The Mercury Prize Line-up was revealed in London on 19th July 2011. The 12 album short-list is always a nail biting event, but you’d imagine this being its 20th year, that the music industry would be well prepared for what’s in store. Head of the 12 membered judging panel, Simon Frith, said the process was “always difficult”. He continued to state “This year there were a couple of obvious records, like PJ Harvey, but then there were masses of records that could have been on the list, so in that sense it was difficult,” he said. “The final list is an amazingly good balance… it has been a good year and again British music is in a very healthy place.”
Lauren Laverne (DJ) was the lucky lady chosen to broadcast the shortlist. She went on to explain the combined-genre music that occurs nowadays. “These days everybody likes two songs of every genre and that’s a post-internet way of consuming music,” she told Music Week. “You no longer have to get the 12-inch of every band. That makes everybody’s tastes loosen up and makes music less tribal”.
The front-runner of this year’s Barclaycard Mercury Prize will be broadcasted live on BBC Two and 6 Music on September 6th (Tuesday). Lauren Laverne will host the TV show, whilst music star Jools Holland will be presenting the awards event.
