Mercury Prize Explained

Mercury Prize
Awarded For:	Best album from the United Kingdom or Ireland
Location:	United Kingdom
Former Name:	Mercury Music Prize
Most Wins:	PJ Harvey (2 wins)
Most Nominations:	Radiohead and Arctic Monkeys (5 nominations)
Holder:	Ezra Collective – Where I'm Meant to Be (2023)
Sponsor:	vacant
Date:	7 September 2023
Venue:	Eventim Apollo, Hammersmith
Reward:	£25,000 (2017)

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

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.^{[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.

History

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 (2002 and 2003), Nationwide Building Society (2004 to 2008) and Barclaycard (2009–14).^{[7] [8]} 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 6 nominations, 5 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]

Reputation

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

Year	Winner	Shortlisted nominees	Image	Ref(s)
1992	Primal Scream – Screamadelica	Barry Adamson – Jah Wobble's Invaders of the Heart – The Jesus and Mary Chain – Bheki Mseleku – Celebration Saint Etienne – Simply Red – Stars U2 – John Tavener and – Young Disciples –		^[40]
1993	Suede – Suede	Apache Indian – No Reservations The Auteurs – New Wave Gavin Bryars – Jesus' Blood Never Failed Me Yet Dina Carroll – So Close PJ Harvey – Rid of Me New Order – Republic Stereo MCs – Connected Sting – Ten Summoner's Tales Stan Tracey – Portraits Plus		^[41]
1994	M People – Elegant Slumming	Blur – Parklife Ian McNabb – Head Like a Rock Shara Nelson – What Silence Knows Michael Nyman – The Piano Concerto/MGV The Prodigy – Music for the Jilted Generation Pulp – His 'n' Hers Take That – Everything Changes Therapy? – Troublegum Paul Weller – Wild Wood		^[42]
1995	Portishead – Dummy	Guy Barker – Into the Blue Elastica – Elastica PJ Harvey – To Bring You My Love Leftfield – Leftism James MacMillan – Seven Last Words from the Cross Van Morrison – Days Like This Oasis – Definitely Maybe Supergrass – I Should Coco Tricky – Maxinquaye		^[43]
1996	Pulp – Different Class	Artists for War Child – Help Black Grape – It's Great When You're Straight... Yeah Peter Maxwell Davies/BBC Philharmonic – The Beltane Fire / Caroline Mathilde Manic Street Preachers – Everything Must Go Mark Morrison – Return of the Mack Oasis – (What's the Story) Morning Glory? Courtney Pine – Modern Day Jazz Stories Underworld – Second Toughest in the Infants Norma Waterson – Norma Waterson		^[44]
1997	Roni Size & Reprazent – New Forms	The Chemical Brothers – Dig Your Own Hole Beth Orton – Trailer Park Primal Scream – Vanishing Point The Prodigy – The Fat of the Land Radiohead – OK Computer Spice Girls – Spice Suede – Coming Up John Tavener – Svyati Mark-Anthony Turnage – Your Rockaby
1998	Gomez – Bring It On	4hero – Two Pages Asian Dub Foundation – Rafi's Revenge Eliza Carthy – Red Rice Catatonia – International Velvet Cornershop – When I Was Born for the 7th Time Massive Attack – Mezzanine Propellerheads – Decksandrumsandrockandroll Pulp – This Is Hardcore John Surman – Proverbs and Songs The Verve – Urban Hymns Robbie Williams – Life thru a Lens
1999	Talvin Singh – Ok	Thomas Adès – Asyla Denys Baptiste – Be Where You Are Black Star Liner – Bengali Bantam Youth Experience! Blur – 13 The Chemical Brothers – Surrender Faithless – Sunday 8PM Manic Street Preachers – This Is My Truth Tell Me Yours Beth Orton – Central Reservation Kate Rusby – Sleepless Stereophonics – Performance and Cocktails Underworld – Beaucoup Fish		^[45]
2000	Badly Drawn Boy – The Hour of Bewilderbeast	Richard Ashcroft – Alone with Everybody Coldplay – Parachutes MJ Cole – Sincere Death in Vegas – The Contino Sessions The Delgados – The Great Eastern Doves – Lost Souls Helicopter Girl – How to Steal the World Leftfield – Rhythm and Stealth Nicholas Maw – Violin Concerto Nitin Sawhney – Beyond Skin Kathryn Williams – Little Black Numbers		^[46]
2001	PJ Harvey – Stories from the City, Stories from the Sea	Basement Jaxx – Rooty Elbow – Asleep in the Back Goldfrapp – Felt Mountain Gorillaz – Gorillaz (nomination withdrawn at the request of the band)^[47] Ed Harcourt – Here Be Monsters Tom McRae – Tom McRae Radiohead – Amnesiac Susheela Raman – Salt Rain Super Furry Animals – Rings Around the World Turin Brakes – The Optimist LP Zero 7 – Simple Things		^[48]
