Margo Price Wins the American Music Prize for “Midwest Farmers Daughter”
Margo Price was surprised Tuesday (3-7) night when she was beckoned to the headquarters of her record label Third Man Records, and walked in the doors to find a throng of friends, band members, and other supporters there to congratulate her on winning the 2017 American Music Prize for her album Midwest Farmers Daughter. Among the supporters was Third Man Records President Jack White, and journalist Craig Shelburne who presented Margo Price with the prize. According to The Tennessean, Price thought she was attending a business meeting, and instead walked into a party in her honor.
The American Music Prize, or AMP for short, is meant to reward the Best Debut Album to help promote new music of excellence. The prize celebrates the album format and was originally inspired by the UK’s Mercury Music Prize, Canada’s Polaris Music Prize and The Australian Music Prize. Eligible albums are judged by a panel of independent, expert judges who agree to only take into account the music they hear, and not commercial success. Recipients of the American Music Prize receive $25,000 in prize money. 2017 is the second year the prize has been awarded.
Midwest Farmers Daughter was released on March 25th, 2016 by Third Man, and was the first country music album released on the label. Price sold a car to help pay for the production of the album. As of March the album had sold just over 48,000 copies.
The 16 judges who ultimately choose The American Prize winner whittled down the field from 250 initial albums. The list was cut down to 55 in December 2016, and when the short list was announced in early February, Margo Price made the cut. Other short list nominees included:
- Big Thief- ‘Masterpiece’
- Bob Moses – ‘Days Gone By’
- case/lang/veirs – ‘case/lang/veirs’
- EL VY – ‘Return To The Moon’
- Empress Of – ‘Me’
- Fantastic Negrito – ‘The Last Days of Oakland’
- Gallant – ‘Ology’
- Julien Baker – ‘Sprained Ankle’
- Margaret Glaspy- ‘Emotions and Math’
- Son Little – ‘Son Little’
- Whitney – ‘Light Upon the Lake’
Scott S.
March 8, 2017 @ 8:33 am
Congrats to Margo.
Dave D.
March 8, 2017 @ 8:39 am
Awesome. Far and away my favorite record of 2016.
Gabe
March 8, 2017 @ 8:42 am
Well deserved…
Wheeler Walker Sr.
March 8, 2017 @ 9:16 am
I’m so happy for Margo. Great record through and through and it was a pleasure to see her live last year.
seak05
March 8, 2017 @ 9:21 am
Awesome, glad to see it get some recognition. Feel like this album has been slept on
albert
March 8, 2017 @ 9:22 am
I’m as impressed with the number of albums she’s sold when compared to figures for the more ”well-known ” artists . It tells us , once again , there IS a market for honest music and it should be telling radio/the industry that there’s absolutely NO reason it shouldn’t be getting far more exposure . We’ve seen the indie /alt artists on major TV programs , opening and headlining tours and garnering kudos from ALL corners of the industry . Why , then , isn’t RADIO buying in and giving listeners something that doesn’t insult their intelligence and tastes ??
Congrats Margo ??
Brett
March 8, 2017 @ 9:24 am
Glad to see this record get some sort of accolade. This has been the most frequently played of the last year for me, other than Sturgils SGTE. Well deserved.
hoptowntiger94
March 8, 2017 @ 10:48 am
I’ve never heard of any of the other nominees!
I still can’t believe the CMAs missed the boat and didn’t nominate MFD for album of the year; as big as a blunder as omitting Sturgill’s “Metamodern.”
When I see Price open for Stapleton in August, it will be the 4th time I see her in 14 mos.! Not that I’ve searched her out, she’s just everywhere – Farm Aid, Willie’s 4th of July Picnic, Mountain Stage …. I’ve grown quite found of her.
Jack Williams
March 8, 2017 @ 1:37 pm
In case/lang/veirs, case is Neko Case and lang is k.d. lang. viers is Laura Viers, but I don’t know he music at all.
Trigger
March 8, 2017 @ 1:57 pm
I thought it was a little disingenuous to nominate them for this award for a “debut” album when they’re all established artists. Seems a little bit against the spirit of it, though I’m not against any of them, and like yourself haven’t heard to music.
Jack Williams
March 8, 2017 @ 2:11 pm
Good point
hoptowntiger94
March 8, 2017 @ 2:49 pm
Thanks! I do remember reading about that project last year.
Stringbuzz
March 8, 2017 @ 11:59 am
She is deserving of the accolades.
Solid, solid, album about real life.
I missed an opportunity to see her in a tiny club this year.
I just didn’t realize she was playing local until after tix were released.
Jack Williams
March 8, 2017 @ 1:40 pm
I’m very happy for Margo. MWFD is “the little album that could” for me. I thought it was OK at first, but now I just love it.
Biscuit
March 8, 2017 @ 5:05 pm
Just saw Margo live for the second time this past week and both times, her shows were great. I met her after this show and she couldn’t have been a nicer, more gracious person to her fans. I am glad she won this prize.
Jack Williams
March 10, 2017 @ 9:48 am
I met her after this show and she couldn’t have been a nicer, more gracious person to her fans.
That was my experience when I saw her last July, too. She seemed to genuine enjoy chatting with us.
Wesley Gray
March 9, 2017 @ 11:28 am
been listening to this record a lot lately. she deserves this! vongratulations, Margo! great voice and style.
Megan
March 9, 2017 @ 9:23 pm
They mentioned her on Nashville tonight which was cool. Interesting that CMT’s Nashville will acknowledge her and other artists that the industry overlooks.