Mercury Prize (original) (raw)

This is a featured list. Click here for more information.

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

UK music award

Award

Mercury Prize
2022 Mercury Prize logo
Awarded for Best album from the United Kingdom or Ireland
Date Every September
Venue Abbey Road Studios
Formerly called Mercury Music Prize
Reward(s) £25,000 (2017)
First awarded 9 September 1992; 32 years ago (1992-09-09)
Last awarded 5 September 2024; 3 months ago (2024-09-05)
Currently held by English TeacherThis Could Be Texas (2024)
Most awards PJ Harvey (2 wins)
Most nominations Radiohead and Arctic Monkeys (5 nominations)
Website mercuryprize.com

The Mercury Prize, formerly called the Mercury Music Prize, is an annual music prize awarded for the best album released by a musical act from the United Kingdom or Ireland.[1] It was created by Jon Webster and Robert Chandler in association with the British Phonographic Industry and British Association of Record Dealers in 1992 as an alternative to the Brit Awards.

Format and eligibility

[edit]

Any album released by a British or Irish artist, or by a band where over 50% of the members are British or Irish, may be submitted for consideration by their record label. There is a fee for submission. Twelve submitted albums are shortlisted for the prize, chosen based solely on their musical merit and irrespective of how popular or successful an album or act that has been submitted may have been in the previous calendar year. The shortlist is chosen by an independent panel of musicians, music presenters, music producers, music journalists, festival organisers, and other figures in the music industry in the UK and Ireland.[1][2][3]

The prize is open to all types of music, including pop, rock, folk, urban, grime, dance, jazz, blues, electronica and classical. Presentation of the awards usually takes place at an Awards Show in October, after the shortlist is announced at the Album of the Year Launch in September. It is often observed that bands whose albums are shortlisted, or win the prize, experience a large increase in album sales, particularly for lesser known acts.[4] Each shortlisted artist receives a specially commissioned 'Albums of the Year' trophy at the Awards Show. Unlike some other music awards, the overall winner of the Mercury Prize also receives a cheque; in 2017, the prize money was £25,000. The winner also receives an additional winner's trophy.[1]

The prize was originally sponsored by Mercury Communications, a brand owned by Cable & Wireless,[5] from which the prize gets its name. It was later sponsored by Technics[6] (1998 to 2001), Panasonic[5] (2002 and 2003), Nationwide Building Society (2004 to 2008) and Barclaycard (2009–14).[7] The 2015 prize was sponsored by the BBC, while in 2016 it was announced that a three-year deal had been struck with Hyundai to sponsor the event.[9] It was sponsored by Free Now, as part of a multi-year deal that began in 2022.[10] In 2024, the award lost their deal with Freenow, prompting the cancellation of the ceremony and live performances for that year.[11]

To date, PJ Harvey is the only artist to have won the award on more than one occasion (in 2001 and 2011). She was also the first female solo artist to receive the award. Alex Turner has received six nominations, five as a member of Arctic Monkeys and one with The Last Shadow Puppets, winning once. Thom Yorke has six nominations, five with Radiohead and one for The Eraser, but has never won.[12]

The awards ceremony was postponed for the first, and so far only, time in 2022 following the death of Queen Elizabeth II.[13]

The Mercury Prize can have a considerable effect on sales for those artists who are shortlisted. Elbow saw a 700% sales increase of their album The Seldom Seen Kid after winning the Prize in 2008.[14] In their winner's speech, Elbow's frontman Guy Garvey said that winning the Mercury Prize was "quite literally the best thing that has ever happened to us".[15][16] Similarly, sales of The xx's winning album rose by 450% the day after they won the 2010 Mercury Prize[17][18] and 2013 winner James Blake saw a 2,500% sales increase on Amazon after he was announced as the winner of the 2013 Mercury Prize.[19][20] 2011 winner PJ Harvey's album Let England Shake jumped from number 181 to 24 in the UK official charts the week after the 2011 Awards Show.[21]

Despite being regarded by many as highly prestigious, it has been suggested that having an album nominated for or winning the Mercury Prize could be a curse on a career in music.[22][23]

In 2001, the band Gorillaz requested that their eponymous debut album be withdrawn from the shortlist, with cartoon bassist Murdoc Niccals saying that winning the award would be "like carrying a dead albatross round your neck for eternity".[24][25]

All genres of music are eligible for entry, and it is stated that all are treated equally, with only the music on the album being taken into account.[1] Simon Frith, chair of the Mercury Prize judging panel, has said that albums are chosen because they are the "strongest" each year, rather than according to genre.[26] However, the presence of classical, folk and jazz recordings has been cited by some as anomalous, arguing that comparisons with the other nominees can be invidious.[27] Classical acts to have an album nominated have included John Tavener, Peter Maxwell Davies, Gavin Bryars and Nicholas Maw. None has ever won, and there has not been a shortlisted classical album since 2002.

