The UK recorded music industry's association the BPI and independent labels body the Association of Independent Music (AIM) today praised the role the Nationwide Mercury Prize plays in showcasing new British music.
Since 1992, the Mercury Prize has recognized and acknowledged a hugely diverse range of UK musical talent – and while commercial success has never been the benchmark for a Mercury shortlisting, the prize’s recognition has helped albums such as Portishead’s Dummy and Primal Scream’s Screamadelica become modern classics that sell in significant numbers.
BPI chairman Tony Wadsworth said:
“The artists the UK has produced in the past have contributed hugely to Britain’s cultural heritage, but this shortlist is a great snapshot of our current vibrant music scene and the rich choice available to music fans. Once again, the Nationwide Mercury Prize highlights the richness and variety of new UK music from labels big and small, and at a time when its influence is once again being felt overseas.
“The Mercury prize carries considerable cachet. Making a record is a labour of love that takes hard work and serious investment, and having that work recognised and appreciated is important to the artists and people that made it happen. And in a fractured media age, when standing out from the crowd is difficult, a shortlisting can help a great record attract enough attention to become a modern classic, rather than a buried treasure.”
Klaxons’ debut Myths Of The Near Future sold 274,000 copies last year, but the collective sales of the previous 15 winners totalled 236,000 in 2007 and have averaged almost 2,400 over the past 10 weeks in the UK. The winning titles from the 1990s sold a combined total of almost 84,000 copies in 2007, with most continuing to sell consistently.
The media coverage and retail support for the prize can drive sales to levels which can boost the careers of the artists and support the labels who invest in them. In 2006 for instance, Lou Rhodes’ Beloved One, and Zoe Rahman’s Melting Pot (both released on small independents Infinite Bloom and Melting Pot) saw sales increase dramatically from a handful of units per week: over the 10 weeks following nomination the titles went on to sell almost 5,000 copies between them - a hugely significant amount for such small companies.
AIM CEO and Chairman Alison Wenham said:
“When the Mercury Prize was first launched in the early nineties, it had a simple goal – to showcase the best of new British music in all genres, with one overall winner. The eclecticism, diversity and quality of the many artists who have been nominated, and the winners, show Britain’s musical creativity to be in great shape. The Nationwide Mercury Music Prize is of particular importance to the Independents as it is inclusive of all genres, and the criteria of nomination is simply one of quality rather than commercial success, and for that, the prize is much coveted.”
The 2008 Albums of the Year are:
Elbow, The Seldom Seen Kid (Fiction/ Polydor)
Radiohead, In Rainbows (XL Recordings)
British Sea Power, Do You Like Rock Music (Rough Trade/ Beggars Group)
Robert Plant and Alison Krauss, Raising Sand (Decca/ Rounder)
Burial, Untrue (Hyperdub)
Estelle - Shine (Atlantic)
Adele – 19 (XL Recordings)
Laura Marling – Alas I Cannot Swim (Virgin/ EMI)
Rachel Unthank & The Winterset - The Bairns (EMI)
Neon Neon – Stainless Style (Lex)
Portico Quartet – Knee Deep In The North Sea - (Vortex)
The Last Shadow Puppets – The Age Of The Understatement (Domino)
< ENDS >
Editors Notes
For further info contact the BPI communications department on 020 7803 1395 or Sam Shemtob at AIM on 020 8357 7305.
The BPI represents the UK recorded music industry. Its membership comprises of hundreds of music companies including all four 'major' record companies, associate members such as manufacturers and distributors, and hundreds of independent music companies representing literally thousands of labels.
AIM is the non-profit trade body established in 1998 by UK independent record labels to represent the independent record sector, over 1/5 of the UK market with 2005 sales worth nearly £1/2 billion from mainstream UK retail alone. AIM has over 800 members, from the smallest start-ups to the largest and most respected independents in the world.
www.musicindie.com
The Nationwide Mercury Prize is open to albums from all music genres. The Prize focuses on the music on the album – it does not take into account album sales, media exposure or live performances. Each year the shortlist celebrates a range of styles and genres of music from the UK and Ireland.
Nationwide’s sponsorship of the Prize highlights their support of UK culture and has resulted in exciting new initiatives such as the Nationwide Mercury Prize student art competition and exhibition.
Nationwide Mercury Prize: 020 8964 9964
www.nationwidemercurys.com