2002	Ms. Dynamite – A Little Deeper	Guy Barker – Soundtrack The Bees – Sunshine Hit Me David Bowie – Heathen The Coral – The Coral Doves – The Last Broadcast The Electric Soft Parade – Holes in the Wall Gemma Hayes – Night on My Side Beverley Knight – Who I Am Roots Manuva – Run Come Save Me Joanna MacGregor – Play The Streets – Original Pirate Material		^[49]
2003	Dizzee Rascal – Boy in da Corner	Athlete – Vehicles and Animals Eliza Carthy – Anglicana Coldplay – A Rush of Blood to the Head The Darkness – Permission to Land Floetry – Floetic Soweto Kinch – Conversations with the Unseen Lemon Jelly – Lost Horizons The Thrills – So Much for the City Martina Topley-Bird – Quixotic Radiohead – Hail to the Thief Terri Walker – Untitled		^[50]
2004	Franz Ferdinand – Franz Ferdinand	Basement Jaxx – Kish Kash Belle & Sebastian – Dear Catastrophe Waitress Jamelia – Thank You Keane – Hopes and Fears Snow Patrol – Final Straw Joss Stone – The Soul Sessions The Streets – A Grand Don't Come for Free Ty – Upwards Amy Winehouse – Frank Robert Wyatt – Cuckooland The Zutons – Who Killed...... The Zutons?		^[51]
2005	Antony and the Johnsons – I Am a Bird Now	Bloc Party – Silent Alarm Coldplay – X&Y Hard-Fi – Stars of CCTV Kaiser Chiefs – Employment KT Tunstall – Eye to the Telescope M.I.A. – Arular Maxïmo Park – A Certain Trigger Polar Bear – Held on the Tips of Fingers Seth Lakeman – Kitty Jay The Go! Team – Thunder, Lightning, Strike The Magic Numbers – The Magic Numbers
2006	Arctic Monkeys – Whatever People Say I Am, That's What I'm Not	Isobel Campbell and Mark Lanegan – Ballad of the Broken Seas Editors – The Back Room Guillemots – Through the Windowpane Richard Hawley – Coles Corner Hot Chip – The Warning Muse – Black Holes & Revelations Zoe Rahman – Melting Pot Lou Rhodes – Beloved One Scritti Politti – White Bread Black Beer Sway – This Is My Demo Thom Yorke – The Eraser		^[52]
2007	Klaxons – Myths of the Near Future	Arctic Monkeys – Favourite Worst Nightmare Basquiat Strings with Seb Rochford – Basquiat Strings Bat for Lashes – Fur and Gold Dizzee Rascal – Maths + English Maps – We Can Create New Young Pony Club – Fantastic Playroom Fionn Regan – The End of History Jamie T – Panic Prevention The View – Hats Off to the Buskers Amy Winehouse – Back to Black Young Knives – Voices of Animals and Men
2008	Elbow – The Seldom Seen Kid	Adele – 19 British Sea Power – Do You Like Rock Music? Burial – Untrue Estelle – Shine The Last Shadow Puppets – The Age of the Understatement Laura Marling – Alas, I Cannot Swim Neon Neon – Stainless Style Robert Plant & Alison Krauss – Raising Sand Portico Quartet – Knee Deep in the North Sea Radiohead – In Rainbows Rachel Unthank and the Winterset – The Bairns		^[53]
2009	Speech Debelle – Speech Therapy	Bat for Lashes – Two Suns Florence and the Machine – Lungs Friendly Fires – Friendly Fires Glasvegas – Glasvegas Lisa Hannigan – Sea Sew The Horrors – Primary Colours The Invisible – The Invisible Kasabian – West Ryder Pauper Lunatic Asylum La Roux – La Roux Led Bib – Sensible Shoes Sweet Billy Pilgrim – Twice Born Men		^[54]
2010	The xx – xx	Corinne Bailey Rae – The Sea Biffy Clyro – Only Revolutions Dizzee Rascal – Tongue n' Cheek Foals – Total Life Forever I Am Kloot – Sky at Night Kit Downes Trio – Golden Laura Marling – I Speak Because I Can Mumford & Sons – Sigh No More Villagers – Becoming a Jackal Paul Weller – Wake Up the Nation Wild Beasts – Two Dancers		^[55]
2011	PJ Harvey – Let England Shake	Adele – 21 James Blake – James Blake Anna Calvi – Anna Calvi Elbow – Build a Rocket Boys! Everything Everything – Man Alive Ghostpoet – Peanut Butter Blues & Melancholy Jam Katy B – On a Mission King Creosote & Jon Hopkins – Diamond Mine Metronomy – The English Riviera Gwilym Simcock – Good Days At Schloss Elmau Tinie Tempah – Disc-Overy		^[56]
2012	alt-J – An Awesome Wave	Django Django – Django Django Field Music – Plumb Richard Hawley – Standing at the Sky's Edge Ben Howard – Every Kingdom Michael Kiwanuka – Home Again Lianne La Havas – Is Your Love Big Enough? Sam Lee – Ground of its Own The Maccabees – Given to the Wild Plan B – ill Manors Roller Trio – Roller Trio Jessie Ware – Devotion		^[57] ^[58]
