Artist News Awards

Michael Kiwanuka wins Mercury Prize

By | Published on Friday 25 September 2020

Michael Kiwanuka

Michael Kiwanuka has won this year’s Mercury Prize for his latest album ‘Kiwanuka’. So that’s good, isn’t it? Good job it didn’t go to that one awful act on the shortlist or I would have been very cross.

“I don’t even know what to say – I’m speechless”, said Kiwanuka after being announced as the winner. “This is amazing… I don’t even have any words. This is ridiculous, it’s crazy! I’m so happy. Third time’s a charm. It’s blown my mind. I’m over the moon, I’m so excited – this is for art, for music, for albums. This is the only thing I’ve ever wanted to do, so to win a Mercury is a dream come true. I’m so happy. Music and art means so much to me, and this is an award that celebrates that, so I’m over the moon”.

As he noted among all those adjectives, this is the third time that Kiwanuka has been nominated for the prize and the first time that he has won it. By breaking that run, it also meant that Laura Marling has now been nominated for the prize four times without winning.

She’s not yet the artist who’s scored the most nominations without winning though – that accolade is still held by Radiohead, with five nods and no trophy. Nearly there though!

Kiwanuka will appear on a special edition of ‘Later… With Jools Holland’ on BBC Two tonight.

Meanwhile, here’s the full shortlist in case you forgot it or would like to remind yourself who this year’s Mercury Prize losers were:

Anna Meredith – Fibs

Charli XCX – How I’m Feeling Now

Dua Lipa – Future Nostalgia

Georgia – Seeking Thrills

Kano – Hoodies All Summer

Lanterns On The Lake – Spook The Herd

Laura Marling – Song For Our Daughter

Michael Kiwanuka – Kiwanuka

Moses Boyd – Dark Matter

Porridge Radio – Every Bad

Sports Team – Deep Down Happy

Stormzy – Heavy Is The Head

In other awards news, Dua Lipa has won this year’s Popjustice Twenty Quid Music Prize for her song, ‘Physical’. Laura Marling was not placed.



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