This year’s annual Mercury Music Prize ceremony will be held on November 1st, organisers have confirmed.
Details released today show a number of changes from the usual Mercury Prize schedule, with the 12 shortlisted albums being revealed in September, a few months later than previous years. The eligibility period for albums has also been extended, with records released between July 12th 2011 and September 10th 2012 now being considered.
“By announcing the Barclaycard Mercury Prize ‘Albums of the Year’ after the summer, we will be able to generate more interest in the shortlisted artists than ever before, building momentum in the run up to the Awards Show and beyond,” Dan Ford of the Barclaycard Mercury Prize has explained.
“Importantly this year’s eligibility period for entries will be extended to include UK albums released between Tuesday 12 July 2011 and Monday 10 September 2012.”
In 2011, PJ Harvey became the first artist to win the Mercury Music Prize on two separate occasions, taking home the prestigious accolade thanks to her album ‘Let England Shake‘.