The Bray lad has enjoyed the second-biggest boost in sales of all the nominees, with HMV reporting a more than twofold increase in purchases of his album The End Of History. Regan is behind only prizewinners Klaxons, who have seen sales of their debut Myths Of The Near Future increase nearly fivefold.

Other Mercury-nominated artists seeing a big jump in sales are Bat For Lashes and Maps.

A breakdown of 'The Mercury Effect' in full:

1. Klaxons - Myths of the Near Future (486%)
2. Fionn Regan - The End Of History (212%)
3. Bat For Lashes - Fur and Gold (185%)
4. Maps - We Can Create (150%)
5. Basquiat Strings - Basquiat Strings with Seb Rochford (96%)
6. The Young Knives - Voices of Animals And Men (85%)
7. Amy Winehouse - Back To Black (53%)
8. Dizzee Rascal - Maths + English (31%)
9. Jamie T - Panic Prevention (16%)
10. New Young Pony Club - Fantastic Playroom (12%)
11. The View - Hats Off To The Buskers (11%)
12. Arctic Monkeys - Favourite Worst Nightmare (6%)