Since its beginnings in 1992 when Primal Scream took home the honour for their album Screamadelica, the Mercury Prize has seen such winners as Franz Ferdinand, Arctic Monkeys and more recently Elbow.
With this year’s shortlist announced last month, we are fast approaching this year’s Barclaycard Mercury Prize Awards Show.
Rock trio Biffy Clyro, folk sensation Laura Marling and newcomers The xx are among the line up, along with pop favourite Dizzee Rascal (his third nomination to date), legendary musician Paul Weller and Corinne Bailey Rae. 2010’s shortlist showcases a hugely diverse and impressive array of UK music.
But what makes a winning album and what do music industry insiders think about this year’s shortlist? In this live ‘Have Your Say’ discussion, Jo Whiley, one of the UK’s foremost authorities on new music and emerging talent will be joined by a range of leading music experts from across the industry.
Chris Salmon, one of the country’s toughest music critics, will sit alongside former shortlisted artist (with his band The Invisible) and current Mercury judge David Okumu, who can discuss how the artists will be feeling to find themselves on this year’s shortlist. Mark Findlay, Head of Music at Capital FM will also be on hand to explain what it is about these albums that have made them so popular with the fans to date.
As well as getting the inside track on this year’s shortlisted acts, you will have the chance to send your questions in directly to the panel and offer your own insights on whose album deserves the Prize.
To get your questions into Jo and the panel or to champion your favourite act on this year’s shortlist, just send them in through the form below.
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