Atlantic RecordsEd Sheeran’s Divide has made the shortlist for the 2017 Mercury Prize.
He’s competing with 11 other artists for the prestigious award, which is given annually to the best album from the U.K. and Ireland. Other artists on the shortlist include The xx and British rapper Stormzy.
In a statement, the judging panel says that this year’s shortlist “celebrates the remarkable power of British music.”
“What these artists have in common is an infectious pleasure in music making and an arresting sense of urgency about the music they make,” the statement reads. “They delight in exploring musical possibilities and refusing to be pinned down by genre conventions.”
The 2017 Mercury Prize will be handed out September 14 during a ceremony in London.
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