2013	James Blake – Overgrown	Arctic Monkeys – AM David Bowie – The Next Day Jake Bugg – Jake Bugg Disclosure – Settle Foals – Holy Fire Jon Hopkins – Immunity Laura Marling – Once I Was an Eagle Laura Mvula – Sing to the Moon Rudimental – Home Savages – Silence Yourself Villagers – Awayland		^[59] ^[60]
2014	Young Fathers – Dead	Damon Albarn – Everyday Robots Bombay Bicycle Club – So Long, See You Tomorrow Anna Calvi – One Breath East India Youth – Total Strife Forever FKA twigs – LP1 GoGo Penguin – V2.0 Jungle – Jungle Nick Mulvey – First Mind Polar Bear – In Each and Every One Royal Blood – Royal Blood Kae Tempest – Everybody Down		^[61]
2015	Benjamin Clementine – At Least for Now	Aphex Twin – Syro Gaz Coombes – Matador C Duncan – Architect Eska – Eska Florence and the Machine – How Big, How Blue, How Beautiful Ghostpoet – Shedding Skin Róisín Murphy – Hairless Toys Slaves – Are You Satisfied? Soak – Before We Forgot How to Dream Wolf Alice – My Love Is Cool Jamie xx – In Colour		^[62]
2016	Skepta – Konnichiwa	Anohni – Hopelessness Bat for Lashes – The Bride David Bowie – Blackstar The Comet Is Coming – Channel the Spirits Kano – Made in the Manor Michael Kiwanuka – Love & Hate Laura Mvula – The Dreaming Room The 1975 – I Like It When You Sleep, for You Are So Beautiful yet So Unaware of It Radiohead – A Moon Shaped Pool Savages – Adore Life Jamie Woon – Making Time		^[63]
2017	Sampha – Process	alt-J – Relaxer The Big Moon – Love in the 4th Dimension Blossoms – Blossoms Loyle Carner – Yesterday's Gone Dinosaur – Together, As One Glass Animals – How to Be a Human Being J Hus – Common Sense Ed Sheeran – ÷ Stormzy – Gang Signs & Prayer Kae Tempest – Let Them Eat Chaos The xx – I See You		^[64]
2018	Wolf Alice – Visions of a Life	Arctic Monkeys – Tranquility Base Hotel & Casino Everything Everything – A Fever Dream Everything Is Recorded – Everything Is Recorded Florence + the Machine – High as Hope Jorja Smith – Lost & Found King Krule – The Ooz Lily Allen – No Shame Nadine Shah – Holiday Destination Noel Gallagher's High Flying Birds – Who Built the Moon? Novelist – Novelist Guy Sons of Kemet – Your Queen Is a Reptile		^[65]
2019	Dave – Psychodrama	Anna Calvi – Hunter Black Midi – Schlagenheim Cate Le Bon – Reward Foals – Everything Not Saved Will Be Lost – Part 1 Fontaines D.C. – Dogrel Idles – Joy as an Act of Resistance Little Simz – Grey Area Nao – Saturn SEED Ensemble – Driftglass slowthai – Nothing Great About Britain The 1975 – A Brief Inquiry into Online Relationships		^[66]
2020	Michael Kiwanuka – Kiwanuka	Anna Meredith – Fibs Charli XCX – How I'm Feeling Now Dua Lipa – Future Nostalgia Georgia – Seeking Thrills Kano – Hoodies All Summer Lanterns on the Lake – Spook the Herd Laura Marling – Song for Our Daughter Moses Boyd – Dark Matter Porridge Radio – Every Bad Sports Team – Deep Down Happy Stormzy – Heavy Is the Head		^[67] ^[68]
2021	Arlo Parks – Collapsed in Sunbeams	Berwyn – Demotape/Vega Black Country, New Road – For the First Time Celeste – Not Your Muse Floating Points, Pharoah Sanders and the London Symphony Orchestra – Promises Ghetts – Conflict of Interest Hannah Peel – Fir Wave Laura Mvula – Pink Noise Mogwai – As the Love Continues Nubya Garcia – Source Sault – Untitled (Rise) Wolf Alice – Blue Weekend		^[69] ^[70]
2022	Little Simz – Sometimes I Might Be Introvert	Fergus McCreadie – Forest Floor Gwenno – Tresor Harry Styles – Harry's House Jessie Buckley & Bernard Butler – For All Our Days That Tear the Heart Joy Crookes – Skin Kojey Radical – Reason to Smile Nova Twins – Supernova Sam Fender – Seventeen Going Under Self Esteem – Prioritise Pleasure Wet Leg – Wet Leg Yard Act – The Overload		^[71] ^[72]
2023	Ezra Collective – Where I'm Meant to Be	Arctic Monkeys – The Car Fred Again – Actual Life 3 (January 1 – September 9 2022) J Hus – Beautiful and Brutal Yard Jessie Ware – That! Feels Good! Jockstrap – I Love You Jennifer B Lankum – False Lankum Loyle Carner – Hugo Olivia Dean – Messy Raye – My 21st Century Blues Shygirl – Nymph Young Fathers – Heavy Heavy		^[73] ^[74]
2024		Barry Can't Swim – When Will We Land? Berwyn – Who Am I Beth Gibbons – Lives Outgrown Cat Burns – Early Twenties Charli XCX – Brat CMAT – Crazymad, for Me Corinne Bailey Rae – Black Rainbows corto.alto – Bad With Names English Teacher – This Could Be Texas Ghetts – On Purpose, with Purpose Nia Archives – Silence Is Loud The Last Dinner Party – Prelude to Ecstasy		^[75]

