How to watch and listen to the 2024 Polaris Music Prize
Find out when the gala will be streamed on radio and CBC Gem
The 2024 Polaris Music Prize gala took place at Massey Hall for the second year in a row, on Sept. 17. Jeremy Dutcher was awarded the prize at the end of the night, making him the first artist to win twice in Polaris history.
The Polaris Music Prize is awarded to the best Canadian album of the year, based solely on artistic merit, regardless of musical genre or commercial popularity. Previous winners include Feist, Kaytranada, Lido Pimienta, Caribou and Debby Friday, who hosted this year's gala.
The 2024 nominees were selected by 208 Canadian music journalists and critics (including several CBC Music producers). An 11-person grand jury selected Dutcher as the big winner, and he took home the $50,000 prize.
Two-hundred-thirty-six albums released between May 1, 2023, and May 1, 2024, were considered. The 40-album long list was announced in June, followed by the 10-album short list in July. Throughout the summer, CBC Music broke down each shortlisted album on The Ten radio series.
Who performed?
Before the winner was announced, artists took to the stage and performed songs from their shortlisted records. Exciting and moving performances from Bambii, DijahSB, Jeremy Dutcher, Elisapie, Jordan Miller of the Beaches (with the Thunder Queens), Nobro and Tobi kept the audience on the edge of their seats.
Charlotte Cardin fell sick with COVID-19 and was unable to perform, but her accompaniment, Strings From Paris, still played along to a pre-recorded live performance of "Next to You."
Although Allison Russell was not in attendance, a seven-dancer ballet, set to her song "Eve Was Black," was performed on the floor, right in the middle of the audience. Originally performed in 2021 by the Nashville Ballet, the piece was choreographed by Kevin Thomas, a Trinidadian Canadian artistic director from Montreal.
Cindy Lee was also unable to attend but a music video for their song, "If You Hear Me Crying" premiered at the gala.
Where can I watch or listen to this year's gala?
All the performance videos, standout moments, and the winner's announcement are available at cbcmusic.ca/polaris.
Check out CBC Music's Instagram for a behind-the-scenes look at the night, and highlights from the performances.
There will be three opportunities to listen to highlights from the gala on CBC Music Live via CBC Radio One and CBC Listen:
- Sept. 20 at 2 p.m. ET (2:30 p.m. NT).
- Sept. 23 at 6 p.m. ET (6:30 p.m. NT).
- Sept. 24 at 11 p.m. ET (11:30 p.m. NT).
On Oct. 2, the entire gala will be available to stream on CBC Gem as part of the CBC Music Presents: Live at Massey Hall series.
