Mercury Prize: Difference between revisions

Revision as of 13:47, 21 July 2007

Revision as of 13:26, 23 July 2007

Line 1:

{{citations missing|article|date=April 2007}}

{{UK music}}

The '''Mercury Prize''', currently known as the '''Nationwide Mercury Prize''' for [[sponsorship]] reasons, is an annual music prize awarded for the best [[United Kingdom|British]] or [[Republic of Ireland|Irish]] album of the previous 12 months. It was established by the [[British Phonographic Industry|BPI]] and BARD (the British Association of Record Dealers) in [[1992]] as an alternative to the industry-dominated [[BRIT Awards]]. It was originally sponsored by the now-defunct telecoms company [[Mercury Communications|Mercury]], followed in [[1998]] by [[Technics]] and starting in [[2004]] the [[Nationwide Building Society]] [http://www.nationwidemercurys.com/]. It is often observed that bands who are nominated for, or indeed win the prize experience a large increase in album sales, particularly for the lesser known nominees{{Fact|date=February 2007}}. Nominations are chosen by a selected panel of music executives in the music industry in the UK and in the Republic of Ireland.

The awards usually take place in September but nominated albums are announced in July.[http://www.albumofthemonth.com/mercurys2007.html] In 2007 the shortlist was announced on July 17 at The Hospital in London's Covent Garden. The awards ceremony, at which the winner will be announced, will take place on September 4.

The [http://www.albumofthemonth.com/mercurys2007.html list of nominees for 2007] includes two previous winners. The [[Arctic Monkeys]] were victorious in 2006, winning with their album [[Whatever People Say I Am, That's What I'm Not]]. [[Dizzee Rascal]] took home the prize in 2003 for his album [[Boy in Da Corner]]. While both will be hoping to repeat their success, the odds are stacked against them. No band or artist has ever won the Mercury Prize more than once in the whole of its 15 year history (the first Mercury Prize was awarded in 1992).

Less well known are the eight bands and artists fielding debut albums: [[Basquiat Strings]] with [[Seb Rochford]], [[Bat For Lashes]], [[Jamie T]], [[Klaxons]], Maps, [[New Young Pony Club]], [[Fionn Regan]] and [[The View (band)|The View]]. The other two nominees are the [[Young Knives]] and [[Amy Winehouse]], both of which already have one studio album to their name. Amy Winehouse was nominated for her debut album [[Frank (Amy Winehouse album)|Frank]] in 2004.