Artists with multiple wins

2 wins

• PJ Harvey (2 wins 2001/2011, nominated 1993/1995/2001/2011)

Artists with multiple nominations

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).

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)

See also

• • Scottish Album of the Year Award Welsh Music Prize
• Northern Ireland Music Prize
• Choice Music Prize (Ireland, including Northern Ireland)
• Polaris Music Prize (Canada)
• Prix Constantin (France)
• Shortlist Music Prize (United States)
• Australian Music Prize
• Nordic Music Prize
• Premio Ruido (Spain)
• Taite Music Prize (New Zealand)

References

General

• News: Highs and Lows of the Mercury Prize. BBC News. 22 June 2009 . 20 June 2005.
• News: Barclaycard Mercury Prize 2012 . 4Music . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20121104060226/http://www.4music.com/shows/583/Barclaycard-Mercury-Prize-2012 . 4 November 2012 . dmy-all .

External links

• – official site
• Mercury Prize @ BBC Online
• Mercury Prize (winners) at Discogs

Notes and References

1. Web site: About The Prize . 24 May 2018 . Mercury Prize . 27 September 2018 . https://web.archive.org/web/20180927204556/https://www.mercuryprize.com/about-the-prize . live .
2. Web site: Mercury Prize 2008 . https://web.archive.org/web/20080915070321/http://www.bbc.co.uk/musicevents/mercuryprize2008/prize/ . Sep 15, 2008 . 22 June 2009 . BBC Music.
3. News: Beech . Mark . 9 September 2008 . U.K. Band Elbow Wins Mercury Prize as Judges Surprise Again . Bloomberg L.P. . subscription . 24 June 2009 . dmy-all . 24 March 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20230324170747/https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2008-09-10/u-k-band-elbow-wins-mercury-prize-as-judges-surprise-again . live .
4. News: Innes . John . 15 September 2004 . Band's debut album soars back into charts after Mercury success . The Scotsman . 10 June 2009 . https://web.archive.org/web/20090531222702/http://news.scotsman.com/mercurymusicprize/Bands-debut-album-soars-back.2564314.jp . May 31, 2009.
5. News: Dann . Trevor . 9 September 2003 . 'By the time the list is agreed you wonder whether you like music at all' . The Guardian . registration . 10 June 2009 . 19 August 2014 . https://web.archive.org/web/20140819174637/http://www.theguardian.com/media/2003/sep/09/marketingandpr.mercuryprize2003 . live .
6. News: Manics lead Mercury shortlist. BBC News. 10 June 2009. 27 July 1999. 13 August 2023. https://web.archive.org/web/20230813003619/http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/entertainment/404980.stm. live.
7. Web site: Barclaycard Mercury Prize sponsorship announced . https://web.archive.org/web/20160913120715/http://www.newsroom.barclays.com/r/1530/barclaycard_mercury_prize_sponsorship_announced . dead . 13 September 2016 . Barclays . 8 August 2010 . 30 March 2009 .
8. Web site: Mercury Prize 2015: Florence + The Machine tipped for success as Blur miss out on a global shortlist. https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20220512/https://www.independent.co.uk/arts-entertainment/music/news/mercury-prize-2015-florence-the-machine-tipped-for-success-as-blur-miss-out-on-a-global-shortlist-a6697491.html . 12 May 2022 . subscription . live. Adam. Sherwin. 16 October 2015. The Independent.
9. Web site: Hyundai Partners with Mercury Music Prize . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20160918103412/http://www.hyundai.co.uk/about-hyundai/hyundai-partners-with-mercury-music-prize . 18 September 2016 . 8 August 2016 . Hyundai . dmy-all.
10. Web site: big group brokers the headline sponsorship of The Mercury Prize with FREENOW . 2023-08-11 . www.biggroup.co.uk . 12 August 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20230812000116/https://www.biggroup.co.uk/news/big-group-brokers-the-headline-sponsorship-of-the-mercury-prize-with-freenow-the-leading-mobility-services-provider . live .
11. News: Savage . Mark . Mercury Prize nominations 2024: Charli XCX, Beth Gibbons and the Last Dinner Party on shortlist . 25 July 2024 . BBC . 25 July 2024.
12. News: 6 September 2011 . PJ Harvey wins Mercury Music Prize for second time . BBC News . 6 September 2011 . 7 September 2011 . https://web.archive.org/web/20110907064501/https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/entertainment-arts-14815129 . live .
