Debby Friday Has Won The 2023 Polaris Music Prize For The Album Good Luck
Debby Friday has won the 2023 Polaris Music Prize for the album Good Luck. This is Debby Friday’s first Polaris Music Prize win. The Prize, which was presented by CBC Music, goes to the best Canadian album of the year based on artistic merit without regard to genre, sales history or label affiliation. It was determined by a Grand Jury of 11 music media professionals drawn from the greater Polaris jury pool of 205 music media and selecters from across the country. This was the 18th edition of the Polaris Music Prize. “I am in a state of shock, I haven’t full processed it, but I’m ecstatic. I have to say thank you to everyone who had a part in the album in its entirety.” – Debby Friday, on her win.
Debby Friday’s victory came with a $50,000 monetary reward courtesy of Slaight Music. The 2023 Polaris Short List was: Alvvays – Blue RevAysanabee – WatinBegonia – Powder BlueDaniel Caesar – Never EnoughFeist – MultitudesDebby Friday – Good LuckGayance – MasqueradeDan Mangan – Being SomewhereThe Sadies – Colder StreamsSnotty Nose Rez Kids – I’m Good, HBU? Debby Friday’ name was revealed by Polaris 2022 winner Pierre Kwenders, capping a night of musical performances at the Polaris Gala. The gala, which was held at Massey Hall in Toronto, Ontario, also featured sets from Short List nominees Aysanabee, Begonia, Debby Friday, Gayance, Dan Mangan, The Sadies, and Snotty Nose Rez Kids. Members of Alvvays were also in attendance. Feist and Daniel Caesar were unavailable due to touring commitments. Follow Polaris Music Prize’s social accounts and CBC Music’s Facebook, Instagram, Twitter and TikTok feeds for clips of the Polaris Music Prize 2023 winner and moments from throughout the night. Highlights from The Polaris Music Prize will air on CBC Music Live on Friday, September 22 at 2 p.m. (2:30 NT) on CBC Radio One and CBC Listen and Monday, September 25 at 6 p.m. (6:30NT) on CBC Music and CBC Listen. The Grand Jury who decided the winner included Kelsey Adams (CBC Music), Joëlle Bertrand (Amazon Music Canada), Ryan Bresee (CKCU), Jamaias DaCosta (Deejay Jams), Ona-Lee Demong (CFCR), Mike Devlin (Victoria Times Colonist), Sarah Erasmus (Cabin Radio), Marie-Ève Fortin-Laferrière (Freelance Writer), Mitch Pollock (Q with Tom Power), Laura Stanley (Freelance Journalist) and Adam White (Some Party). “To be a fly on the wall during the Polaris Music Prize Grand Jury discussion is to witness a gathering of brilliant minds collaborating on what constitutes artistic merit through an impassioned and thoughtful conversation. It is an unmatched experience,” said Melissa Vincent, Polaris Jury Foreperson. “Major congratulations to our winner XXX, and to all of the spectacular artists nominated this year. The act of making music in our current economic ecosystem is a labour of love that comes at a cost — if you have the opportunity, I invite you to consider supporting the work of the artists on this year’s Long List and Short List.” 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. About the Polaris Music Prize 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. About CBC/Radio-CanadaCBC/Radio-Canada is Canada’s national public broadcaster. Through our mandate to inform, enlighten and entertain, we play a central role in strengthening Canadian culture. As Canada’s trusted news source, we offer a uniquely Canadian perspective on news, current affairs and world affairs. Our distinctively homegrown entertainment programming draws audiences from across the country. Deeply rooted in communities, CBC/Radio-Canada offers diverse content in English, French and eight Indigenous languages. We also deliver content in Spanish, Arabic Chinese, Punjabi and Tagalog, as well as both official languages, through Radio Canada International (RCI). We are leading the transformation to meet the needs of Canadians in a digital world. About CBC MusicCBC Music is the leading curator of emerging and diverse Canadian music talent across platforms, playing the most Canadian artists and genres on radio, CBC Listen and cbcmusic.ca. We prioritize Canadian artists in a wide variety of genres on over 200 playlists available on CBC Listen, and publish daily national music coverage. CBC Music Live features live music recordings from across the country. Our music partnerships and events include The JUNOS, the Polaris Music Prize, Searchlight, the CBC Music Festival, The Canadian Music Class Challenge and Canada Listens. www.cbcmusic.ca
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