David Bowie shortlisted for Mercury Music Prize
Iconic singer released Blackstar two days before his January death
DAVID Bowie has been posthumously shortlisted for the prestigious Hyundai Mercury Prize for his 25th album Blackstar - released two days before the icon died in January.
The critically-acclaimed album, on which he sang about his own death, is among 12 British records up for the award, alongside releases from Laura Mvula, Radiohead and The 1975.
It's the third time Bowie has been recognised for the prize having made the long-list with Heathen in 2002 and The Next Day in 2013.
But some of the biggest artists of the last year have been snubbed by the arty award.
Adele missed out on a place despite out-selling all of the other contenders with her record-breaking third studio album 25, which has already shifted over 20million copies globally.
She has been shortlisted twice before for her first two albums, 19 in 2008 and 21 in 2011 but failed to make the cut this year.
Coldplay's seventh studio album A Head Full of Dreams was also shafted following its release in December.
The notoriously high-brow award is voted for by a panel of industry professionals including Naughty Boy, Jamie Cullum and Annie Mac.
In a press conference at The Langham Hotel in London, the full list of 12 shortlisted British albums was announced which included releases from solo star Bat For Lashes, singer-songwriter Jamie Woon and grime rapper Skepta.
Other acts on the list include visual artist and musician Anohni, grime MC Kano, soul singer Michael Kiwanuka, rock band Savages and jazz-funk group The Comet is Coming.
The judging panel said: "This is music to make sense of our unsettling times - heartfelt, angry, thoughtful and thrilling.
The 2016 Hyundai Mercury Prize ‘Albums of the Year’ are marked by their musical ambitions, unexpected instrumentation and breathtaking arrangements.”
Music fans can now vote to select the six finalists over on the prize's website
The winner will be announced at the 2016 Awards Show on September 15 at the Eventim Apollo, Hammersmith
Full shortlist for the Hyundai Mercury Prize 2016:
Anohni - Hopelessness
Bat For Lashes - The Bride
David Bowie - Blackstar
Jamie Woon - Making Time
Kano - Made in the Manor
Laura Mvula - The Dreaming Room
Michael Kiwanuka - Love & Hate
Radiohead - A Moon Shaped Pool
Savages - Adore Life
Skepta - Konnichiwa
The 1975 - I like it when you sleep, for you are so beautiful yet so
unaware of it
The Comet Is Coming - Channel the Spirits
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