The shortlist for the MOBO awards 2012 has been announced, with Universal Music Publishing artists Plan B, Jessie Ware, Wretch 32, Angel, Conor Maynard and Alunageorge all in the running for an award. Plan B has been shortlisted in a total of five categories, including Best Male, Best Song, Best Album for ‘Ill Manors’, Best Hip-Hop/Grime Act and Best Video. Click through to listen to a playlist featuring selected tracks from nominated UMPG artists.
The Killers fourth studio album – and their first in four years – ‘Battle Born’ is released today, following on from the album’s lead single ‘Runaways’ which was released last week. The album combines elements of all three of The Killers' previous albums – the storytelling of ‘Hot Fuss’, the mythic Americana of ‘Sam’s Town’ and the pop nous of ‘Day & Age’. Speaking about the album, Brandon Flowers said, "Pound for pound, this is our strongest record, and I’m really excited about it. We’re starting to feel more comfortable being what we are. And we’re proud of what we are.”
The Barclaycard Mercury Music Prize nominations for 2012 have been announced, with Universal Music Publishing artists Jessie Ware, Plan B and Richard Hawley featured on the shortlist. Previous UMPG artists to have won the Mercury Prize include The xx for ‘xx’ (2009), Klaxons for ‘Myths of the Near Future’ (2007) and Franz Ferdinand for ‘Franz Ferdinand (2004)’. The 2012 winner will be announced on Thursday 1st November.
Three years after their stunning debut ‘xx’ was released to widespread critical acclaim, culminating in the band winning the Mercury Music Prize, The xx return with their hugely anticipated second album ‘Coexist’. “To coexist doesn’t paint the rosiest picture but I think it represents the realness,” explains Romy. “Learning to live together, learning to work together again, learning to live with the person you’re with, or your ex. It’s all connected.”
The Vaccines release their second studio album ‘The Vaccines Come of Age’ today – the follow up to their debut ‘What Did You Expect From The Vaccines?’ Frontman Justin Young explains that with ‘The Vaccines Come of Age’ the band is striving to “sound like The Vaccines. We needed to work out which characteristics are going to make people compare bands to The Vaccines in five or ten years time. It's quite a searching record in that sense.”
Universal Music Publishing is very excited to welcome the supremely talented Jessie Ware to UMPG. The London born singer songwriter has been causing something of a stir with her soulful vocals and effortlessly elegant songwriting skills. Her debut album ‘Devotion’ has attracted rave reviews: NME described it as, “Both contemporary and timeless… a record filled with moments that bring you to your knees”, whilst Pitchfork calls it, “A uniquely soulful masterclass.”
Legendary lyricist Hal David has sadly passed away at the age of 91. His staggeringly successful songwriting partnership with Burt Bacharach produced some of the best-loved songs of the twentieth century, including ‘Raindrops Keep Fallin' On My Head’, ‘I Say A Little Prayer’ ‘Walk On By’, ‘Anyone Who Had A Heart’, ‘(There's) Always Something There To Remind Me’, ‘(They Long To Be) Close To You’ and 'Do You Know The Way To San Jose?'
David and Bacharach went on to win an Oscar for ‘Raindrops Keep Fallin' On My Head’ – featured in the 1969 film ‘Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid’ – as well as numerous Grammy and Tony awards for songs from the hit Broadway musical ‘Promises, Promises’. In 2011 they were the first songwriters to be awarded the Gershwin Prize for popular song by the US Library of Congress. David also became the first non-British person to be honoured with a prestigious Ivor Novello award.
Alanis Morissette releases her eighth studio album today, four years after her last full length release ‘Flavours of Entanglement’. The album’s lyrics cover diverse themes - from love and motherhood to women’s rights, addiction, celebrity and religious and political divisions - all set against a backdrop of bright bold melodies and lush sonic textures.
Following on from their last EP ‘Overjoyed’, today Bastille release the ‘Bad Blood EP’, complete with remixes from F*U*G*Z, Melé and Lunice, plus demo track ‘Haunt’. The track is accompanied by a sinister video investigating a mysterious dissapearance.
Angel’s new single ‘Wonderful’ is officially released today – following on from his debut ‘Go In, Go Hard’ featuring Wretch 32. Having been tipped as “the new face of UK R&B” by BBC Radio 1 and nominated for MTV’s Brand New award and HMV’s Next Big Thing, the talented Londoner has already made an impact on the UK’s urban music scene.