Canadians: Want a quick 20 grand? Make an amazing album.

The Polaris Prize awards $20,000 to the Canadian artist or group that creates the best album of the year, based solely on artistic merit. Sales don’t count, marketing doesn’t count. The ten nominees – Elliot Brood, Fucked Up, Great Lake Swimmers, Hey Rosetta!, K’Naan, Metric, Joel Plaskett, Malajube, Patrick Watson, and Chad Vangaalen – all attended and performed at the Polaris Prize Gala, so I made sure to snag a few interviews before the award was given out.

The winner of the $20,000 prize? Well, check out the video and I’ll tell you.

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Bedouin Soundclash, The Trews and Patrick Watson are turning Japanese.

The three acts are among the Canadian indie musicians performing in Tokyo next week as part of an annual music showcase to reach the Asian market.

Industry representatives from a number of Asian countries will attend the shows and meet with artists.

Bedouin Soundclash, Watson, Saint Alvia and Woodhands are set to play the Duo Music Exchange, a music venue in the city’s Shibuya entertainment district, on Nov. 12.

That gig will be followed by a Nov. 14 showcase performance at the Canadian Embassy featuring the Trews, Alex Cuba, The Russian Futurists and Sofia de Medeiros.

The showcase, now in its second year, is spearheaded by the Canadian Independent Record Association. The organization also promotes homegrown acts at such events as South by Southwest in Austin, TX and CMJ in New York.

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Canadian TV stations have begun airing a condensed one-hour version of the 2007 Polaris Music Prize gala.

The broadcast of September’s awards ceremony features performances by nominees The Besnard Lakes, Chad VanGaalen, Joel Plaskett Emergency, Julie Doiron, Miracle Fortress and Patrick Watson.

Watson was revealed to be the winner of the $20,000 prize.

The gala took place at Toronto’s Phoenix Concert Theatre on Sept. 24, and attracted a crowd of 400 people.

Besides the TV broadcasts, you can also log onto the Polaris playlist on MuchAXS to watch performances, interviews and videos from the 10 finalists.

Here are the dates and times you can catch the 2007 Polaris awards on TV:

- Jan. 25 @ midnight ET on MuchMusic
- Jan. 27 @ 7 p.m. ET on MuchLOUD
- Jan. 27 @ 11 p.m. MT on CJDC TV (Dawson Creek, B.C.)
- Jan. 27 @ 11:30 p.m. PT on CFTK TV (Terrace, B.C.)
- Jan. 30 @ 10 p.m. ET on ACCESS
- Feb. 3 @ 8 p.m. ET on CLT

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Patrick Watson must be close to euphoria after winning the second annual Polaris Music Prize yesterday for their album Close to Paradise.

The band won the $20,000 pot over such steep competition as Calgary’s Feist, Hamilton’s Junior Boys, and fellow Montreal bands Arcade Fire, the Dears and the Besnard Lakes.

Performances at the industry gala included Montreal’s Miracle Fortress, Halifax’s Joel Plaskett Emergency, Calgary’s Chad VanGaalen and New Brunswick’s Julie Doiron. While the bands rocked out, a jury of 11 music experts from across the country chose which nominated album deserved the prize, based solely on artistic merit.

Nomination were provided by more than 170 Canadian music journalists, broadcasters and bloggers who submitted their top five favourite albums that were released between June 1, 2006, and May 31, 2007.

The Polaris Prize is modelled after the U.K.’s esteemed Mercury Prize.

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Patrick Watson and the Arcade Fire each took home three awards at the second annual Quebec Independent Music Awards (GAMIQ) show on Sunday.

Watson was named artist of the year and best songwriter, while his second album “Close to Paradise” won for best indie pop album. The singer-songwriter had a total of six nominations this year.

The Arcade Fire won for international career of the year, show of the year and best indie rock album for “Neon Bible.”

The prize for breakthrough artist of the year went to Tricot Machine, who also won for best chanson album for their self-titled debut.

Montreal ska group Me Mom and Morgentaler, who announced they will perform two reunion concerts in November, won the tribute award.

Here is the full list of the 2007 GAMIQ winners:

Artist Of The Year: Patrick Watson
Songwriter Of The Year: Patrick Watson
International Career Of The Year: The Arcade Fire
Show Of The Year: The Arcade Fire
Breakthrough Artist Of The Year: Tricot Machine
Best Chanson Album: Tricot Machine — “Tricot Machine”
Best Electro Album: Numero# — “L’ideologie Des Stars”
Best Experimental Album: Les Georges Leningrad — “Sangue Puro”
Best Folk/Country Album: Les Freres Cheminaud — “Les Hommes Des Tavernes”
Best Hip-Hop Album: Omnikrom — “Trop Banane!”
Best Indie Pop Album: Patrick Watson — “Close To Paradise”
Best Indie Rock Album: The Arcade Fire — “Neon Bible”
Best Metal/Hardcore Album: Voivod — “Katorz”
Best Punk Album: Vulgaires Machins — “Compter Les Corps”
Best Rock ‘N’ Roll Album: Xavier Cafeine — “Gisele”
Best World/Trad Album: Marco Calliari — “Mia Dolce Vita!”
Tribute Award: Me Mom And Morgentaler

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