Earlier today, at a small ceremony in London, Jools Holland announced the 12 nominees for this year’s Mercury Music Prize. Established to champion UK music by promoting 12 albums of the year by British or Irish artists, the Mercury Prize is not only an honor that will lead to a flurry of press and increased album sales for both nominees and the eventual winner, but it awards 20,000 pounds in cold hard cash to the victor. An awards show will be held on Tuesday, September 6, in London and will feature live performances from some of the nominees. And now, the part you’ve all been waiting for:

Bloc Party Silent Alarm
Hard-Fi Stars Of CCTV
Kaiser Chiefs Employment
M.I.A. Arular
The Magic Numbers The Magic Numbers
Coldplay X&Y
The Go! Team Thunder, Lightning Strike
Antony And The Johnsons I Am A Bird Now
KT Tunstall Eye To The Telescope
Maximo Park A Certain Trigger
Seth Lakeman Kitty Jay
Polar Bear Held On The Tips Of Fingers

1. Antony And The Johnsons Win Mercury Prize
2. Doves, Bowie, Roots Manuva Amongst Mercury Music Prize Nominees
3. Radiohead, Coldplay, The Darkness Head Mercury Music Prize List
4. Maximo Park To Tour North America
5. Video – Bloc Party “Mercury”