The shortlist for the brand new New Pantheon Award has been announced. As previously reported, this is a new award established by Tom Sarig, one of the founders of the Shortlist Music Prize, which until last year was awarded annually on similar lines to the UK's Mercury Music Prize. Some reports suggest the New Pantheon Award replaces the Shortlist Music Prize, although Sarig's co-founder Greg Spotts is reportedly not involved, and he told Billboard last year that as far as he was concerned the Shortlist Prize would return.
Like the Shortlist Prize only albums that have sold less than 500,000 copies in the US are eligible for the new award, although unlike the Mercury Prize artists from all over the world are considered. The shortlist and ultimate winner is voted for by a panel of pundits and performers that this year includes Shirley Manson, Elton John and Beck. The shortlist is as follows:
Fiona Apple - Extraordinary Machine
Arcade Fire - Funeral
Animal Collective - Feels
Antony and The Johnsons - I Am A Bird Now
Bloc Party - Silent Alarm
Death Cab For Cutie - Plans
The Decemberists - Picaresque
Kings Of Leon - Aha Shake Heartbreak
MIA - Arular
Sufjan Stevens - Illinois
The overall winner of the prize will be announced on 6 Feb.