Fans react to Mercury Prize 2024 shortlist: “What more could you want?”

25 July, 2024

Members of Ezra Collective on stage after winning The Mercury Prize during The Mercury Prize 2023 awards

The shortlist of artists competing for the 2024 Mercury Prize was announced earlier today (July 25), and fans have been quick to share their responses online.

The 12 albums up for the award were announced live by Tom Ravenscroft on BBC Radio 6 Music, and chosen by an independent judging panel, which this year includes Jamie Cullum and MistaJam. Albums released between July 15, 2023 and July 12, 2024 were eligible.

Among those listed were Portishead member Beth Gibbons, for her long-awaited debut solo album ‘Lives Outgrown’, The Last Dinner Party with ‘Prelude To Ecstasy’, and English Teacher with their landmark debut ‘This Could Be Texas’.

Charli XCX also made the cut with ‘BRAT’, which has become the soundtrack of the summer and a pop culture phenomenon, as was  Barry Can’t Swim (‘When Will We Land?’), BERWYN (‘Who Am I?’), Cat Burns (‘Early Twenties’), Corinne Bailey Rae (‘Black Rainbows’) and corto.alto (‘Bad With Names’).

The list is rounded out by Nia Archives’ album ‘Silence Is Loud’, Ghetts’ ‘On Purpose, With Purpose’, and CMAT’s ‘Crazymad, For Me’.

Following the announcement, many have been quick to take to social media to share their thoughts on the shortlist.

“Guessed Charli would be nominated, also Last Dinner Party. Beth Gibbons is a good shout, CMAT also, and I really like the English Teacher album. And a niche Jazz album, what more could you want?” wrote one user on X.

“Also 8/12 are female artists or female-fronted bands. NICE.”

Another shared their support for Corinne Bailey Rae, writing: “I don’t normally comment on the Mercury Prize because who cares what I think frankly. Very happy and surprised to see ‘Black Rainbows’ nominated though”, while a third backed Charli XCX by sharing: “‘Brat’ for the Mercury Prize”.

Elsewhere, someone shared their happiness at two Scottish artists making the shortlist. “Shout out to Edinburgh’s Barry Can’t Swim for also making the #mercuryprize list – when’s the last time we had two Scottish acts nominated?” they began.

“Been banging on about them to pals for years… so great to see corlto.alto nominated for the #mercuryprize ! Fantastic news, love that album”.

However, some were more reluctant to praise the final list so highly and instead honed in on those who were overlooked in 2024.

“It is absolutely criminal that the @Nubiyantwist album has been overlooked for the @MercuryPrize shortlist. Negligent, in fact,” wrote one fan, referring to the band sharing their ‘Find Your Flame’ album earlier this year.

Others highlighted how Bill Ryder-Jones was omitted following the release of ‘Iechyd Da’. “I can’t believe #lechyDa didn’t receive a #mercuryprize nomination. Still one of the closest albums to my heart”, one wrote.

Find more fan responses below.

The overall winner of the 2024 Mercury Prize will be revealed in September, with the award’s broadcast partner BBC Music providing television and radio coverage. However, the usual live performance element at the Eventim Apollo in Hammersmith will not take place. Further details on this will be announced closer to the event.

Last year’s winners were jazz band Ezra Collective. Speaking to NME ahead of their victory, Femi Koleoso said: “I feel like it’s just wonderful to be a part of something so big and so special. We’re just a small part of such a big picture. It’s been really exciting just to be hearing it played in so many different avenues and places, you know? To see people enjoying it and dancing to it – that’s all you can ask for really.”

Following the win, their album sales and streams also increased by nearly 900 per cent.

In 2022, Little Simz won the Mercury Prize for her album ‘Sometimes I Might Be Introvert’. The London rapper beat off competition from fellow favourites Self Esteem and Wet Leg at the time.

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