UK record labels association the BPI, which organises the Hyundai Mercury Prize, can today report a significant uplift in demand for Arlo Parks’ debut album Collapsed in Sunbeams following last week’s triumphant Hyundai Mercury Prize win – which was revealed last Thursday 9th September at the Eventim Apollo, Hammersmith, in front of a live audience who also enjoyed outstanding performances by many of the shortlisted artists.
As reported by the Official Charts Company, Collapsed in Sunbeams is on track to re-enter the Official Album Top 30 this week, and the album has seen a 981% increase in sales (physical and download) in the three days subsequent to the win, compared to the same three days the week before. Tracks being streamed from Arlo’s album have also seen a 167% rise over the period.
Other shortlisted artists have enjoyed a similar dramatic uplift in this period; Berwyn’s Demotape/Vega sees an increase of 2133%, SAULT’s Untitled (Rise) album an 1112% increase, Hannah Peel’s Fir Wave a 928% increase and the debut album by Celeste, Not Your Muse, sees an uplift of 433%. Sales for all 12 shortlisted albums has overall seen an increase of +250%.
Streaming across all tracks from each of the 12 albums is up by nearly 40%, with the most notable increases going to Arlo Parks, Berwyn, Hannah Peel and SAULT.
Geoff Taylor, Chief Executive BPI, which is also home to the Hyundai Mercury Prize, said:
“The Hyundai Mercury Prize provides an important platform to bring a diverse range of talented artists to a wider audience. We are again seeing this important ‘Mercury Prize effect’ this year, widespread coverage leading to a boost on the Official Charts and an increase in sales and streams for the shortlisted Albums of The Year. Arlo Parks’ “Collapsed in Sunbeams” was a worthy winner in a very strong field – she joins a select few that have been honoured with both BRITs and Mercury Prize awards, and we hope her success this week acts as another key moment in her exciting career trajectory.”
The Hyundai Mercury Prize once again took place at the Eventim Apollo, Hammersmith, hosted by BBC Radio 6 Music’s Lauren Laverne, and presented exceptional live performances from shortlisted artists including Celeste, Laura Mvula, Berwyn, Ghetts and Wolf Alice. The show was broadcast on BBC4 TV and BBC Radio 6 Music.
The Hyundai Mercury Prize ‘Albums of the Year’ celebrate and promote the best of UK music, recognising artistic achievement across an eclectic range of contemporary music genres.
Hyundai Motor, the Mercury Prize’s title partner since 2016, celebrated the winning artist through the Company’s iconic Piccadilly Circus screens and its latest zero-emission IONIQ 5 dazzled the crowds at the Eventim Apollo. Bowers & Wilkins, official audio partner of the Mercury Prize, continued its support for the Prize as part of its ongoing commitment to support UK recorded music, helping to celebrate the album format and the shortlisted artists’ creative achievements. The premium audio brand provided all the judges with Bowers & Wilkins PX7 headphones, its most advanced wireless headphones, ensuring the albums could be heard as the artists intended.
