The Streets are among 18 British-signed bands nominated

Seventy-three acts make the longlist for the award, to be presented at a concert in Los Angeles in November.

Among the 18 UK-signed artists listed are last year's Mercury winner Dizzee Rascal, The Streets and David Bowie.

The Shortlist Prize recognises artists who have sold fewer than 500,000 copies of their album at time of nomination.

In contention

Drawn up by a panel of 20 journalists, artists and musicians, the longlist reflects a range of music from rock to electronica and rap.

Artists from 11 countries made the cut, among them France's electronica acts Phoenix and Air, Argentinean singer Juana Molina, Teitur from Norway and Ireland's Simple Kid.

Other UK acts in contention for the $10,000 (�5,556) prize are current Mercury nominees Franz Ferdinand, Belle & Sebastian, Keane, Ty and Snow Patrol.

Mercury nominees Keane made it on to the US prize's longlist

Established British artists PJ Harvey, Elbow, Travis and Muse are also in the running, alongside newcomers Oceansize.

UK jazz sensation Jamie Cullum, who missed out on a Mercury nomination, makes it on to the US longlist.

Panellist Norah Jones recommended singer-songwriter Devendra Banhart and Loretta Lynn, whose new album was produced by Jack White of the White Stripes.

Massive Attack member 3D tipped Las Vegas band The Killers in his nominations.

The nominees will be whittled down to a shortlist of 10 finalists in September, with the winner to be named on 10 November.

British-signed Shortlist Music Prize nominees:

• Belle & Sebastian - Dear Catastrophe Waitress
• David Bowie - Reality
• Dizzee Rascal - Boy In Da Corner
• Elbow - Cast of Thousands
• Franz Ferdinand - Franz Ferdinand
• Holly Golightly - Truly She Is None Other
• Jamie Cullum - Twentysomething
• Joe Strummer and the Mescaleros - Streetcore
• Keane - Hopes and Fears
• Muse - Absolution
• Oceansize - Effloresce
• PJ Harvey - Uh Huh Her
• Simple Kid - 1
• Snow Patrol - Final Straw
• The Coral - Nightfreak And The Sons Of Becker
• The Streets - A Grand Don't Come For Free
• Travis - 12 Memories
• Ty - Upwards