The Mercury Prize also has a reputation for being awarded to outside chances rather than the favourites.[28][29] The 1994 award winner was Elegant Slumming by the pop act M People, which some felt was a controversial decision considering the shortlist included popular albums from Britpop figureheads Paul Weller, Blur and Pulp, and electronica band The Prodigy.[30][31][32]

Other music journalists critical of the awards stated that the 2005 award should not have been given to Antony and the Johnsons for their album I Am a Bird Now as, although they are British-born and therefore eligible for the Prize, the band was based in the United States.[33][34] In 2006, Isobel Campbell's collaboration with Mark Lanegan, Ballad of the Broken Seas, was included in the shortlist, despite Lanegan being American, as the album was eligible due to Campbell's British citizenship, while Guillemots, whose album was also shortlisted in 2006, contained band members from Brazil and Canada, although the majority were from the United Kingdom.[35]

Current eligibility criteria state that all albums must be available to buy as a digital release in the UK.[1] In September 2013, My Bloody Valentine vocalist and guitarist Kevin Shields expressed concerns about the award in an interview with The Guardian, accusing the Mercury Prize's organisers of "banning" the band's self-released album, m b v, from the shortlist nominations and addressing the nomination criteria, which he claimed branded the album "virtually illegal".[36]

It has also been noted that heavy metal has been overlooked by the prize. A 2013 article by Vice on the Mercury Prize said "Metal certainly never gets a look-in, not even on the official entry information form: 'The Prize is open to all types of music, including pop, rock, folk, hip-hop, R'n'B, dance, soul, jazz, blues, electronica, classical…'"[37] The only metal record that has ever been nominated for the Mercury Prize is Troublegum by Therapy? in 1994. In 2011, Mercury chair of judges Frith said "[Metal] is a niche that a lot of people don't listen to."[38] In 2011, The Guardian music critic Alexis Petridis agreed that the Mercury Prize underrepresented heavy metal, but argued that this actually benefitted the genre because "At least part of metal's appeal is its outsider status."[39]

Winners and shortlisted nominees

[edit]

