Nationwide Mercury Prize Group Announces Nominees

Photo: Arctic Monkeys

The 12 nominations for the Nationwide Mercury Prize, a prestigious award that recognizes excellence in U.K.-based bands and their music, were made public this morning. Contenders include Thom Yorke, Arctic Monkeys and Editors, among others, for their latest releases. The winner, to be announced in September, will walk away with a £20,000 check.

Sponsored by the financial institution Nationwide Building Society, the prize rewards British and Irish bands of any genre based solely on the quality of their music. The winner is determined by a panel of musicians and experts in music business and writing, including this year’s panel chair, rock critic Simon Frith. Past winners include Antony & The Johnsons for 2005’s I Am A Bird Now and Franz Ferdinand for its self-titled 2004 release.

The 12 artists and albums up for the prize are:

Arctic Monkeys, Whatever People Say I Am That's What I'm Not
Isobel Campbell and Mark Lanegan, Ballad Of The Broken Seas
Thom Yorke, The Eraser
Editors, The Back Room
Zoe Rahman, Melting Pot
Lou Rhodes, Beloved One
Scritti Politti, White Bread Black Beer
Sway, This Is My Demo
Guillemots, Through The Windowpane
Richard Hawley, Coles Corner
Hot Chip, The Warning
Muse, Black Holes & Revelations