Mercury Music Prize 2012 nominations: How it will impact sales

13/09/2012

By Dan Lane

 

The 12 finalists for the Mercury Music Prize 2012 were announced in London last night (Wednesday, September 13). The shortlist, chosen from over 250 submissions, was revealed by BBC 6 Music DJ Lauren Laverne at The Hospital Club in Covent Garden.

 

This year’s nominations include Plan B's Ill Manors, the soundtrack to the London-born rapper and actor’s crime drama film of the same name, South London indie rockers The Maccabees’ third album, Given To The Wild, BBC Sound Of 2012 award winner Michael Kiwanuka’s Home Again, and London singer / songwriter Ben Howard’s Every Kingdom.

 

The annual awards ceremony, which seeks to celebrate recorded music by British and Irish artists, is noted for shining the spotlight on some lesser known acts, too. The music on the album is the only thing taken into account, offering a level playing field to artists of all genres and styles.

 

Some of this year’s (currently) lesser known nominees include Leeds-based jazz act Roller Trio’s debut self-titled album, folk singer Sam Lee’s Ground Of Its Own, and SBTRKT collaborator Jessie Ware’s Devotion.

 

While the Mercury Music Prize isn’t necessarily about big selling albums, a by-product of being nominated is often a dramatic uplift in sales. During the nominations period last year, nominated releases enjoyed sales increases from between 5 to 75%, with smaller titles such as Ghostpoet’s Peanut Butter Blues And Melancholy Jam and King Creosote And John Hopkins’ Diamond Mine benefitting the most.

 

The current sales of 2012’s nominees (as of midnight on Saturday, September 8) based on Official Charts Company sales data, is as follows. OfficialCharts.com will be tracking the progress of each artist up until the winner is revealed on November 1. Be sure to check back to see how the Mercury Music Prize 2012 has impacted their sales, and follow us on Facebook and Twitter for updates.

 

ARTIST ALBUM CURRENT SALES PEAK CHART POSITION

ALT-J AN AWESOME WAVE 40,600 19

BEN HOWARD EVERY KINGDOM 263,100 6

DJANGO DJANGO DJANGO DJANGO 29,100 33

FIELD MUSIC PLUMB 8,300 49

JESSIE WARE DEVOTION 15,200 5

LIANNE LA HAVAS IS YOUR LOVE BIG ENOUGH? 28,900 4

THE MACCABEES GIVEN TO THE WILD 92,000 4

MICHAEL KIWANUKA HOME AGAIN 93,800 4

PLAN B ILL MANORS 97,000 1

RICHARD HAWLEY STANDING AT THE SKY'S EDGE 37,300 3

ROLLER TRIO ROLLER TRIO LESS THAN 10K N/A

SAM LEE GROUND OF ITS OWN LESS THAN 10K N/A

Hopefully when ∆ (aka Alt-J but I prefer the triangle :kink:) predictably win it'll propel them to a new peak and maybe help them cross at least 100k. I can see them being one of those indie bands whose first album peaks lowish but hangs around for ages and sells loads then the second album goes straight in at #1.

I can see them being one of those indie bands whose first album peaks lowish but hangs around for ages and sells loads then the second album goes straight in at #1.

 

Although most of the time, the second album doesn't have as much longevity in the chart, despite more often than not, higher sales. But yeah, I could definitely see their second album debuting much, much higher, especially if they win the award.

Sales boost of the winner should be varied, more known albums/acts can have a good impact on the chart or have greater boosts (like Elbow's, PJ Harvey's and The xx's for example). Can't say I had paid attention to the sales of nominees in general though.

Edited September 13, 201212 yr by FM11

ARTIST ALBUM CURRENT SALES PEAK CHART POSITION

ALT-J AN AWESOME WAVE 40,600 19

BEN HOWARD EVERY KINGDOM 263,100 6

DJANGO DJANGO DJANGO DJANGO 29,100 33

FIELD MUSIC PLUMB 8,300 49

JESSIE WARE DEVOTION 15,200 5

LIANNE LA HAVAS IS YOUR LOVE BIG ENOUGH? 28,900 4

THE MACCABEES GIVEN TO THE WILD 92,000 4

MICHAEL KIWANUKA HOME AGAIN 93,800 4

PLAN B ILL MANORS 97,000 1

RICHARD HAWLEY STANDING AT THE SKY'S EDGE 37,300 3

ROLLER TRIO ROLLER TRIO LESS THAN 10K N/A

SAM LEE GROUND OF ITS OWN LESS THAN 10K N/A

 

Here are my own sales estimates, for comparison

 

ARTIST ALBUM CURRENT SALES PEAK CHART POSITION

ALT-J AN AWESOME WAVE 40,600 19 : 41.1k

BEN HOWARD EVERY KINGDOM 263,100 6 : 263.9k

DJANGO DJANGO DJANGO DJANGO 29,100 33 : 28.5k

FIELD MUSIC PLUMB 8,300 49 : n/a - out of tracking range

JESSIE WARE DEVOTION 15,200 5 : 15.2k

LIANNE LA HAVAS IS YOUR LOVE BIG ENOUGH? 28,900 4 : 28.9k

THE MACCABEES GIVEN TO THE WILD 92,000 4 : 92.2k

MICHAEL KIWANUKA HOME AGAIN 93,800 4 : 94.4k

PLAN B ILL MANORS 97,000 1 : 97.0k

RICHARD HAWLEY STANDING AT THE SKY'S EDGE 37,300 3 : 36.6k

ROLLER TRIO ROLLER TRIO LESS THAN 10K N/A : n/a - uncharted

SAM LEE GROUND OF ITS OWN LESS THAN 10K N/A : n/a - uncharted

 

Needless to say I am quite pleased with how close most are, though I still seem to overestimate sales in the lower ranges somewhat.

 

Cant believe django django have sold more than jessie ware!

Edited September 14, 201212 yr by steve201

It's been out for much longer...

Edited September 14, 201212 yr by SKOB

But theyre only being played on 6 music and jessie last single was alisted on radio 1, thought that would have made a difference!

Edited September 14, 201212 yr by steve201

Hopefully when ∆ (aka Alt-J but I prefer the triangle :kink:) predictably win it'll propel them to a new peak and maybe help them cross at least 100k. I can see them being one of those indie bands whose first album peaks lowish but hangs around for ages and sells loads then the second album goes straight in at #1.

 

 

That is a trend that has been around a long time. It works for some singer songwriters too.

We should hopefully see Michael Kiwanuka pass 100k following his nomination now then. Latest single, 'Bones' is playlisted on Radio 1, but it seems to have done very little for both the track and his album.

 

In regards to who I think should win, I only own Plan B's 'ill Manors' and while it's very good for what it is (a rap, soundtrack album), I feel rewarding a lesser-known band would produce the biggest benefits. Let Django Django or Jessie Ware win please.

I have a feeling that Ben Howard or Alt-J will win this. The winner of this prize is normally someone I don't like/haven't heard of so these two could easily continue the trend after The xx and PJ Harvey winning. I'll be surprised (in a good way) if Plan B wins.

I have a feeling that Ben Howard or Alt-J will win this. The winner of this prize is normally someone I don't like/haven't heard of so these two could easily continue the trend after The xx and PJ Harvey winning. I'll be surprised (in a good way) if Plan B wins.

 

I'd be horrified! :puke:

 

Jessie Ware, if anyone!