The shortlist for the Mercury Prize, the UK's most prestigious music award, has been announced, and it's a little surprising to see all-conquering man-of-the-moment Ed Sheeran on the list for his album ÷. The award seems to traditionally favour less commercial artists.The album has sold more than two million copies in the UK alone, while lead single Shape of You has been streamed more than a billion times on Spotify.
Sheeran lines up alongside 11 other nominees for the prize, with the winner due to be announced on September 14. Among Sheeran's competition for the prize is the politically charged grime artist Stormzy, Mancunian indie outfit Blossoms and contemporary soul singer Sampha, who is being hotly tipped in some circles for his album Process.
Previous winners to have received repeat nominations this year include arty pop-rockers Alt-J who won the prize in 2012 with their debut An Awesome Wave. They're given a second nod for this year's Relaxer. The xx are also in the running for a second time for their latest album I See You – band member Jamie xx was also nominated last year for his solo album In Colour, while the band previously won the award for 2010's self-titled debut. Either of these could potentially go on to join PJ Harvey as the only outfit to win the prize twice.
The Mercury Prize's judging panel, who will decide the ultimate winners, consists of 12 experts including musicians, broadcasters and critics and this year features famous names including Mumford and Sons' Marcus Mumford and singer songwriter Jamie Cullum.
The nominees in full:
Alt-J: Relaxer
The Big Moon: Love in the 4th Dimension
Blossoms: Blossoms
Loyle Carner: Yesterday's Gone
Dinosaur: Together, As One
Glass Animals: How to Be a Human Being
J Hus: Common Sense
Sampha: Process
Ed Sheeran: ÷
Stormzy: Gang Signs & Prayer
Kate Tempest: Let Them Eat Chaos
The xx: I See You
Company Profile
Company name: OneOrder
Started: October 2021
Founders: Tamer Amer and Karim Maurice
Based: Cairo, Egypt
Industry: technology, logistics
Investors: A15 and self-funded
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The Bio
Hometown: Bogota, Colombia
Favourite place to relax in UAE: the desert around Al Mleiha in Sharjah or the eastern mangroves in Abu Dhabi
The one book everyone should read: 100 Years of Solitude by Gabriel Garcia Marquez. It will make your mind fly
Favourite documentary: Chasing Coral by Jeff Orlowski. It's a good reality check about one of the most valued ecosystems for humanity
Results
Stage 7:
1. Caleb Ewan (AUS) Lotto Soudal - 3:18:29
2. Sam Bennett (IRL) Deceuninck-QuickStep - same time
3. Phil Bauhaus (GER) Bahrain Victorious
4. Michael Morkov (DEN) Deceuninck-QuickStep
5. Cees Bol (NED) Team DSM
General Classification:
1. Tadej Pogacar (SLO) UAE Team Emirates - 24:00:28
2. Adam Yates (GBR) Ineos Grenadiers - 0:00:35
3. Joao Almeida (POR) Deceuninck-QuickStep - 0:01:02
4. Chris Harper (AUS) Jumbo-Visma - 0:01:42
5. Neilson Powless (USA) EF Education-Nippo - 0:01:45
Results
Stage seven
1. Tadej Pogacar (SLO) UAE Team Emirates, in 3:20:24
2. Adam Yates (GBR) Ineos Grenadiers, at 1s
3. Pello Bilbao (ESP) Bahrain-Victorious, at 5s
General Classification
1. Tadej Pogacar (SLO) UAE Team Emirates, in 25:38:16
2. Adam Yates (GBR) Ineos Grenadiers, at 22s
3. Pello Bilbao (ESP) Bahrain-Victorious, at 48s
Formula Middle East Calendar (Formula Regional and Formula 4)
Round 1: January 17-19, Yas Marina Circuit – Abu Dhabi
Round 2: January 22-23, Yas Marina Circuit – Abu Dhabi
Round 3: February 7-9, Dubai Autodrome – Dubai
Round 4: February 14-16, Yas Marina Circuit – Abu Dhabi
Round 5: February 25-27, Jeddah Corniche Circuit – Saudi Arabia
