LONDON (CelebrityAccess MediaWire) — Female artists dominated the shortlist for this year's Barclaycard Mercury Prize.
Established in 1992 by the British Phonographic Industry and British Association of Record Dealers, the Mercury Prize serves as a more indie-focused alternative to the Brit awards.
Although shortlist noms are often criticized for being too leftfield or esoteric, the awards are held in high regard, particularly in Europe and making the shortlist can prove to be a significant sales boost, particularly for an emerging or lesser known artist.
"All of the shortlisted artists, particularly those who are not that well-known, can now expect a real jump in sales, sometimes by as much as three- or fourfold," Gennaro Castaldo, a spokesman for HMV told The Guardian.
Not everyone has fared so well after being shortlisted and former winners Roni Size has dropped off the radar and Talvin Singh was subsequently dropped by his label after winning the prize in
The winner for the 2009 Mercury Prize will be announced at a ceremony on September 8th
This year's short list
Bat For Lashes – Two Suns
Florence and the Machine – Lungs
Friendly Fires – Friendly Fires
Kasabian – West Ryder Pauper Lunatic Asylum
La Roux – La Roux
Led Bib – Sensible Shoes
Lisa Hannigan – Sea Sew
Speech Debelle – Speech Therapy
Sweet Billy Pilgrim – Twice Born Men
The Horrors – Primary Colours
The Invisible – The Invisible
-CelebrityAccess Staff Writers
