Annie Mac is confirmed to present the 2021 Hyundai Mercury Prize to the accolade’s winner for the Album of the Year.
The Mercury Prize took to their Instagram to announce the news whilst counting down until next week’s event.
The prize will be rewarded to the winner chosen from the shortlist of 12 nominees and the album which garnered their nomination and inclusion. Along with the winner announcement, the ceremony will also include short films by SAULT and Floating Points, Pharoah Sanders & the LSO which concern their albums. The event’s website provides the following description for the Mercury Prize. “The Hyundai Mercury Prize promotes the best of UK and Irish music and the artists who produce it. This is done through the celebration of the 12 ‘Albums of the Year’, recognising artistic achievement across a range of contemporary music genres. It is the music equivalent to the Booker Prize for literature and the Turner Prize for art. The main objectives of the Prize are to recognise and celebrate artistic achievement, provide a snapshot of the year in music and to help introduce new albums from a range of music genres to a wider audience.”
The celebrated DJ and industry figure will take the stage at London’s Eventim Apollo on 9th September 2021 to hand the prestigious award to the winner of this year’s prize. The former BBC Radio 1 DJ will be joined by fellow BBC broadcaster Lauren Laverne who will be responsible for hosting this year’s event. Mac has spoken on her involvement within this year’s ceremony and expresses the hard decision to choose a winner from the shortlist full of high calibre albums. “This year’s Hyundai Mercury Prize shortlist highlights how remarkably creative and diverse British music is at the moment. Choosing one overall winner from these 12 outstanding albums will be a tough challenge for the judging team. I’m looking forward to announcing our decision at the Awards Show.”
Mac will also be joining the judging panel; the award’s panel are comprised of top industry experts and professionals as well as last year’s winner Michael Kiwanuka who won the Mercury prize for his third studio album Kiwanuka. Joining the singer-songwriter on the judging panel includes famed musician Jamie Cullum and three-time Mercury prize nominee Anna Calvi. Heading the judging panel is the head of Music at stations 6 Music and Radio 2, Jeff Smith who is also the chair of the judging committee. Also included within the respected list of music professionals is Broadcaster and DJ Danielle Perry, presenter and writer Gemma Cairney, Music consultant Mike Walsh, Lanterns on the Lake band-member Hazel Wilde, editorial director for Vice.com Tshepo Mokoena, creative director for Kerrang! and contributing editor of Mojo Phil Alexander and Will Hodgkinson, known as the top rock and pop critic for The Times.
The judges for this year’s event have provided the following statement concerning their involvement in the process. “It is testament to the strength of British music that, during a year which saw musicians face the toughest challenges of their lives, so many remarkable albums came out nonetheless. There was an embarrassment of riches for this year’s Hyundai Mercury Prize judges to choose from, but the final twelve show how diverse, vibrant and far-reaching British music continues to be. Choosing one winner out of twelve albums that bring so much hope for the future will be a challenge indeed.”
The twelve shortlisted albums for the 2021 Mercury prize include Collapsed in Sunbeams by Alro Parks, DEMOTAPE/VEGA released by BERWYN, For the First Time by Black Country, New Road, Celeste’s album Not Your Muse, Promises by Floating Points, Pharaoh Sanders & The London Symphony Orchestra, Conflict of Interest by Ghetts, Fir Wave released by Hannah Peel, Pink Noise by Laura Mvula, As the Love Continues by Mogwai, SOURCE by Nubya Garcia, Untitled (Rise) released by SAULT and Blue Weekend by Wolf Alice.
Radio coverage will be available via the event’s partner, fans will be able to listen to the ceremony on BBC four and BBC radio 6 music. The featured segments will include live performances from the nominees and will countdown live to the event’s winner. From 9 pm until 10:15 pm BBC Four will feature Hyundai Mercury Prize 2021 Live: Album of the Year and Tom Ravenscroft will host the coverage entitled The Mercury Prize on BBC Radio 6 Music via BBC Radio 6 Music from 8 pm until 12 am. Two days before the event BBC Radio 6 Music will also provide a nostalgic look back at past winners entitled The Mercury Prize: Winners’ Playlist from 4 am until 5 am. BBC Sounds will also include the station’s programme as well as information regarding this year’s shortlist.
