2015 Mercury Prize Albums of the Year revealed

The 2015 Mercury Prize ‘Albums of the Year’ in association with BBC Music were announced today by Lauren Laverne during her show on BBC Radio 6 Music.

Published: 16 October 2015
This year’s Mercury Prize shortlist is an incredibly exciting mix of albums, from established musicians such as Florence and The Machine to artists at the start of their career, such as SOAK. Everyone at BBC Music is looking forward to featuring this music across our stations and platforms and a very special day and night of music on 20 November.
— Jeff Smith, Head of Music, Radio 2 and 6 Music

The 2015 Albums of the Year are:

  • Aphex Twin Syro
  • Benjamin Clementine At Least For Now
  • C Duncan Architect
  • Eska Eska
  • Florence + the Machine How Big, How Blue, How Beautiful
  • Gaz Coombes Matador
  • Ghostpoet Shedding Skin
  • Jamie xx In Colour
  • Roisin Murphy Hairless Toys
  • Slaves Are You Satisfied?
  • SOAK Before We Forgot How To Dream
  • Wolf Alice My Love Is Cool

The winner will be announced on BBC Four and BBC Radio 6 Music on Friday 20 November.

“This year’s Mercury Prize shortlist includes seven debut albums and it celebrates artists from every stage of their careers,” says Simon Frith, Chair of Judges. “These musicians come from a fascinating variety of musical places, cultures and histories. What they have in common is the ambition and the craft, the ideas and the imagination to make great music!”

Jeff Smith, Head of Music, Radio 2 and 6 Music comments: “This year’s Mercury Prize shortlist is an incredibly exciting mix of albums, from established musicians such as Florence and The Machine to artists at the start of their career, such as SOAK. Everyone at BBC Music is looking forward to featuring this music across our stations and platforms and a very special day and night of music on 20 November.”

Lauren Laverne says: “It’s always a really exciting moment when the Mercury’s shortlist is finally revealed. It’s the perfect snapshot of where music is right now and where it might be heading in the future. All this year’s nominees deserve their place so it will be thrilling to find out just who wins the Mercury Prize 2015 on 20 November. And I’m proud to say that all of them have been supported by BBC Radio 6 Music.”

The Mercury Prize celebrates a year in UK music and the shortlist was chosen from an entry of over 290 albums.

Earlier this year, BBC Music announced an exciting new partnership with the Mercury Prize for 2015 which sees the iconic prize return to the BBC.

Plans for this year’s Awards Show have also been confirmed. Prior to the awards, an eclectic series of broadcasts are scheduled across the BBC’s radio and digital platforms, which will include the 2015 Mercury Prize ‘Albums of the Year’ being showcased through a series of studios sessions featuring this year’s shortlisted artists.

The Awards Show is to be held in the Radio Theatre in BBC Broadcasting House in London on Friday 20 November and will be hosted by Lauren Laverne. BBC Four will be broadcasting a live Mercury Prize show, fronted by Lauren and including the announcement of the winner. BBC Radio 6 Music will have extensive live programming on the night – presented by Tom Ravenscroft - which will include contributions from each of the shortlisted artists and an interview with the winner after the live announcement. There will be analysis from a panel of experts and Tom will also be asking the 6 Music listeners for their views and reaction to the events on this important night in the British music calendar.

The Mercury Prize is another commitment from BBC Music to broadcasting more music on television. Recent programmes include 6 Music Live from Maida Vale featuring Bloc Party, Leftfield, The Staves, Mercury Rev and New Order which were streamed live and are still available to view on Red Button and via BBC iPlayer; Later with Jools Holland on BBC Two; and the third and final part of Music for Misfits – The Story of Indie Music is broadcast tonight on BBC Four. Friday 23 October sees the broadcast of one-off specials Psychedelic Britannia and Totally 60s Psychedelic Rock at the BBC on BBC Four, and a new concert from Elton John and his band at Cornwall’s Eden Project - ‘Elton Live at Eden’ - which will be available exclusively on BBC iPlayer from the same date. Two forthcoming programmes include a new documentary on 10cc for BBC Four and new film for BBC Two featuring David Gilmour on his life and music.

BBC Music is the corporation’s strongest commitment to music in 30 years – comprising an ambitious wave of new partnerships and ground-breaking music initiatives led by Director Bob Shennan. Initiatives since the launch last year include the recreation of God Only Knows featuring 27 artists including Brian Wilson, Florence Welch, Chris Martin, One Direction and Sam Smith; regular music performances on BBC One’s The One Show, the inaugural BBC Music Awards, the classical music initiative for schools called ‘Ten Pieces’, and the first ever BBC Music Day. A raft of exciting BBC Music commissions exclusively for BBC iPlayer include Festival Pass with Rudimental, and Duran Duran, All Shook Up hosted by 6 Music presenter Marc Riley; Music Box with Guy Garvey and Amy Winehouse in her Own Words.

For photography accreditation for the Mercury Prize awards on Friday 20 November, please contact sarah.ward@bbc.co.uk.

For further information: bbc.co.uk/mercuryprize

SH/KA 

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