Year Winner Shortlisted nominees Image Ref(s)
1992(1st) Primal ScreamScreamadelica Barry AdamsonSoul Murder Jah Wobble's Invaders of the HeartRising Above Bedlam The Jesus and Mary ChainHoney's Dead Bheki MselekuCelebration Saint EtienneFoxbase Alpha Simply RedStars U2Achtung Baby John Tavener and Steven IsserlisThe Protecting Veil Young DisciplesRoad to Freedom Person (vocalist) performing on stage [40]
1993(2nd) SuedeSuede Apache IndianNo Reservations The AuteursNew Wave Gavin BryarsJesus' Blood Never Failed Me Yet Dina CarrollSo Close PJ HarveyRid of Me New OrderRepublic Stereo MCsConnected StingTen Summoner's Tales Stan TraceyPortraits Plus Five men sitting at a table at a press conference [41]
1994(3rd) M PeopleElegant Slumming BlurParklife Ian McNabbHead Like a Rock Shara NelsonWhat Silence Knows Michael NymanThe Piano Concerto/MGV The ProdigyMusic for the Jilted Generation PulpHis 'n' Hers Take ThatEverything Changes Therapy?Troublegum Paul WellerWild Wood [42]
1995(4th) PortisheadDummy Guy BarkerInto the Blue ElasticaElastica PJ HarveyTo Bring You My Love LeftfieldLeftism James MacMillanSeven Last Words from the Cross Van MorrisonDays Like This OasisDefinitely Maybe SupergrassI Should Coco TrickyMaxinquaye [43]
1996(5th) PulpDifferent Class Artists for War ChildHelp Black GrapeIt's Great When You're Straight... Yeah Peter Maxwell Davies/BBC PhilharmonicThe Beltane Fire / Caroline Mathilde Manic Street PreachersEverything Must Go Mark MorrisonReturn of the Mack Oasis(What's the Story) Morning Glory? Courtney PineModern Day Jazz Stories UnderworldSecond Toughest in the Infants Norma WatersonNorma Waterson [44]
1997(6th) Roni Size & ReprazentNew Forms The Chemical BrothersDig Your Own Hole Beth OrtonTrailer Park Primal ScreamVanishing Point The ProdigyThe Fat of the Land RadioheadOK Computer Spice GirlsSpice SuedeComing Up John TavenerSvyati Mark-Anthony TurnageYour Rockaby [43]
1998(7th) GomezBring It On 4heroTwo Pages Asian Dub FoundationRafi's Revenge Eliza CarthyRed Rice CatatoniaInternational Velvet CornershopWhen I Was Born for the 7th Time Massive AttackMezzanine PropellerheadsDecksandrumsandrockandroll PulpThis Is Hardcore John SurmanProverbs and Songs The VerveUrban Hymns Robbie WilliamsLife thru a Lens [43]
1999(8th) Talvin SinghOk Thomas AdèsAsyla Denys BaptisteBe Where You Are Black Star LinerBengali Bantam Youth Experience! Blur13 The Chemical BrothersSurrender FaithlessSunday 8PM Manic Street PreachersThis Is My Truth Tell Me Yours Beth OrtonCentral Reservation Kate RusbySleepless StereophonicsPerformance and Cocktails UnderworldBeaucoup Fish [45]
2000(9th) Badly Drawn BoyThe Hour of Bewilderbeast Richard AshcroftAlone with Everybody ColdplayParachutes MJ ColeSincere Death in VegasThe Contino Sessions The DelgadosThe Great Eastern DovesLost Souls Helicopter GirlHow to Steal the World LeftfieldRhythm and Stealth Nicholas MawViolin Concerto Nitin SawhneyBeyond Skin Kathryn WilliamsLittle Black Numbers A man playing a guitar and singing on stage. He is wearing a denim jacket and woolen cap [46]
2001(10th) PJ HarveyStories from the City, Stories from the Sea Basement JaxxRooty ElbowAsleep in the Back GoldfrappFelt Mountain GorillazGorillaz (nomination withdrawn at the request of the band)[47] Ed HarcourtHere Be Monsters Tom McRaeTom McRae RadioheadAmnesiac Susheela RamanSalt Rain Super Furry AnimalsRings Around the World Turin BrakesThe Optimist LP Zero 7Simple Things A girl singing and playing a guitar on stage [48]
2002(11th) Ms. DynamiteA Little Deeper Guy BarkerSoundtrack The BeesSunshine Hit Me David BowieHeathen The CoralThe Coral DovesThe Last Broadcast The Electric Soft ParadeHoles in the Wall Gemma HayesNight on My Side Beverley KnightWho I Am Roots ManuvaRun Come Save Me Joanna MacGregorPlay The StreetsOriginal Pirate Material [49]
