The time has come! The Polaris Music Prize jury has painstakingly narrowed down the 40-album long list into the 10 final artists vying for the $30,000 prize. 

The nominees are a mix of past shortlisted artists and first-timers: Mustafa, Marie Davidson and the OBGMs have all previously made the short list, while the remaining artists are making their debuts. 
 

There is also ample Quebec representation, as more than half the list — Yves Jarvis, Marie Davidson, Ribbon Skirt, Population II, Lou-Adriane Cassidy and Bibi Club — is either from or based in the province. The remaining artists — Mustafa, Nemahsis, Saya Gray and the OBGMs — are from the Greater Toronto Area.

Get to know all the 2025 shortlisted artists a bit better, and tune in to CBC Music on Sunday, July 13, as we kick off our annual radio series The Ten, which takes an in-depth look at each of this year's shortlisted albums leading up to Sept. 16 — when the winner will be announced.

Watch Sultan + Shepard’s hypnotic hometown show

Grammy- and Juno-nominated electronic duo Sultan + Shepard initially met at a club in Montreal almost 25 years ago, and they recently thrilled fans with a night that brought it all back to their hometown. From layered synths to melodic drop after melodic drop, the duo reminded everyone why it’s remained a staple in the electronic music scene for so long, and CBC Music was there to capture the sold-out show.

5 things to know about Swag, Justin Bieber's new album

Justin Bieber has finally returned with a new album, Swag — his first full-length record since 2021's Justice. The 21-song project has a runtime of more than 51 minutes, and sees Bieber collaborate with artists including Gunna, Cash Cobain, Sexyy Red, Mk.gee and more. 

We dove into the album, looking at the songwriting, featured artists, producers and more. 

Dani Oliva launches Errant Records, a 2SLGBTQ-run label

Dani Oliva, one of the first openly trans executives at a major music company, has launched the Canadian music label Errant Records to champion diversity.

"I felt an affinity to music and the folks that make it because it expanded my worldview; wanting to be closer to music-makers and album projects, I started working in music marketing for labels in my teens," Oliva shared.

The last album Jann Arden fell in love with

Canadian singer-songwriter Jann Arden shares what she's been loving lately, from the last album she fell in love with, to the last TV show she binged.

Luna Li and Hope Tala's spellbinding duet, and 3 more songs you need to hear this week

Luna Li's dreamy instrumentation and airy vocals are a warm balm, floating over harp and piano as she sings about a spellbinding love on a new version of I Imagine: "And when I think of you, I get lost for hours, I wonder what tune is stuck (inside you now)." It’s one of our must-hear songs this week, along with tracks from Good Dear Good, TyriqueOrDie and the Dears.

Alex Porat is in her lover-girl era with her current playlist

CBC Music ran into Alex Porat listening to Babygirl and heard about her brand new EP, Crushed. Have you listened to it yet?

The 2 hottest new K-pop groups aren't real — but they aren't AI either

The new Netflix film KPop Demon Hunters follows a trio of friends who serve as a world-renowned K-pop girl group called Huntr/x by day, but secret demon hunters by night. Their biggest foe yet is Saja Boys, a group of demons who have incarnated as a K-pop boy band determined to steal all of Huntr/x's fans — and songs from both animated bands have taken over the music charts.

Listen to Charlotte Day Wilson’s stunning Cyan Blue show

Charlotte Day Wilson's latest album, Cyan Blue, was released in May 2024, and a few weeks later CBC Music caught up with her at History in Toronto for the last show on her tour. As you'll hear, she's very happy to be performing most of the album’s songs for her hometown crowd — moving from keyboards to guitar to saxophone while wowing everyone with her trademark vocals.

Lola Young hangs tight to No. 1 on the Top 20 while Alicia Moffet and NxWorries enter

British singer Lola Young continues to reign over the top position on CBC Music's Top 20 with her hit song One Thing, while Bon Iver sits at No. 2 on the chart this week with his captivating new single, From. Entering the chart this week is Lay Your Light, a catchy new song from Quebec City's Alicia Moffet (pictured), as well as Everybody Gets Down, the new single from NxWorries, the duo made up of rapper Anderson.Paak and producer Knxwledge.




 

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