TORONTO, ON – Thursday, July 14, 2016.
The Polaris Music Prize, presented by CBC Music and produced by Blue Ant Media, announced its 2016 Short List of Canadian albums today. Announcing the 2016 Short List were this year’s gala hosts: Tom Power, CBC Radio 2 Morning host and Polaris jurist, and Amanda Parris, host of CBC Radio 2’s Marvin’s Room and CBC’s Exhibitionists. The Polaris Music Prize gala will be held at The Carlu in Toronto on Monday, September 19 at 8 p.m. ET and streamed live on CBC Music’s Facebook page and YouTube channel.
2016 Polaris Music Prize Short List:
Black Mountain – IV
Basia Bulat – Good Advice
Grimes – Art Angels
Carly Rae Jepsen – E•MO•TION Kaytranada – 99.9%
Jessy Lanza – Oh No
PUP – The Dream Is Over Andy Shauf – The Party U.S. Girls – Half Free White Lung – Paradise
At 6 p.m. (6:30 p.m. NT) this evening, CBC Radio 2 will feature a special hour-long broadcast celebrating the Polaris Music Prize Short List on Drive with Rich Terfry. Local CBC Radio 2 frequencies can be found at cbc.ca/frequency or the broadcast can be streamed online at cbcmusic.ca.
The eligibility period for the 2016 Polaris Music Prize runs from June 1, 2015 to May 31, 2016. An independent jury of music journalists, broadcasters and music bloggers from across Canada determines the Long List and Short List. Eleven people are selected from the larger jury pool to serve on the Grand Jury and they will convene the night of the gala to select the Polaris Music Prize winner.
The Polaris Music Prize will award $50,000 to the artist who creates the Canadian Album of the Year. Each of the nine other short listed artists will receive $3,000 courtesy of Slaight Music. Judged solely on artistic merit, without consideration of genre or record sales, the prize’s past winners are 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).
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.
We acknowledge the OMDC for their continued support of the Polaris Music Prize. For images for The Polaris Music Prize and the Short List visit:
polarismusicprize.ca/media password: m3d1a
About the Polaris Music Prize
Polaris Music Prize, produced by Blue Ant Media, 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.
Website: www.polarismusicprize.ca
Twitter: @polarismusicprize
Facebook: facebook.com/polarismusicprize
Youtube: youtube.com/polarismusicprize
Instagram: @polarismusicprize
About CBC Music.ca
CBCMusic.ca is Canada’s free digital music service connecting Canadians with the very best in Canadian and international music, concerts and features. Simple and easy to navigate, CBCMusic.ca gives music fans access to 50 Web radio stations, 12 distinct genre-based music communities, CBC Radio 2 and CBC Radio 3, plus content from the most knowledgeable music personalities and programmers from across the country, hundreds of concerts, playlists and more. CBCMusic.ca
About Blue Ant Media
Blue Ant Media is a privately held international media company that owns and operates 10 media brands including Cottage Life, Love Nature, Smithsonian Channel Canada and Makeful. Blue Ant Media creates and distributes content worldwide ranging from nature to DIY, outdoor living to music, engaging fans across television, digital, magazines and live events. The company also owns Omnia Media, a YouTube network and Choice TV, a broadcast channel in New Zealand. Blue Ant Media is based in Toronto and has offices in Los Angeles, London (UK) and Auckland. Blueantmedia.ca