2003(12th) Dizzee RascalBoy in da Corner AthleteVehicles and Animals Eliza CarthyAnglicana ColdplayA Rush of Blood to the Head The DarknessPermission to Land FloetryFloetic Soweto KinchConversations with the Unseen Lemon JellyLost Horizons The ThrillsSo Much for the City Martina Topley-BirdQuixotic RadioheadHail to the Thief Terri WalkerUntitled A man rapping on stage, with purple spotlights behind him [50]
2004(13th) Franz FerdinandFranz Ferdinand Basement JaxxKish Kash Belle & SebastianDear Catastrophe Waitress JameliaThank You KeaneHopes and Fears Snow PatrolFinal Straw Joss StoneThe Soul Sessions The StreetsA Grand Don't Come for Free TyUpwards Amy WinehouseFrank Robert WyattCuckooland The ZutonsWho Killed...... The Zutons? [51]
2005(14th) Antony and the JohnsonsI Am a Bird Now Bloc PartySilent Alarm ColdplayX&Y Hard-FiStars of CCTV Kaiser ChiefsEmployment KT TunstallEye to the Telescope M.I.A.Arular Maxïmo ParkA Certain Trigger Polar BearHeld on the Tips of Fingers Seth LakemanKitty Jay The Go! TeamThunder, Lightning, Strike The Magic NumbersThe Magic Numbers [34]
2006(15th) Arctic MonkeysWhatever People Say I Am, That's What I'm Not Isobel Campbell and Mark LaneganBallad of the Broken Seas EditorsThe Back Room GuillemotsThrough the Windowpane Richard HawleyColes Corner Hot ChipThe Warning MuseBlack Holes & Revelations Zoe RahmanMelting Pot Lou RhodesBeloved One Scritti PolittiWhite Bread Black Beer SwayThis Is My Demo Thom YorkeThe Eraser [52]
2007(16th) KlaxonsMyths of the Near Future Arctic MonkeysFavourite Worst Nightmare Basquiat Strings with Seb RochfordBasquiat Strings Bat for LashesFur and Gold Dizzee RascalMaths + English MapsWe Can Create New Young Pony ClubFantastic Playroom Fionn ReganThe End of History Jamie TPanic Prevention The ViewHats Off to the Buskers Amy WinehouseBack to Black Young KnivesVoices of Animals and Men
2008(17th) ElbowThe Seldom Seen Kid Adele19 British Sea PowerDo You Like Rock Music? BurialUntrue EstelleShine The Last Shadow PuppetsThe Age of the Understatement Laura MarlingAlas, I Cannot Swim Neon NeonStainless Style Robert Plant & Alison KraussRaising Sand Portico QuartetKnee Deep in the North Sea RadioheadIn Rainbows Rachel Unthank and the WintersetThe Bairns [53]
2009(18th) Speech DebelleSpeech Therapy Bat for LashesTwo Suns Florence and the MachineLungs Friendly FiresFriendly Fires GlasvegasGlasvegas Lisa HanniganSea Sew The HorrorsPrimary Colours The InvisibleThe Invisible KasabianWest Ryder Pauper Lunatic Asylum La RouxLa Roux Led BibSensible Shoes Sweet Billy PilgrimTwice Born Men [54]
2010(19th) The xxxx Corinne Bailey RaeThe Sea Biffy ClyroOnly Revolutions Dizzee RascalTongue n' Cheek FoalsTotal Life Forever I Am KlootSky at Night Kit Downes TrioGolden Laura MarlingI Speak Because I Can Mumford & SonsSigh No More VillagersBecoming a Jackal Paul WellerWake Up the Nation Wild BeastsTwo Dancers [55]
2011(20th) PJ HarveyLet England Shake Adele21 James BlakeJames Blake Anna CalviAnna Calvi ElbowBuild a Rocket Boys! Everything EverythingMan Alive GhostpoetPeanut Butter Blues & Melancholy Jam Katy BOn a Mission King Creosote & Jon HopkinsDiamond Mine MetronomyThe English Riviera Gwilym SimcockGood Days At Schloss Elmau Tinie TempahDisc-Overy PJ Harvey [56]
2012(21st) alt-JAn Awesome Wave Django DjangoDjango Django Field MusicPlumb Richard HawleyStanding at the Sky's Edge Ben HowardEvery Kingdom Michael KiwanukaHome Again Lianne La HavasIs Your Love Big Enough? Sam LeeGround of its Own The MaccabeesGiven to the Wild Plan Bill Manors Roller TrioRoller Trio Jessie WareDevotion [57][58]
2013(22nd) James BlakeOvergrown Arctic MonkeysAM David BowieThe Next Day Jake BuggJake Bugg DisclosureSettle FoalsHoly Fire Jon HopkinsImmunity Laura MarlingOnce I Was an Eagle Laura MvulaSing to the Moon RudimentalHome SavagesSilence Yourself VillagersAwayland [59][60]
