Chaired by an expert panel of musicians, music executives, journalists and other figures in the music industry in the UK and Ireland, the Mercury Prize is regarded as highly prestigious.
Presented annually by the British Phonographic Industry in association with the British Association of Record Dealers, the award focuses on the artistic qualities of an album, rather than on its sales success.
One of the favorite albums of this year, 21 by Adele, was selected by the jury, regardless of the phenomenal sales propelled by the worldwide hit single Rolling in the Deep.
Adele will compete against Anna Calvi, Everything Everything, Metronomy, PJ Harvey, Katy B, Ghostpoet, Elbow, King Creosote and Jon Hopkins, Tinie Tempah, Gwilym Simcock and James Blake for the 2011 Mercury Prize.