Kano, Stormzy, Charli XCX, nominated for 2020 Mercury Music Prize

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The shortlist of albums for this year’s prestigious Mercury Music Prize album has been revealed.

The winner of the Mercury prize, now in its 28th year, will be picked by a panel of judges from the 12-strong shortlist announced today via Lauren Laverne’s BBC Radio Six show. 

Among the albums nominated are London MC Kano’s comeback album, ‘Hoodies All Summer’, and Stormzy’s acclaimed ‘Heavy Is The Head’. Charli XCX’s lockdown album ‘How I’m Feeling Now’ has also been nominated for the award, alongside English artist Dua Lipa, and two-time MOBO award winner Moses Boyd. 

Albums by British and Irish artists, with a UK release date between in the last 12 months are eligible to win the Mercury prize, which will be awarded on the 19th September. Reactions to the nominees have highlighted the lack of Black women in the list, with numerous commenters on social media pointing out the omission of FKA Twigs 2019 album ‘Magdalene’ and Loraine James’ ‘For You & I’.

Previous years have seen Arctic Monkeys, Dizzee Rascal, Skepta and The xx scoop the award.

See the full list of nominees here.

South London rapper Dave won the 2019 Mercury Prize for his debut album, ‘Psychodrama’.