The award was established in 2006 and includes a C$20,000 cash prize. The Polaris Music Prize is modelled after the Mercury Music Prize, which is handed to the best British or Irish album over the past year. The award is sponsored by Rogers, Sirius Satellite Radio, Radio Starmaker Fund, and the Canadian Recording Industry Association, and the ceremony is broadcast live on CBC Radio 3.

This year’s short list for the prize includes albums released by some incredible Canadian acts including the likes of Toronto’s Holy Fuck (LP), Winnipeg’s Weakerthans (Reunion Tour), Montreal’s Plants and Animals (Parc Avenue) and Kathleen Edwards (Asking for Flowers)…just to name a few.  The short list is down to 10 entrants – widdled from the semi-final selections.

There is no submission process or entry fee for the Polaris Music Prize.  Jurors select what they consider to be the best Canadian albums released in the previous year.  A cross-Canada panel of 185 music journalists, broadcasters and bloggers determines a long list of semifinalists, released in June, as well as Monday’s 10-entry short list. A smaller panel of 11 judges will ultimately select the winner.  Jurors include national music mavens like John Sakamoto and Alan Cross.

The third annual Polaris Music Prize will be awarded at a gala, hosted by CBC Radio 3 host Grant Lawrence, at Toronto’s Phoenix Concert Theatre on Sept. 29.

Image Credit:  Wikipedia 

Post from: Toronto Unplugged