The SOCAN Polaris Song Prize has unveiled its very first shortlist, marking an exciting milestone in Canadian music.
The Shortlist Announcement
This groundbreaking list features songs recorded by Lou-Adriane Cassidy, Saya Gray, Yves Jarvis, Mustafa, and Ribbon Skirt. The winning entry will receive a $10,000 award, which will be shared between the Canadian performers and the credited Canadian songwriter(s), courtesy of SOCAN—the Canadian performing rights society.
This Year’s Official Shortlist
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Lou-Adriane Cassidy — “Dis-moi dis-moi dis-moi”
Written by Lou-Adriane Cassidy and Alexandre Martel -
Saya Gray — “SHELL (OF A MAN)”
Written by Saya Gray and John Mavro -
Yves Jarvis — “Gold Filigree”
Written by Yves Jarvis -
Mustafa — “Gaza is Calling”
Written by Mustafa Ahmed, Emmanuel Hailemariam, Simon Hessman, and Nicolas Jaar -
Ribbon Skirt — “Wrong Planet”
Written by Tashiina Buswa and Billy Riley
These five standout songs were chosen from a previously announced 20-song longlist.
Notable Highlights
Among the nominees, Toronto poet and artist Mustafa stands out as the only one with prior Polaris recognition, having been shortlisted in 2021 for his critically acclaimed debut album, When Smoke Rises.
Interestingly, every artist on the Song Prize shortlist is also included in the 10-album shortlist for the 2025 Polaris Music Prize. This means they will all be performing at the Polaris Concert & Award Ceremony, set to take place at Toronto’s Massey Hall on Tuesday, September 16. Both prestigious prizes will be awarded during this event.
Voting and Legacy
Just like the Polaris Music Prize, the SOCAN Polaris Song Prize is decided by the Polaris jury, which evaluates the entries without considering musical genre, label affiliation, or commercial popularity.
This new award is the first introduced by the Polaris organization since 2015, when the Slaight Family Polaris Heritage Prize was launched to honor albums from the pre-Polaris era. The Song Prize’s debut is part of a wider initiative celebrating Polaris’s 20th anniversary, bringing fresh recognition to Canadian music talent.