2014(23rd) Young FathersDead Damon AlbarnEveryday Robots Bombay Bicycle ClubSo Long, See You Tomorrow Anna CalviOne Breath East India YouthTotal Strife Forever FKA twigsLP1 GoGo PenguinV2.0 JungleJungle Nick MulveyFirst Mind Polar BearIn Each and Every One Royal BloodRoyal Blood Kae TempestEverybody Down [61]
2015(24th) Benjamin ClementineAt Least for Now Aphex TwinSyro Gaz CoombesMatador C DuncanArchitect EskaEska Florence and the MachineHow Big, How Blue, How Beautiful GhostpoetShedding Skin Róisín MurphyHairless Toys SlavesAre You Satisfied? SoakBefore We Forgot How to Dream Wolf AliceMy Love Is Cool Jamie xxIn Colour [62]
2016(25th) SkeptaKonnichiwa AnohniHopelessness Bat for LashesThe Bride David BowieBlackstar The Comet Is ComingChannel the Spirits KanoMade in the Manor Michael KiwanukaLove & Hate Laura MvulaThe Dreaming Room The 1975I Like It When You Sleep, for You Are So Beautiful yet So Unaware of It RadioheadA Moon Shaped Pool SavagesAdore Life Jamie WoonMaking Time [63]
2017(26th) SamphaProcess alt-JRelaxer The Big MoonLove in the 4th Dimension BlossomsBlossoms Loyle CarnerYesterday's Gone DinosaurTogether, As One Glass AnimalsHow to Be a Human Being J HusCommon Sense Ed Sheeran÷ StormzyGang Signs & Prayer Kae TempestLet Them Eat Chaos The xxI See You [64]
2018(27th) Wolf AliceVisions of a Life Arctic MonkeysTranquility Base Hotel & Casino Everything EverythingA Fever Dream Everything Is RecordedEverything Is Recorded Florence + the MachineHigh as Hope Jorja SmithLost & Found King KruleThe Ooz Lily AllenNo Shame Nadine ShahHoliday Destination Noel Gallagher's High Flying BirdsWho Built the Moon? NovelistNovelist Guy Sons of KemetYour Queen Is a Reptile [65]
2019(28th) DavePsychodrama Anna CalviHunter Black MidiSchlagenheim Cate Le BonReward FoalsEverything Not Saved Will Be Lost – Part 1 Fontaines D.C.Dogrel IdlesJoy as an Act of Resistance Little SimzGrey Area NaoSaturn SEED EnsembleDriftglass slowthaiNothing Great About Britain The 1975A Brief Inquiry into Online Relationships [66]
2020(29th) Michael KiwanukaKiwanuka Anna MeredithFibs Charli XCXhow i'm feeling now Dua LipaFuture Nostalgia GeorgiaSeeking Thrills KanoHoodies All Summer Lanterns on the LakeSpook the Herd Laura MarlingSong for Our Daughter Moses BoydDark Matter Porridge RadioEvery Bad Sports TeamDeep Down Happy StormzyHeavy Is the Head [67][68]
2021(30th) Arlo ParksCollapsed in Sunbeams BerwynDemotape/Vega Black Country, New RoadFor the First Time CelesteNot Your Muse Floating Points, Pharoah Sanders and the London Symphony OrchestraPromises GhettsConflict of Interest Hannah PeelFir Wave Laura MvulaPink Noise MogwaiAs the Love Continues Nubya GarciaSource SaultUntitled (Rise) Wolf AliceBlue Weekend [69][70]
2022(31st) Little SimzSometimes I Might Be Introvert Fergus McCreadieForest Floor GwennoTresor Harry StylesHarry's House Jessie Buckley & Bernard ButlerFor All Our Days That Tear the Heart Joy CrookesSkin Kojey RadicalReason to Smile Nova TwinsSupernova Sam FenderSeventeen Going Under Self EsteemPrioritise Pleasure Wet LegWet Leg Yard ActThe Overload [71][72]
2023(32nd) Ezra CollectiveWhere I'm Meant to Be Arctic MonkeysThe Car Fred AgainActual Life 3 (January 1 – September 9 2022) J HusBeautiful and Brutal Yard Jessie WareThat! Feels Good! JockstrapI Love You Jennifer B LankumFalse Lankum Loyle CarnerHugo Olivia DeanMessy RayeMy 21st Century Blues ShygirlNymph Young FathersHeavy Heavy [73][74]
2024(33rd) English TeacherThis Could Be Texas Barry Can't SwimWhen Will We Land? BerwynWho Am I Beth GibbonsLives Outgrown Cat BurnsEarly Twenties Charli XCXBrat CMATCrazymad, for Me Corinne Bailey RaeBlack Rainbows corto.altoBad With Names GhettsOn Purpose, with Purpose Nia ArchivesSilence Is Loud The Last Dinner PartyPrelude to Ecstasy [75][76]

