The Beaches, Charlotte Cardin, Allison Russell Make the 2024 Polaris Music Prize Long List

Some of the country's biggest breakthrough artists are in contention for the prestigious Polaris Music Prize.

The 40-album long list was revealed today (June 11) at Sonic Boom record store in downtown Toronto. It features some of the buzziest names in Canadian music, from The Beaches — who were recently awarded Billboard Canada Women in Music's inaugural Group of the Year award — to Grammy-winner Allison Russell, to Canadian Hot 100 charting acts like Charlotte Cardin and Talk, to underground mainstays like Cindy Lee, who had an organic breakthrough this year with Diamond Jubilee.

The list features sixteen first-time nominees, including Vancouver singer-songwriter Haley Blais, Montreal electro-punk duo Pelada, death metal group Tomb Mold, and Francophone singer Arielle Soucy.

Three previous winners feature on the list: Jeremy Dutcher, who won in 2018 with Wolastoqiyik Lintuwakonawa; Karkwa, who won in 2010 with Les Chemins de verre; and Kaytranada, who won in 2016 with 99.9% and has longlisted this year as half of KAYTRAMINÉ. Beverly Glenn-Copeland, who won a Polaris Heritage Prize in 2020 for Keyboard Fantasies, longlists this year with The Ones Ahead. 238 albums were considered for this year's long list.

As usual, the list is a mix of genres and regions, though the 2024 long list features no instrumental records — surprising for an award that has historically rewarded records by experimental groups like Godspeed! You Black Emperor.

The long list is determined by a jury of over 200 music critics and broadcasters, and from this list, the jury will vote for the short list, to be revealed on July 11. A Grand Jury of eleven will select the winning album, announced at the Polaris Gala, which will take place at Massey Hall for the second year in a row on September 17, 2024. [Several members of Billboard Canada's editorial team are on the jury, including this writer.]

Last year, Debby Friday's genre-defying debut Good Luck won the prize, following 2022 winner Pierre Kwenders.

Based on critical reception alone, Cindy Lee might be the favourite to win, though Allison Russell has had a major year, between picking up a Grammy, touring with Hozier and fighting back against Tennessee's anti-LGBTQ policies. Ultimately, though, the award is based purely on artistic merit, without regard for sales, genre, or public perception. It's up to the jury to make the final call.

Find the full long list below.

2024 Polaris Prize Long List

Allie X — Girl With No Face

BAMBII — INFINITY CLUB

The Beaches — Blame My Ex

BIG|BRAVE — A Chaos Of Flowers

Haley Blais — Wisecrack

Charlotte Cardin — 99 Nights Beverly

Glenn-Copeland — The Ones Ahead

Corridor — Mimi

Helena Deland — Goodnight Summerland

Annie-Claude Deschênes — LES MANIÈRES DE TABLE

Devours — Homecoming Queen

DijahSB — The Flower That Knew

Ducks Ltd. — Harm's Way

Jeremy Dutcher — Motewolonuwok

Elisapie — Inuktitut

Dominique Fils-Aimé — Our Roots Run Deep

Shane Ghostkeeper — Songs For My People

Karkwa — Dans la seconde

KAYTRAMINÉ — KAYTRAMINÉ

KEN mode — Void

La Force — XO Skeleton

La Sécurité — Stay Safe!

Cindy Lee — Diamond Jubilee

Sean Leon — IN LOVING MEMORY

Terra Lightfoot — Healing Power

LOONY — LOONY

Jon Mckiel — Hex

myst milano. — Beyond the Uncanny Valley

NOBRO — Set Your Pussy Free

NYSSA — Shake Me Where I'm Foolish

Pelada — Ahora Más Que Nunca

PETER PETER — Éther

Population II — Électrons libres du québec

Allison Russell — The Returner

Arielle Soucy — Il n'y a rien que je ne suis pas

Super Duty Tough Work — Paradigm Shift

TALK — Lord of the Flies & Birds & Bees

TEKE::TEKE — Hagata

TOBi — Panic

Tomb Mold — The Enduring Spirit