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Olivia Dean’s pursuit of recognition across the music industry’s most prestigious awards continues unabated, with her latest achievement being a nomination for this year’s Mercury Prize. The prize, which awards £25,000 to celebrate exceptional albums, has Dean positioned as one of the frontrunners following her second release, *The Art of Loving*. This album previously earned her top honors as album of the year at both the Brits and Mobo Awards.
Among the nominees is the legendary Sir Paul McCartney, who, at 84 years old, earns his first-ever Mercury nomination for *The Boys of Dungeon Lane*, an album steeped in nostalgia. Alongside McCartney, established acts such as Suede, Jade, Raye, and Nia Archives have also secured spots on the shortlist. However, the list notably excludes Lily Allen, despite her critically acclaimed and commercially successful album *West End Girl*. Allen’s deeply personal record about her breakup with actor David Harbour drew high praise, with reviews describing it as “breathtaking and heartbreaking” and “a brutal, tell-all masterpiece.”
The Mercury Prize process requires artists to submit themselves for consideration, leaving some ambiguity as to whether Allen’s absence represents a snub or a decision not to enter. She had previously been nominated for her 2018 album *No Shame*. Other significant albums missing from the shortlist include Harry Styles’ *Kiss All The Time*, Disco Occasionally, and Gorillaz’ poignant exploration of grief, *The Mountain*.
Returning to the shortlist, Dean is no stranger to the Mercury stage, having been nominated before for her 2023 debut *Messy*. This year, her soulful and melodically rich *The Art of Loving* continues to earn acclaim. The field includes two former winners, Suede and Dave, with Florence + The Machine collecting her fourth Mercury nomination for *Everybody Scream*. While the list is dominated largely by familiar names, the enigmatic Irish newcomer Dove Ellis emerges as a strong contender with his debut album *Blizzard*, noted for its ethereal beauty. The final selections were made by a panel of twelve jurors, featuring broadcaster Afrodeutsche, musician Jamie Cullum, and music critic Will Hodgkinson, with the ultimate winner to be announced at the prize ceremony taking place at Newcastle’s Utilita Arena on 22 October
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