The Mercury Prize nominations have arrived and for the first time in its 29 year history, women are front and centre. Female artists and female-fronted acts are the leading the nominations, outnumbering the men.
There’s a total of seven female artists or female-fronted acts on the list — topping the previous record of five.
As well as that? Pop is back on top. It’s a far cry from last year’s nominations which were lead by punk/rock (The 1975, Idles, Foals).
Dua Lipa and Charli XCX are up for Album of the Year. Charli for her quarantine album how i’m feeling now and Dua Lipa for her ’80s throwback masterpiece Future Nostalgia. While Georgia is up for her Seeking Thrills.
If any of the three take home the £25K prize, it’ll be the first time a pop album has since 1994 when M People’s Elegant Slumming took it out.
Meanwhile, on the rap side of things Stomrzy and Kano are up for their Heavy Is The Head and Hoodies All Summer/em> respectively.
Catch all the nominees below and have a listen to Dua Lipa’s ‘Don’t Start Now’, because what a tune.
Mercury Prize 2020 Shortlist
Anna Meredith – Fibs
Charli XCX – How I’m Feeling Now
Dua Lipa – Future Nostalgia
Georgia – Seeking Thrills
Kano – Hoodies All Summer
Lanterns on the Lake – Spook the Herd
Laura Marling – Song for Our Daughter
Michael Kiwanuka – Kiwanuka
Moses Boyd – Dark Matter
Porridge Radio – Every Bad
Sports Team – Deep Down Happy
Stormzy – Heavy is the Head