Artists with multiple wins

[edit]

2 wins

Artists with multiple nominations

[edit]

Totals listed are for bands or artists nominated more than once under the same name. It does not include appearances on compilations (e.g. Artists for War Child) or individuals nominated separately as a soloist and group member (e.g. Robbie Williams for his Life thru a Lens and Take That's Everything Changes, or Beth Gibbons for her Lives Outgrown and Portishead's Dummy).

5 nominations Radiohead (no wins, nominated 1997/2001/2003/2008/2016) Arctic Monkeys (1 win 2006, nominated 2006/2007/2013/2018/2023) 4 nominations Laura Marling (no wins, nominated 2008/2010/2013/2020) PJ Harvey (2 wins 2001/2011, nominated 1993/1995/2001/2011) 3 nominations Anna Calvi (no wins, nominated 2011/2014/2019) Bat for Lashes (no wins, nominated 2007/2009/2016) Coldplay (no wins, nominated 2000/2003/2005) David Bowie (no wins, nominated 2002/2013/2016) Dizzee Rascal (1 win 2003, nominated 2003/2007/2010) Elbow (1 win 2008, nominated 2001/2008/2011) Florence and the Machine (no wins, nominated 2009/2015/2018) Foals (no wins, nominated 2010/2013/2019) Laura Mvula (no wins, nominated 2013/2016/2021) Michael Kiwanuka (1 win 2020, nominated 2012/2016/2020) Pulp (1 win 1996, nominated 1994/1996/1998) Wolf Alice (1 win 2018, nominated 2015/2018/2021) 2 nominations The 1975 (no wins, nominated 2016/2019) Adele (no wins, nominated 2008/2011) alt-J (1 win 2012, nominated 2012/2017) Amy Winehouse (no wins, nominated 2004/2007) Basement Jaxx (no wins, nominated 2001/2004) Berwyn (no wins, nominated 2021/2024) Beth Orton (no wins, nominated 1997/1999) Blur (no wins, nominated 1994/1999) Charli XCX (no wins, nominated 2020/2024) The Chemical Brothers (no wins, nominated 1997/1999) Corinne Bailey Rae (no wins, nominated 2010/2024) Doves (no wins, nominated 2000/2002) Eliza Carthy (no wins, nominated 1998/2003) Everything Everything (no wins, nominated 2011/2018) Ghetts (no wins, nominated 2021/2024) Ghostpoet (no wins, nominated 2011/2015) Guy Barker (no wins, nominated 1995/2002) J Hus (no wins, nominated 2017/2023) James Blake (1 win 2013, nominated 2011/2013) Jessie Ware (no wins, nominated 2012/2023) John Tavener (no wins, nominated 1992/1997) Jon Hopkins (no wins, nominated 2011/2013) Kae Tempest (no wins, nominated 2014/2017) Kano (no wins, nominated 2016/2020) Leftfield (no wins, nominated 1995/2000) Little Simz (1 win 2022, nominated 2019/2022) Loyle Carner (no wins, nominated 2017/2023) Manic Street Preachers (no wins, nominated 1996/1999) Oasis (no wins, nominated 1995/1996) Paul Weller (no wins, nominated 1994/2010) Polar Bear (no wins, nominated 2005/2014) Primal Scream (1 win 1992, nominated 1992/1997) The Prodigy (no wins, nominated 1994/1997) Richard Hawley (no wins, nominated 2006/2012) Savages (no wins, nominated 2013/2016) Stormzy (no wins, nominated 2017/2020) The Streets (no wins, nominated 2002/2004) Suede (1 win 1993, nominated 1993/1997) Underworld (no wins, nominated 1996/1999) Villagers (no wins, nominated 2010/2013) Young Fathers (1 win 2014, nominated 2014/2023) The xx (1 win 2010, nominated 2010/2017)
  1. ^ a b c d e "About The Prize". Mercury Prize. Archived from the original on 27 September 2018. Retrieved 24 May 2018.
  2. ^ "Mercury Prize 2008". BBC Music. Archived from the original on 15 September 2008. Retrieved 22 June 2009.
  3. ^ Beech, Mark (9 September 2008). "U.K. Band Elbow Wins Mercury Prize as Judges Surprise Again". Bloomberg L.P. Archived from the original on 24 March 2023. Retrieved 24 June 2009.
  4. ^ Innes, John (15 September 2004). "Band's debut album soars back into charts after Mercury success". The Scotsman. Archived from the original on 31 May 2009. Retrieved 10 June 2009.
  5. ^ a b Dann, Trevor (9 September 2003). "'By the time the list is agreed you wonder whether you like music at all'". The Guardian. Archived from the original on 19 August 2014. Retrieved 10 June 2009.
  6. ^ "Manics lead Mercury shortlist". BBC News. 27 July 1999. Archived from the original on 13 August 2023. Retrieved 10 June 2009.
  7. ^ "Barclaycard Mercury Prize sponsorship announced". Barclays. 30 March 2009. Archived from the original on 13 September 2016. Retrieved 8 August 2010.
  8. ^ "Hyundai Partners with Mercury Music Prize". Hyundai. Archived from the original on 18 September 2016. Retrieved 8 August 2016.
  9. ^ "big group brokers the headline sponsorship of The Mercury Prize with FREENOW". www.biggroup.co.uk. Archived from the original on 12 August 2023. Retrieved 11 August 2023.
  10. ^ Savage, Mark (25 July 2024). "Mercury Prize nominations 2024: Charli XCX, Beth Gibbons and the Last Dinner Party on shortlist". BBC. Retrieved 25 July 2024.
  11. ^ "PJ Harvey wins Mercury Music Prize for second time". BBC News. 6 September 2011. Archived from the original on 7 September 2011. Retrieved 6 September 2011.
  12. ^ Savage, Mark (8 September 2022). "Last Night of the Proms and Mercury Prize called off after the Queen's death". BBC News. Archived from the original on 9 September 2022. Retrieved 9 September 2022.
  13. ^ Ellis-Petersen, Hannah (30 October 2014). "Young Fathers likely to be touched by unreliable magic of Mercury prize". The Guardian. Archived from the original on 7 December 2014. Retrieved 4 December 2014. Mancunian band Elbow, who won in 2008, enjoyed a 700% rise in sales of their album The Seldom Seen Kid in the week following their Mercury victory.
  14. ^ "Elbow elated at Mercury Prize win". BBC News. 9 September 2008. Archived from the original on 11 January 2009. Retrieved 4 December 2014. 'This is quite literally the best thing that's ever happened to us,' singer Guy Garvey told the ceremony in London.