13. News: Savage . Mark . 8 September 2022 . Last Night of the Proms and Mercury Prize called off after the Queen's death . en-GB . BBC News . 9 September 2022 . 9 September 2022 . https://web.archive.org/web/20220909115755/https://www.bbc.com/news/entertainment-arts-62825157 . live .
14. News: Ellis-Petersen . Hannah . 30 October 2014 . Young Fathers likely to be touched by unreliable magic of Mercury prize . The Guardian . registration . 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 . 7 December 2014 . https://web.archive.org/web/20141207201613/http://www.theguardian.com/music/2014/oct/30/young-fathers-unreliable-magic-mercury-prize . live . .
15. News: Elbow elated at Mercury Prize win. 'This is quite literally the best thing that's ever happened to us,' singer Guy Garvey told the ceremony in London.. BBC News. 4 December 2014. 9 September 2008. 11 January 2009. https://web.archive.org/web/20090111205618/http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/entertainment/7606963.stm. live.
16. News: 9 September 2008 . Elbow: 'Mercury win is best thing that's ever happened to us' . NME . 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 . 11 September 2017 . https://web.archive.org/web/20170911072808/http://www.nme.com/news/music/elbow-115-1327147 . live . .
17. News: Ellis-Petersen . Hannah . 30 October 2014 . Young Fathers likely to be touched by unreliable magic of Mercury prize . The Guardian . 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 . 7 December 2014 . https://web.archive.org/web/20141207201613/http://www.theguardian.com/music/2014/oct/30/young-fathers-unreliable-magic-mercury-prize . live .
18. Web site: Rainey . Naomi . 9 September 2010 . The xx 'terrified' after Mercury win . 4 December 2014 . Digital Spy . 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. . 8 December 2014 . https://web.archive.org/web/20141208143622/http://www.digitalspy.co.uk/music/news/a275439/the-xx-terrified-after-mercury-win.html#~oXue91geN4crdK . live .
19. News: Ellis-Petersen . Hannah . 30 October 2014 . Young Fathers likely to be touched by unreliable magic of Mercury prize . The Guardian . 4 December 2014 . After winning the 2013 prize, James Blake saw sales of his album Overgrown jump more than 2,500% on Amazon. . 7 December 2014 . https://web.archive.org/web/20141207201613/http://www.theguardian.com/music/2014/oct/30/young-fathers-unreliable-magic-mercury-prize . live .
20. News: Hart . Tina . 1 November 2013 . James Blake album sales increase 2500% on Amazon since Mercury Prize win . Music Week . subscription . 4 December 2014 . 8 December 2014 . https://web.archive.org/web/20141208234331/http://www.musicweek.com/index.php/news/read/james-blake-album-sales-increase-2500-on-amazon-since-mercury-prize-win/056599 . live .
21. News: Pixie Lott and Example – all about number one! . 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. . Official Charts . 4 December 2014 . 11 September 2011 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20120628141801/http://www.officialcharts.com/press/pixie-lott-and-example-all-about-number-one/ . 28 June 2012 .
22. News: Curse of the Mercury. https://web.archive.org/web/20090914185907/http://www.independent.co.uk/arts-entertainment/music/features/curse-of-the-mercury-407786.html. dead. 14 September 2009. The Independent. ...the Mercury Prize has acquired a well-established reputation for destroying its winners' futures.... 18 June 2009. 14 July 2006. Andy. Gill .
23. News: Williamson . Nigel . 13 July 2003 . Uneasy listening . The Guardian . registration . 18 June 2009 . 2 October 2013 . https://web.archive.org/web/20131002145954/http://www.theguardian.com/music/2003/jul/23/artsfeatures.mercuryprize2003 . live .
24. Web site: Entertainment | Mercury Prize's guessing game. BBC News. British Broadcasting Corporation. Youngs. Ian. 30 July 2002. 10 June 2009. 5 June 2004. https://web.archive.org/web/20040605193004/http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/entertainment/music/2159934.stm. live.
25. News: Gorillaz taken off Mercury list. BBC News. 3 September 2001. British Broadcasting Corporation. 4 December 2014. 3 August 2017. https://web.archive.org/web/20170803213429/http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/entertainment/1522766.stm. live.
