Mercury Prize organisers scrap live performances for 2024 ceremony

TV and radio programming details for the 2024 Mercury Prize ceremony have been revealed, with organisers scrapping the traditional live performance format.

This year’s event will see the 12 shortlisted artists gather at Abbey Road Studios on September 5, where they’ll watch a series of each other’s recent performances recorded for programmes across the BBC’s network.

The event will be televised from 8pm on BBC Four, with BBC Radio 6 broadcasting proceedings from 7pm until 11pm.

Amongst the nominees is CMAT, for her 2023 sophomore LP Crazymad, For Me. The Dubliner is only act from Ireland to be nominated this time around, with Fontaines D.C and Lankum also getting the nod in recent years. Despite regular appearances of artists from these shores on the Mercury Prize shortlist, there’s yet to be an Irish winner since its inception in 1992.

Also in the running is Charli XCX with BRAT, which was released to critical acclaim in June, and spurred the viral ‘Brat Summer’ meme. See the full shortlist of nominees below.

Previous winners include PJ Harvey, Primal Scream, Franz Ferdinand, Dizzie Rascal and most recently, jazz quintet Ezra Collective.

2024 Mercury Award Prize shortlist:

Barry Can’t Swim – When Will We Land?

BERWYN – Who Am I

Beth Gibbons – Lives Outgrown

Cat Burns – early twenties

Charli XCX – BRAT

CMAT – Crazymad, for Me

Corinne Bailey Rae – Black Rainbows

corto.alto – Bad with Names

English Teacher – This Could Be Texas

Ghetts – On Purpose, With Purpose

Nia Archives – Silence Is Loud

The Last Dinner Party – Prelude to Ecstasy