  15. ^ "Elbow: 'Mercury win is best thing that's ever happened to us'". NME. 9 September 2008. Archived from the original on 11 September 2017. Retrieved 4 December 2014. Elbow claimed that their Nationwide Mercury Prize victory is 'the best thing that's ever happened to us' during their acceptance speech tonight.
  16. ^ Ellis-Petersen, Hannah (30 October 2014). "Young Fathers likely to be touched by unreliable magic of Mercury prize". The Guardian. Archived from the original on 7 December 2014. Retrieved 4 December 2014. It was a similar tale for the XX after their 2010 win. Sales of their debut album soared 450% the day after they won, according to figures from music retailer HMV
  17. ^ Rainey, Naomi (9 September 2010). "The xx 'terrified' after Mercury win". Digital Spy. Archived from the original on 8 December 2014. Retrieved 4 December 2014. Their debut album, which had sold 125,000 copies prior to winning the prize, has experienced a jump in sales of almost 450% since Tuesday's award ceremony.
  18. ^ Ellis-Petersen, Hannah (30 October 2014). "Young Fathers likely to be touched by unreliable magic of Mercury prize". The Guardian. Archived from the original on 7 December 2014. Retrieved 4 December 2014. After winning the 2013 prize, James Blake saw sales of his album Overgrown jump more than 2,500% on Amazon.
  19. ^ Hart, Tina (1 November 2013). "James Blake album sales increase 2500% on Amazon since Mercury Prize win". Music Week. Archived from the original on 8 December 2014. Retrieved 4 December 2014.
  20. ^ "Pixie Lott and Example – all about number one!". Official Charts. 11 September 2011. Archived from the original on 28 June 2012. Retrieved 4 December 2014. Finally, the double Mercury Award winning PJ Harvey sees Let England Shake, last week's prize winner, jump a phenomenal 151 places from last week 181 to this week's 24.
  21. ^ Gill, Andy (14 July 2006). "Curse of the Mercury". The Independent. Archived from the original on 14 September 2009. Retrieved 18 June 2009. ...the Mercury Prize has acquired a well-established reputation for destroying its winners' futures...
  22. ^ Williamson, Nigel (13 July 2003). "Uneasy listening". The Guardian. Archived from the original on 2 October 2013. Retrieved 18 June 2009.
  23. ^ Youngs, Ian (30 July 2002). "Entertainment | Mercury Prize's guessing game". BBC News. British Broadcasting Corporation. Archived from the original on 5 June 2004. Retrieved 10 June 2009.
  24. ^ "Gorillaz taken off Mercury list". BBC News. British Broadcasting Corporation. 3 September 2001. Archived from the original on 3 August 2017. Retrieved 4 December 2014.
  25. ^ Chrisafis, Angelique (23 July 2003). "Mercury prize puts black artists to the fore". The Guardian. Archived from the original on 7 December 2014. Retrieved 4 December 2014. .Simon Frith, the head of the judges, yesterday rejected the age-old complaint that the Mercury shortlist featured "token" jazz, folk, classical and soul acts who do not stand a chance. "We are not tokenist, we chose the albums that are strongest,"
  26. ^ Petridis, Alexis (20 September 2002). "Back to basics". The Guardian. Archived from the original on 9 July 2008. Retrieved 10 June 2009.
  27. ^ Adams, Stephen (5 September 2007). "Amy Winehouse performs at Mercury prize". Daily Telegraph. Archived from the original on 9 May 2008. Retrieved 22 June 2009.
  28. ^ "Ms Dynamite wins Mercury prize". BBC News. 17 September 2002. Archived from the original on 13 August 2023. Retrieved 22 June 2009.
  29. ^ Waters, Darren (2 September 2005). "Judging music the Mercury way". BBC News. Archived from the original on 5 June 2006. Retrieved 10 June 2009.
  30. ^ Millar, Anna (13 August 2006). "Why Mercury makes Isobel's blood boil at pop industry". The Scotsman. Archived from the original on 31 May 2009. Retrieved 10 June 2009.
  31. ^ Youngs, Ian (4 December 2003). "Does the Mercury Prize get it right?". BBC News. Archived from the original on 20 July 2006. Retrieved 10 June 2009.
  32. ^ Barlow, Karen (26 September 2005). "Inaugural Australian music prize announced". Australian Broadcasting Company. Archived from the original on 31 May 2009. Retrieved 10 June 2009.
  33. ^ a b "Antony and Johnsons win Mercury". BBC News. 7 September 2005. Archived from the original on 22 December 2006. Retrieved 10 June 2009.
  34. ^ Sutherland, Mark. "Who can beat the Arctic Monkeys to win the Mercury Prize?". BBC 6 Music. Retrieved 10 June 2009.
  35. ^ Deeovy, Adrian; Michaels, Sean (13 September 2013). "My Bloody Valentine frontman slams Mercury prize list | Music". The Guardian. Archived from the original on 14 September 2013. Retrieved 13 September 2013.
  36. ^ Hebblethwaite, Phil; Marshall, Alex (30 October 2013). "Why Is Everyone at Mercury So Cagey About the Mercury Prize?". VICE. Archived from the original on 6 December 2016. Retrieved 4 September 2017.
  37. ^ Murray, Robin (18 November 2013). "Five Points For Mercury Prize Reform". Clash Magazine. Archived from the original on 19 October 2014. Retrieved 18 October 2014.
  38. ^ Petridis, Alexis (22 July 2011). "Alexis Petridis on heavy metal and the Mercury prize". The Guardian. Archived from the original on 8 August 2019. Retrieved 8 August 2019.
  39. ^ Gill, Andy (10 September 1992). "The 1992 Mercury Music Prize: Andy Gill looks at the winner of the inaugural Mercury Music Prize". The Independent. Archived from the original on 12 May 2022. Retrieved 10 June 2009.
  40. ^ "The London Suede". MTV. Archived from the original on 16 July 2009. Retrieved 10 June 2009.
  41. ^ Hughes, Jack (18 September 1994). "Cries & Whispers". The Independent. Archived from the original on 12 May 2022. Retrieved 10 June 2009.
  42. ^ a b c "Mercury winners: where are they now?". Channel 4. 18 July 2007. Archived from the original on 8 October 2009. Retrieved 10 June 2009.