26. News: Chrisafis . Angelique . 23 July 2003 . Mercury prize puts black artists to the fore . The Guardian . registration . 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," . 7 December 2014 . https://web.archive.org/web/20141207200132/http://www.theguardian.com/uk/2003/jul/23/arts.mercuryprize2003 . live .
27. News: Back to basics . The Guardian . 10 June 2009 . 20 September 2002 . Alexis . Petridis . 9 July 2008 . https://web.archive.org/web/20080709015858/http://arts.guardian.co.uk/mercury2002/story/0,,795354,00.html . live .
28. News: Adams . Stephen . 5 September 2007 . Amy Winehouse performs at Mercury prize . Daily Telegraph . subscription . 22 June 2009 . 9 May 2008 . https://web.archive.org/web/20080509030913/http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/uknews/1562214/Amy-Winehouse-performs-at-Mercury-prize.html . live .
29. News: Ms Dynamite wins Mercury prize. BBC News. 22 June 2009. 17 September 2002. 13 August 2023. https://web.archive.org/web/20230813003623/http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/entertainment/2262195.stm. live.
30. News: Judging music the Mercury way. BBC News. 10 June 2009. 2 September 2005. Darren. Waters. 5 June 2006. https://web.archive.org/web/20060605003700/http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/entertainment/music/4197994.stm. live.
31. News: Millar . Anna . 13 August 2006 . Why Mercury makes Isobel's blood boil at pop industry . The Scotsman . 10 June 2009 . https://web.archive.org/web/20090531221311/http://news.scotsman.com:80/mercurymusicprize/Why-Mercury-makes-Isobels-blood.2800886.jp . May 31, 2009.
32. News: Does the Mercury Prize get it right?. BBC News. 10 June 2009. 4 December 2003. Ian. Youngs. 20 July 2006. https://web.archive.org/web/20060720020922/http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/entertainment/music/3077975.stm. live.
33. Web site: Barlow . Karen . 26 September 2005 . Inaugural Australian music prize announced . https://web.archive.org/web/20090531014153/http://www.abc.net.au/worldtoday/content/2005/s1468509.htm . May 31, 2009 . 10 June 2009 . Australian Broadcasting Company.
34. News: Antony and Johnsons win Mercury. BBC News. 10 June 2009. 7 September 2005. 22 December 2006. https://web.archive.org/web/20061222144757/http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/entertainment/4217140.stm. live.
35. Web site: Who can beat the Arctic Monkeys to win the Mercury Prize? . BBC 6 Music. 10 June 2009. Mark. Sutherland.
36. Web site: My Bloody Valentine frontman slams Mercury prize list | Music. The Guardian. Deeovy. Michaels. Adrian. Sean. 13 September 2013. 13 September 2013. 14 September 2013. https://web.archive.org/web/20130914062837/http://www.theguardian.com/music/2013/sep/13/my-bloody-valentine-slams-mercury-prize. live.
37. Web site: Hebblethwaite . Phil . Marshall . Alex . October 30, 2013 . Why Is Everyone at Mercury So Cagey About the Mercury Prize? . VICE . 4 September 2017 . 6 December 2016 . https://web.archive.org/web/20161206010759/http://www.vice.com/en_uk/read/questions-the-mercury-prize-dont-want-to-answer-about-the-mercury-prize/ . live .
38. Web site: Five Points For Mercury Prize Reform. Clash Magazine. Robin. Murray. 18 November 2013. 18 October 2014. 19 October 2014. https://web.archive.org/web/20141019012041/http://www.clashmusic.com/features/five-points-for-mercury-prize-reform. live.
39. Web site: Petridis . Alexis . 22 July 2011 . Alexis Petridis on heavy metal and the Mercury prize . 8 August 2019 . The Guardian . 8 August 2019 . https://web.archive.org/web/20190808094258/https://www.theguardian.com/culture/2011/jul/22/alexis-petridis-metal-mercury-prize . live .
40. News: The 1992 Mercury Music Prize: Andy Gill looks at the winner of the inaugural Mercury Music Prize. https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20220512/https://www.independent.co.uk/arts-entertainment/rock--the-1992-mercury-music-prize-andy-gill-looks-at-the-winner-of-the-inaugural-mercury-music-prize-1550461.html . 12 May 2022 . subscription . live. The Independent. 10 June 2009. 10 September 1992. Andy. Gill.
41. Web site: The London Suede. MTV. 10 June 2009. dead. https://web.archive.org/web/20090716233503/http://www.mtv.com/music/artist/london_suede/artist.jhtml. 16 July 2009.
42. News: Cries & Whispers. https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20220512/https://www.independent.co.uk/arts-entertainment/cries--whispers-1449544.html . 12 May 2022 . subscription . live. The Independent. Jack. Hughes. 10 June 2009. 18 September 1994.
