Introduction to the Mercury Prize
The Mercury Prize is an annual music award that recognizes the best album of the year from the UK and Ireland. This year, the ceremony will be held in Newcastle, marking a significant shift from its traditional location in London. The move is part of a new partnership with Newcastle City Council and the North East Combined Authority, aiming to decentralize the music industry and provide more opportunities for artists outside of the capital.
Favorites to Win
Bookies have identified Irish singer CMAT as the frontrunner with her third album Euro-Country, which combines stories of loneliness and national identity with piercing humor. Former winners Pulp are close behind with their unexpected comeback album More, while Irish band Fontaines DC are also in the running for Romance, where the alternative act crossed over into the mainstream. Other nominees include pop artist PinkPantheress, singer-songwriter Jacob Alon, and folk musician Martin Carthy, who at 84 is the oldest nominee ever for the award.
Notable Nominees
Martin Carthy is nominated for "Transform Me Then Into a Fish," in which he reassesses his songbook at the end of his 60-year career. Wolf Alice has now been shortlisted for all four of their studio albums, having already won the award in 2018 for their second album “Visions of a Life”. Hometown hero Sam Fender is hoping for a local edge with his third album, People Watching, a steely look at working-class life in the North.
The Ceremony
This year’s ceremony will feature performances from nine of the 12 nominees and will be hosted by Sunderland native Lauren Laverne. The event will take place at the Utilita Arena in Newcastle, as part of a week of fringe events, including concerts by local artists and workshops for newcomers looking for a break.
Decentralizing the Music Industry
The move to Newcastle is seen as a significant step towards decentralizing the music industry, providing more opportunities for artists outside of London. Jo Twist, chief executive of the BPI, which organizes the Mercurys and the Brits, highlights recent success stories from the North East, including Brit Award winner Jade and last year’s Mercury Prize winner English Teacher. Twist emphasizes that talent is everywhere, but opportunities are not, and it’s only right that large-scale shows are held outside of London to showcase the music industry’s diversity.
The North East Music Scene
The North East has been overlooked for so long, but the Mercury Prize’s move to Newcastle is seen as a welcome change. Local artists, such as 29-year-old Finn Forster from Teesside, are grateful for the opportunity to perform and showcase their talent. Forster has progressed from a pub gig to supporting Stereophonics on their recent European tour and is "super grateful for how much the music industry is taking a step out of London and the big cities."
The Nominated Albums
The 12 nominated albums are:
- CMAT – Euro Country
- Emma-Jean Thackray – Madman
- FKA branches – Eusexua
- Fountains DC – Romance
- Jacob Alon – In Limerence
- Joe Webb – Hamstrings and Hurricanes
- Martin Carthy – Then turn me into a fish
- Pa Salieu – African alien
- PinkPantheress – Fancy it
- Pulp – More
- Sam Fender – people watching
- Wolf Alice – The Glade
Full Coverage
Full coverage of the Mercury Prize ceremony will be available on BBC TV, BBC Sounds, Radio 6 Music, and BBC News.