  43. ^ MacDonald, Marianne (11 September 1996). "Pulp create a different class of award". The Independent. Archived from the original on 12 May 2022. Retrieved 10 June 2009.
  44. ^ "Talvin Singh: Closing the divide". BBC News. 8 September 1999. Archived from the original on 27 January 2007. Retrieved 10 June 2009.
  45. ^ "PJ Harvey wins Mercury prize". BBC News. 11 September 2001. Archived from the original on 2 October 2013. Retrieved 23 June 2009. ...Britain's most prestigious music prize...
  46. ^ Youngs, Ian (30 July 2002). "Mercury Prize's guessing game". BBC News. Archived from the original on 5 June 2004. Retrieved 10 June 2009.
  47. ^ "PJ Harvey wins Mercury prize – after witnessing Pentagon attack". The Guardian. 12 September 2001. Archived from the original on 25 August 2013. Retrieved 10 June 2009.
  48. ^ Chrisafis, Angelique (18 September 2002). "Ms Dynamite's victory blasts Mercury norms". The Guardian. Archived from the original on 5 December 2013. Retrieved 1 September 2009.
  49. ^ Imagee, Matthew (7 September 2004). "Still going strong after Dizzee rise to Mercury's peak". The Scotsman. Archived from the original on 14 September 2009. Retrieved 10 June 2009.
  50. ^ Barkham, Patrick (8 September 2004). "Mercury rises for art pop of Franz Ferdinand". The Guardian. Archived from the original on 12 December 2013. Retrieved 10 June 2009.
  51. ^ "Arctic Monkeys win 2006 Mercury Music Prize". NME. 5 September 2006. Archived from the original on 9 December 2006. Retrieved 10 June 2009.
  52. ^ Paphides, Pete (10 September 2008). "Pete Paphides salutes Elbow's Mercury Prize victory". The Times. Archived from the original on 17 September 2008. Retrieved 10 June 2009.
  53. ^ Swash, Rosie (21 July 2009). "Mercury Prize 2009 Nominations Announced". The Guardian. Archived from the original on 30 July 2009. Retrieved 21 July 2009.
  54. ^ "Mercury Prize 2010 Nominations Announced". NME. 20 July 2010. Archived from the original on 22 July 2010. Retrieved 20 July 2010.
  55. ^ Topping, Alexandra (19 July 2011). "Adele leads Mercury prize 2011 shortlist". The Guardian. Archived from the original on 7 March 2016. Retrieved 19 July 2011.
  56. ^ Butterly, Amelia (13 September 2012). "Plan B hopes for his 'Dizzee Rascal' moment at Mercurys". BBC News. Archived from the original on 15 September 2012. Retrieved 13 September 2012.
  57. ^ Topping, Alexandra (2 November 2012). "Mercury prize celebrates 20 years with award for Alt-J's debut album". The Guardian. Archived from the original on 30 July 2018. Retrieved 9 November 2012.
  58. ^ Clark, Nick (11 September 2013). "Mercury Prize 2013: List of nominees in full". The Independent. Archived from the original on 12 May 2022. Retrieved 11 September 2013.
  59. ^ "Mercury Prize: James Blake wins with Overgrown". BBC News. 31 October 2013. Archived from the original on 30 October 2013. Retrieved 31 October 2013.
  60. ^ Beauchemin, Molly (30 October 2014). "Young Fathers Win the Mercury Prize". Pitchfork Media. Pitchfork. Archived from the original on 31 October 2014. Retrieved 30 October 2014.
  61. ^ "Mercury Prize 2015 shortlist". BBC. Archived from the original on 20 October 2015. Retrieved 16 October 2015.
  62. ^ "Mercury Prize 2016: David Bowie gets posthumous nomination". BBC News. 4 August 2016. Archived from the original on 21 February 2017. Retrieved 5 August 2016.
  63. ^ Mark Brown (14 September 2017). "Mercury prize 2017 is won by Sampha's Process". The Guardian. Archived from the original on 21 September 2017. Retrieved 14 September 2017.
  64. ^ Savage, Mark (26 July 2018). "Arctics and Jorja Smith on Mercury list". BBC News. Archived from the original on 26 July 2018. Retrieved 26 July 2018.
  65. ^ Edelstone, Steven; Manno, Lizzie (25 July 2019). "2019 Mercury Prize Nominations Announced: Predictions, Snubs and More". Paste Magazine. Archived from the original on 7 December 2019. Retrieved 29 July 2019.
  66. ^ Savage, Mark (23 July 2020). "Mercury Prize 2020: Female artists lead nominations for the first time". BBC News. Archived from the original on 29 July 2020. Retrieved 29 July 2020.
  67. ^ Savage, Mark (24 September 2020). "Michael Kiwanuka wins the 2020 Mercury Prize". BBC News. Archived from the original on 17 October 2020. Retrieved 27 September 2020.
  68. ^ Beaumont-Thomas, Ben (22 July 2021). "Mercury prize 2021: first-time nominees dominate shortlist". The Guardian. Archived from the original on 22 July 2021. Retrieved 22 July 2021.
  69. ^ Beaumont-Thomas, Ben (9 September 2021). "Mercury Prize 2021: Arlo Parks wins for Collapsed in Sunbeams". The Guardian. Archived from the original on 9 September 2021. Retrieved 9 September 2021.
  70. ^ Singh, Surej (26 July 2022). "Mercury Prize 2022 shortlist revealed". Archived from the original on 26 July 2022. Retrieved 26 July 2022.
  71. ^ "Mercury Prize: Rapper Little Simz wins album of the year award". BBC News. 18 October 2022. Archived from the original on 18 October 2022. Retrieved 18 October 2022.
  72. ^ "2023 Mercury Prize with FREENOW 'Albums of the Year' revealed…". Mercury Prize. 27 July 2023. Archived from the original on 27 July 2023. Retrieved 27 July 2023.
  73. ^ Griffiths, George (7 September 2023). "Mercury Prize 2023: Ezra Collective announced as winner of 2023 Mercury Prize". Official Charts Company. Archived from the original on 7 September 2023. Retrieved 7 September 2023.
  74. ^ "2024 Mercury Prize 'Albums of the Year' revealed". Mercury Prize. 25 July 2024. Retrieved 25 July 2024.
  75. ^ Harrison, Dan (5 September 2024). "English Teacher has been awarded the 2024 Mercury Prize for their debut album This Could Be Texas". Dork. Retrieved 5 September 2024.

General