43. Web site: Mercury winners: where are they now?. Channel 4. 10 June 2009. 18 July 2007. 8 October 2009. https://web.archive.org/web/20091008131117/http://www.channel4.com/news/articles/arts_entertainment/music/mercury%2Bwinners%2Bwhere%2Bare%2Bthey%2Bnow/605557. dead.
44. News: Pulp create a different class of award. https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20220512/https://www.independent.co.uk/news/pulp-create-a-different-class-of-award-1362749.html . 12 May 2022 . subscription . live. 10 June 2009. 11 September 1996. Marianne. MacDonald. The Independent.
45. News: Talvin Singh: Closing the divide. BBC News. 10 June 2009. 8 September 1999. 27 January 2007. https://web.archive.org/web/20070127110901/http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/entertainment/441762.stm. live.
46. News: PJ Harvey wins Mercury prize. BBC News. 11 September 2001. ...Britain's most prestigious music prize.... 23 June 2009. 2 October 2013. https://web.archive.org/web/20131002213705/http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/entertainment/1538877.stm. live.
47. News: Mercury Prize's guessing game. BBC News. 10 June 2009. 30 July 2002. Ian. Youngs. 5 June 2004. https://web.archive.org/web/20040605193004/http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/entertainment/music/2159934.stm. live.
48. News: PJ Harvey wins Mercury prize – after witnessing Pentagon attack. The Guardian. 10 June 2009. 12 September 2001. 25 August 2013. https://web.archive.org/web/20130825151639/http://www.theguardian.com/world/2001/sep/12/september11.usa5. live.
49. News: Ms Dynamite's victory blasts Mercury norms. The Guardian. 1 September 2009. 18 September 2002. Angelique. Chrisafis. 5 December 2013. https://web.archive.org/web/20131205114957/http://www.theguardian.com/uk/2002/sep/18/arts.mercuryprize2002. live.
50. Web site: Still going strong after Dizzee rise to Mercury's peak. The Scotsman. 10 June 2009. 7 September 2004. Matthew. Imagee. 14 September 2009. https://web.archive.org/web/20090914232734/http://thescotsman.scotsman.com/mercurymusicprize/Still-going-strong-after-Dizzee.2562092.jp. live.
51. News: Mercury rises for art pop of Franz Ferdinand. The Guardian. 10 June 2009. 8 September 2004. Patrick. Barkham. 12 December 2013. https://web.archive.org/web/20131212141936/http://www.theguardian.com/uk/2004/sep/08/arts.mercuryprize2004. live.
52. Web site: Arctic Monkeys win 2006 Mercury Music Prize. NME. 10 June 2009. 5 September 2006. 9 December 2006. https://web.archive.org/web/20061209105845/http://www.nme.com/news/nme/24216. live.
53. News: Pete Paphides salutes Elbow's Mercury Prize victory. The Times. 10 June 2009. 10 September 2008. Pete. Paphides. 17 September 2008. https://web.archive.org/web/20080917103151/http://entertainment.timesonline.co.uk/tol/arts_and_entertainment/music/article4720677.ece. live.
54. News: Mercury Prize 2009 Nominations Announced. The Guardian. 21 July 2009. 21 July 2009. Rosie. Swash. 30 July 2009. https://web.archive.org/web/20090730122400/http://www.guardian.co.uk/music/2009/jul/21/mercury-prize-2009-nominations-announced. live.
55. News: Mercury Prize 2010 Nominations Announced. NME. 20 July 2010. 20 July 2010. 22 July 2010. https://web.archive.org/web/20100722040548/http://www.nme.com/news/various-artists/52132. live.
56. News: Alexandra. Topping. Adele leads Mercury prize 2011 shortlist. The Guardian. 19 July 2011. 19 July 2011. 7 March 2016. https://web.archive.org/web/20160307093946/http://www.theguardian.com/music/2011/jul/19/adele-leads-mercury-prize-shortlist. live.
57. News: Amelia. Butterly. Plan B hopes for his 'Dizzee Rascal' moment at Mercurys. BBC News. 13 September 2012. 13 September 2012. 15 September 2012. https://web.archive.org/web/20120915044609/http://www.bbc.co.uk/newsbeat/19582972. live.
58. News: Topping. Alexandra. Mercury prize celebrates 20 years with award for Alt-J's debut album. 9 November 2012. The Guardian. 2 November 2012. 30 July 2018. https://web.archive.org/web/20180730021404/https://www.theguardian.com/music/2012/nov/02/alt-j-mercury-prize?intcmp=239. live.
59. Web site: Mercury Prize 2013: List of nominees in full. https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20220512/https://www.independent.co.uk/arts-entertainment/music/news/mercury-prize-2013-list-of-nominees-in-full-8809971.html . 12 May 2022 . subscription . live. The Independent. 11 September 2013. 11 September 2013. Nick. Clark.
