The Scandinavians are the latest to follow the model of the UK's prestigious Mercury Music Prize and offer an award for the best album of the year.
The Nordic Music Prize will be awarded for the first time this year to the album deemed the best Nordic album of 2010. The five countries eligible for the prize are Sweden, Norway, Iceland, Finland and Denmark. With some of the year's best music coming from these countries , it's surprising it's actually taken them this long.
The twelve nominees are as follows:
• Dungen - Skit i allt
• Paleface Helsinki – Shangri-La
• Frisk Frugt Dansktoppen - møder Burkina Faso i det himmelblå rum hvor solen bor, suite
• Susanne Sundfør - The Brothel
• Robyn - Body Talk
• Jónsi - Go Do
• Efterklang - Magic Chairs
• Serena Maneesh - S-M 2: Abyss in B Minor
• The Radio Dept. - Clinging to a scheme
• Ólöf Arnalds - Innundir Skinni
• Kvelertak - Kvelertak
• First Aid Kit - The big black & the blue
A number of music professionals will vote for the winner, which will be announced at Norway's by:Larm festival and conference which is set to take place in Oslo between February 17th and 19th.
Speaking of national music prizes, the shortlist for our own Choice Music Prize is due to be announced this Wednesday January 12th. Ooh, we're excited, we are.
