What is Mercury Prize?
{{Infobox award | name = Mercury Prize | current_awards = | image = | imagesize = | caption = The Mercury Prize logo | awarded_for = Best album from the United Kingdom and Ireland | | location = [[United Kingdom]] | year = {{start date and age|1992}} (as Mercury Music Prize) | year2 = | website = {{url|mercuryprize.com}} }} The '''Mercury Prize''', called the '''Barclaycard Mercury Prize''' for [[Sponsor (commercial)|sponsorship]] reasons, is a yearly music prize. It is awarded for the best album from the [[United Kingdom]] and [[Republic of Ireland|Ireland]]. It was formed by the [[British Phonographic Industry]] and British Association of Record Dealers in 1992. It was an alternative to the [[Brit Awards]]. It used to be called the '''Mercury Music Prize'''. The prize was first sponsored by [[Mercury Communications]].<ref name=spon>{{cite news | url = http://www.guardian.co.uk/media/2003/sep/09/marketingandpr.mercuryprize2003 |work=The Guardian|title = 'By the time the list is agreed you wonder whether you like music at all'| first=Trevor|last=Dann|accessdate=10 June 2009|date=9 September 2003 }}</ref> It was later sponsored by [[Technics (brand)|Technics]],<ref>{{cite news | url = http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/entertainment/404980.stm|title =Manics lead Mercury shortlist |publisher = BBC News|accessdate=10 June 2009|date=27 July 1999}}</ref> from 1998 to 2001. Then [[Panasonic Corporation|Panasonic]],<ref name=spon/> in 2002 and 2003, and the [[Nationwide Building Society]], from 2004 to 2008. [[Barclaycard]] became the Prize's current sponsor in March 2009. Nominations are announced in July. Presentation of the award usually takes place in September. ==Winners and shortlisted nominees== [[File:Primal Scream at Summercase 2008.jpg|right|thumb|alt=Two people (one vocalist and one guitarist) performing on stage|Inaugural winners [[Primal Scream]]]] [[File:Suede in Thailand new.jpg|thumb|right|alt=Five men sitting at a table at a press confe