60. Web site: Mercury Prize: James Blake wins with Overgrown. 31 October 2013. BBC News. 31 October 2013. 30 October 2013. https://web.archive.org/web/20131030192807/http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/entertainment-arts-24745412. live.
61. News: Beauchemin. Molly. Young Fathers Win the Mercury Prize. 30 October 2014. Pitchfork. Pitchfork Media. 30 October 2014. 31 October 2014. https://web.archive.org/web/20141031182535/http://pitchfork.com/news/57249-young-fathers-win-the-mercury-prize/. live.
62. Web site: Mercury Prize 2015 shortlist. BBC. 16 October 2015. 20 October 2015. https://web.archive.org/web/20151020002000/http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/articles/1HwNyl69kmN1fcWlcH7rTfb/mercury-prize-2015-shortlist. live.
63. News: Mercury Prize 2016: David Bowie gets posthumous nomination. BBC News. 4 August 2016. 5 August 2016. 21 February 2017. https://web.archive.org/web/20170221052046/http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/entertainment-arts-36962513. live.
64. News: Mercury prize 2017 is won by Sampha's Process . 14 September 2017 . Mark Brown . The Guardian . 14 September 2017 . 21 September 2017 . https://web.archive.org/web/20170921032621/https://www.theguardian.com/music/2017/sep/14/mercury-music-prize-2017-is-won-by-samphas-process . live .
65. News: Arctics and Jorja Smith on Mercury list. Savage. Mark. 26 July 2018. BBC News. 26 July 2018. en-GB. 26 July 2018. https://web.archive.org/web/20180726163855/https://www.bbc.com/news/entertainment-arts-44964740. live.
66. News: 2019 Mercury Prize Nominations Announced: Predictions, Snubs and More. Edelstone. Steven. Manno. Lizzie. 25 July 2019. Paste Magazine. 29 July 2019. 7 December 2019. https://web.archive.org/web/20191207072731/https://www.pastemagazine.com/articles/2019/07/mercury-prize-2019.html. live.
67. News: Mercury Prize 2020: Female artists lead nominations for the first time. Savage. Mark. 23 July 2020. 29 July 2020. BBC News. 29 July 2020. https://web.archive.org/web/20200729152046/https://www.bbc.com/news/entertainment-arts-53497277. live.
68. News: Michael Kiwanuka wins the 2020 Mercury Prize. Savage. Mark. 24 September 2020. BBC News. 27 September 2020. 17 October 2020. https://web.archive.org/web/20201017030105/https://www.bbc.com/news/entertainment-arts-54284975. live.
69. News: Beaumont-Thomas, Ben . 22 July 2021 . Mercury prize 2021: first-time nominees dominate shortlist . The Guardian . 22 July 2021 . 22 July 2021 . https://web.archive.org/web/20210722101935/https://www.theguardian.com/music/2021/jul/22/mercury-prize-2021-first-time-nominees-dominate-shortlist . live .
70. News: Beaumont-Thomas, Ben . 9 September 2021 . Mercury Prize 2021: Arlo Parks wins for Collapsed in Sunbeams . The Guardian . 9 September 2021 . 9 September 2021 . https://web.archive.org/web/20210909212953/https://www.theguardian.com/music/2021/sep/09/mercury-prize-2021-arlo-parks-wins-for-collapsed-in-sunbeams . live .
71. News: Mercury Prize 2022 shortlist revealed. 26 July 2022. Surej. Singh. 26 July 2022. 26 July 2022. https://web.archive.org/web/20220726101632/https://www.nme.com/news/music/mercury-prize-2022-shortlist-nominations-3277014. live.
72. News: 18 October 2022 . Mercury Prize: Rapper Little Simz wins album of the year award . en-GB . BBC News . 18 October 2022 . 18 October 2022 . https://archive.today/20221018220755/https://www.bbc.com/news/entertainment-arts-63296907 . live .
73. Web site: 2023 Mercury Prize with FREENOW 'Albums of the Year' revealed…. 27 July 2023. Mercury Prize. 27 July 2023. live. 27 July 2023. https://web.archive.org/web/20230727123502/https://www.mercuryprize.com/news/2023-mercury-prize-with-freenow-albums-of-the-year-revealed.
74. News: Griffiths . George . September 7, 2023 . Mercury Prize 2023: Ezra Collective announced as winner of 2023 Mercury Prize . . September 7, 2023 . 7 September 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20230907211756/https://www.officialcharts.com/chart-news/mercury-prize-2023-ezra-collective-announced-as-winner-of-2023-merucry-prize/ . live .
75. Web site: 2024 Mercury Prize 'Albums of the Year' revealed. 25 July 2024. Mercury Prize. 25 July 2024.