Underrepresentation of Non-London Artists on Mercury Prize Shortlist Sparks Concern
The recent Mercury Prize, a prestigious music award in the UK, has faced scrutiny for its regional representation. Over its 34-year history, data reveals a significant bias toward London-based artists. Since the award’s inception, 130 more nominees have hailed from the capital than from the next most-represented region.
Concerns Over Underrepresentation of Non-London Artists
This year’s ceremony, set to take place in Newcastle, marks the first instance of the event being hosted outside of London. Nonetheless, a study conducted by the Guardian highlights stark disparities in artist representation from different regions. The 2025 nominee list is reportedly the most diverse yet, featuring acts from six English regions along with artists from Scotland, Wales, and Ireland. However, the prior year saw only six regions represented, and only four in 2023, when London artists dominated by securing nine out of twelve nominations.
Historical Trends
- Since 2010, only three winners of the Mercury Prize have come from outside London.
- Every winner from 2014 to 2023 was based in the capital.
- Seventeen awards have been won by artists from London, outpacing all other winners combined.
In 2020, the shortlist featured twelve acts, with only one, Lanterns on the Lake, from outside southern England. Vocalist Hazel Wilde expressed surprise at being the only act from outside London, highlighting the need for the awards to evolve. She noted that the Mercury Prize has traditionally served as a counterpoint to major-label awards like the Brit Awards, but it risks losing its distinctiveness.
Diversity in Representation
Artists from outside England have also struggled to gain recognition. Notable winners include Primal Scream, Franz Ferdinand, and Young Fathers, but no awards have gone to Welsh or Irish acts. Gwenno, a Welsh artist nominated in 2022, spoke about the UK’s centralised political structure stifling diversity in music. She argued for awarding separate regional prizes to highlight talent from outside England, which could aid both representation and the identity of England itself.
Support for Change
Dr. Jo Twist, chief executive of the BPI, emphasized the intent behind the awards to celebrate diverse talents from various backgrounds. The decision to host the ceremony in Newcastle symbolizes a recognition of emerging talent across the UK and Ireland. Ian Murray, minister for creative industries, voiced strong support for the move, emphasizing the necessity of acknowledging the significant creative output from regions outside London.
The government has pledged to address the imbalance in the creative industries by promoting events like the Mercury Prize and investing significantly in creative businesses throughout the UK.
