The Prix Constantin is an annual French music prize awarded to the best album of an artist who has come to prominence during the course of the past year. It was inaugurated in 2002, following the example of the Mercury Music Prize, as an attempt to bring to light artists who have not had major media coverage ("the talents of today and tomorrow"). It is therefore open to individuals or groups who have not yet had a gold album, with the exception of the nominated album. Its basic purpose is to help newer artists who are not very popular to gain publicity. All albums produced in France in the past year are admissible, without restriction on the nationality or language of expression of the artist. The winner is decided by a jury, headed by a musician, which contains representatives from the press, radio, television and record stores.
The Prix Constantin is named after the record industry figure Philippe Constantin, who died in 1996.
Winners and nominees
2011 Winner: Selah Sue – Selah Sue
Nominees:
Alex Beaupain – Pourquoi battait mon cœur Brigitte – Et vous, tu m'aimes ? Cyril Mokaiesh – Du Rouge et des Passions Lisa Portelli – Le Régal Sly Johnson – 74 Bertrand Belin – Hypernuit Cascadeur – The Human Octopus L – Initiale The Shoes – Crack my Bones
2010 Winner: Hindi Zahra – Handmade
Nominees:
Arnaud Fleurent-Didier – La reproduction Camelia Jordana – Camelia Jordana Féfé – Jeune à la retraite Gush – Everybody's god Stromae – Stromae Ben l'Oncle Soul – Ben l'Oncle Soul Carmen Maria Vega – Carmen Maria Vega Féloche – La vie Cajun Zaz – ZAZ
2009 Winner: Emily Loizeau – Pays Sauvage
Nominees: Babx – Cristal Ballroom Birdy Nam Nam – Manual for Successful Rioting Diving with Andy – Sugar Sugar Dominique A – La Musique Fredo Viola – The Turn Hugh Coltman – Stories from the Safe House Orelsan – Perdu d'avance Piers Faccini – Two Grains of Sand Yodelice – Tree of Life
2008 Winner: Aṣa – Aṣa
Nominees: Arman Méliès – Casino Barbara Carlotti – L'Idéal Cocoon – My Friends All Died in a Plane Crash Joseph D'Anvers – Les jours sauvages Julien Doré – Ersatz Moriarty – Gee Whiz But This Is a Lonesome Town The Dø – A Mouthful Thomas Dutronc – Comme un manouche sans guitare Yael Naïm and David Donatien – Yael Naim
2007 Winner: Daphné – Carmin
Nominees: AaRON – Artificial Animals Riding On Neverland Florent Marchet – Rio Baril Justice – † Kaolin – Mélanger les couleurs Keny Arkana – Entre ciment et belle étoile Keren Ann – Keren Ann Ours – Mi Renan Luce – Repenti Rose – Rose
2006 Winner: Abd Al Malik – Gibraltar
Nominees: Anis – La chance Ayọ – Joyful Clarika – Joker Emily Loizeau – L'autre bout du monde Grand Corps Malade – Midi 20 Jehro – Jehro Katerine – Robots après tout Olivia Ruiz – La femme chocolat Phoenix – It's Never Been Like That
2005 Winner: Camille – Le fil
Nominees: Amadou & Mariam – Dimanche à Bamako Anaïs – The Cheap Show Bazbaz – Sur le bout de la langue Bertrand Betsch – Pas de bras, pas de chocolat Pauline Croze – Pauline Croze Albin de la Simone – Je vais changer Alexis HK – L’homme du moment Franck Monnet – Au grand jour Nosfell – Pomaïe klokochazia balek
2004 Winner: Cali – L'amour parfait
Nominees: Pierre Bondu – Quelqu'un quelque part Jeanne Cherhal – Douze fois par an Daniel Darc – Crève coeur Feist – Let It Die Florent Marchet – Gargilesse JP Nataf – Plus de sucre Ridan – Le rêve ou la vie Tété – A la faveur de l'automne Rokia Traoré – Bowmboï
2003 Winner: Mickey 3D – Tu vas pas mourir de rire
Nominees: A.S. Dragon – Spanked Benjamin Biolay – Négatif Carla Bruni – Quelqu'un m'a dit Diam's – Brut de femme Alexis HK – Belle Ville Malia – Yellow Daffodils Massilia Sound System – Occitanista Raphael – La réalité Emilie Simon – Emilie Simon
2002 Winner: Avril – That Horse Must be Starving
Nominees: Bumcello – Nude for love Bénabar – Bénabar Danyèl Waro – Bwarouz Dionysos – Western sous la neige Gotan Project – La Revancha del Tango Le Peuple de L'Herbe – P, H test/two Renaud Papillon Paravel – La surface de réparation Tiken Jah Fakoly – Françafrique Vincent Delerm – Vincent Delerm
See also Mercury Prize (UK) Choice Music Prize (Ireland) Polaris Music Prize (Canada) Shortlist Music Prize (United States) Australian Music Prize (Australia) Nordic Music Prize (Nordic countries)
References
External links Official site (French)