LOS ANGELES (The Shortlist Organization/ www.shortlistofmusic.com) - The Shortlist Organization has revealed this year's "Long List" of 73 initial nominations for the 2004 Shortlist
Music Prize, as selected by a panel of 20 "Listmakers" including top recording artists and music journalists.
Nomination to the Long List is the first step towards the 2004 Shortlist Music Prize, presented by XM Satellite Radio and MTV2. The 10 Finalists for the coveted award will be announced in late September, and the Prize will be awarded during a multi-artist concert at the Wiltern in Los Angeles on November 10th.
This year's Long List reflects several trends in popular music. More than half of the 2004 Long List nominees come from independent record labels.
Also emergent is a renewed "British Invasion" that ranges from rock to rap. Artists from the UK accounted for an unprecedented 15 nominees, including Mercury Prize winner Dizzee Rascal, Scottish new sensation Franz Ferdinand, and previous Shortlist finalists PJ Harvey and The Streets. The complete Long List and the individual selections of each Listmaker can found on the official Shortlist website, https://www.shortlistofmusic.com.
Listmaker Norah Jones nominated unique singer-songwriter Devendra Banhart, and a resurgent Loretta Lynn, who is gaining a new generation of fans with an acclaimed album produced by Jack White of alt-rock fave White Stripes.
Visionary female artists were also spotlighted by John Mayer, who selected piano stylist Nellie McKay, and hard rocker Serj of System of a Down, who nominated the legendary Cape Verde singer Cesaria Evoria.
Many of the Listmakers nominated artists well outside their own musical genre. Ahmir "?uestlove" Thompson, drummer of the Roots, named mellow rockers Wilco and fierce indie band "TV On The Radio" to his list. Listmaker 3D of British electronica standout Massive Attack reached across the ocean to tap Las Vegas up and comers The Killers.
The 2004 Long List includes artists from eleven countries. Latin artists include Argentinian songstress Juana Molina, Brazilian Bebel Gilberto, and Mexican faves Cafe Tacuba and Julieta Venegas. France featured two nominees, with electronica acts Phoenix and Air on the Long List. The Long List also includes nominees from Norway (Teitur), Australia (Sleepy Jackson), and Ireland (Simple Kid).
The Shortlist Music Prize culminates in a multi-artist concert in Los Angeles in November. At the end of the concert, the winner of the Shortlist Music Prize will be announced, and presented with a check for $10,000 courtesy of Shortlist Co-Presenting sponsor XM Satellite Radio (Nasdaq: XMSR).
XM also will present special Shortlist-themed programming in the 10 weeks leading up to the Shortlist Concert, featuring music nominated by this is year's Listmaker panel, along with commentary from the Listmakers. Co-Presenting sponsor MTV2 will, in September, begin featuring interviews with this year's Listmakers throughout its programming and will air regular updates on the award in MTV2's underground music show "Subterranean" airing on Sunday nights at 12am EST/9pm PST.
MTV2 will air its complete Shortlist Music Prize special later this Fall. The annual Shortlist Music Prize was founded in 2001 by industry veterans Greg Spotts and Tom Sarig to create opportunities for emerging left-of-center culture, and is presented by The Shortlist Organization.
