and CBC Listen. Hosted by two-time past Polaris nominee Rich Terfry, the special featured music from the Short List nominees as well as in-depth interviews with CBC personalities and Polaris jurors.
“This year’s 2023 Short List highlights the impressive and ever-evolving dynamicism of Canadian music from artists at all stages of their career. As always, our incredible jury members are the engine and heart of the Polaris Music Prize, and we’re grateful for their time spent collectively crafting this list. In an age where our attention has become a valuable commodity, these 10 records are deserving of a deep, slow listen. We invite you to sink your teeth in,” said Melissa Vincent, Polaris jury foreperson.
With the reveal of the 10 nominated albums, CBC Music is kicking off Short List Summer: a sprawling, season-long deep dive into the nominated records and the artists who made them. Short List Summer will be anchored by CBC Music’s THE TEN, a series of one-hour weekly radio specials hosted by Damhnait Doyle, broadcasting each Sunday on CBC Music and CBC Listen at 6 p.m. (6:30 NT) starting Sunday, July 16, until Sunday, September 17. Each week THE TEN will take a deep dive into one of the 10 nominated albums in the lead-up to the 2023 Polaris Prize winner announcement, complete with interviews, insights and a full album listening session.
Short List Summer will also include Shortlist Shortcuts, a cbcmusic.ca editorial series beginning Monday, July 18, that will give readers an overview every week, breaking down all the important information you need to know about each nominated album. This will be accompanied by a weekly graphic series that delves into each nominated album, shared to CBC Music’s Instagram page. Follow CBC Music on Instagram for the full series.
THE TEN Broadcast Schedule:
Each special broadcasts at 6 p.m. local time (6:30 NT) on CBC Music and CBC Listen
Sunday, July 16 – The Ten: Alvvays
Sunday, July 23 – The Ten: Aysanabee
Sunday, July 30 – The Ten: Debby Friday
Sunday, August 6 – The Ten: Dan Mangan
Sunday, August 13 – The Ten: Gayance
Sunday, August 20 – The Ten: Daniel Caesar
Sunday, August 27 – The Ten: The Sadies
Sunday, September 3 – The Ten: Begonia
Sunday, September 10 – The Ten: Snotty Nose Rez Kids
Sunday, September 17 – The Ten: Feist
The Polaris Music Prize is a not-for-profit organization that annually honours and rewards artists who produce Canadian music albums of distinction. A select panel of music critics judge and award the Prize without regard to musical genre or commercial popularity. The Polaris Music Prize awards an annual prize of $50,000 to the selected winner thanks to Slaight Music.
Albums eligible for 2023 Polaris Music Prize consideration must be released between May 1, 2022 and May 1, 2023. An independent jury of music media from across Canada determines the Long List and Short List. Eleven people from the larger jury pool are then chosen to serve on the Grand Jury. This Grand Jury convenes at the Polaris Gala to select the Polaris Music Prize winner.
The past winners are Pierre Kwenders (2022), Cadence Weapon (2021), Backxwash (2020), Haviah Mighty (2019), Jeremy Dutcher (2018), Lido Pimienta (2017), Kaytranada (2016), Buffy Sainte-Marie (2015), Tanya Tagaq (2014), Godspeed You! Black Emperor (2013), Feist (2012), Arcade Fire (2011), Karkwa (2010), Fucked Up (2009), Caribou (2008), Patrick Watson (2007) and Final Fantasy / Owen Pallett (2006).
Polaris Music Prize 2023 Event Season:
June 13 – Long List Announcement: The Long List is where Polaris reveals the 40 nominated albums that will be considered for a given year’s Prize.
July 13 – Short List Announcement: Selected from the 40 album Long List, the Short List is where Polaris reveals the 10 finalist albums that will be considered for a given year’s Prize.
September 19 – Polaris Gala: Our prestige winner reveal event, the Polaris Gala features live musical performances from the nominated acts on the Polaris Short List. The Polaris Prize winner is determined day-of at the Gala by an 11-member Polaris Grand Jury selected from the greater Polaris juror pool.
October 19 – Slaight Family Polaris Heritage Prize: The Heritage Prize is a hall of fame-minded critics prize/public polling campaign meant to celebrate classic Canadian albums created before Polaris began in 2006. Like the Polaris Music Prize, winners and nominees of the Heritage Prize are albums of the highest artistic distinction, without regard to sales or affiliations.
We acknowledge the financial support of FACTOR, the Government of Canada through the Department of Canadian Heritage (Canada Music Fund) and of Canada’s Private Radio Broadcasters.
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