The team behind London-based distribution and services company Caroline International are celebrating a triple nomination at the UK’s renowned Mercury Prize ceremony, which takes place in September.
Universal-owned Caroline has seen three albums released by its team – The Big Moon’s Love In The 4th Dimension, Glass Animals’ How To Be A Human Being and Kate Tempest’s Let Them Eat Chaos – get the nod on the Mercury’s 12-strong shortlist.
Another Mercury 2017 nominee, Loyle Carner’s Yesterday’s Gone, is handled by Caroline outside the UK .
Caroline International, the ex-US arm of Universal’s independent services company, is jointly run by Michael Roe and Jim Chancellor.
Chancellor simultaneously runs UMG’s Fiction Records, to which two of Caroline’s nominees – Kate Tempest and The Big Moon (pictured) – are signed.
Glass Animals are signed to another label client of Caroline’s, Wolf Tone, which is owned by producer Paul Epworth.
Chancellor told MBW earlier today: “We are beside ourselves with excitement for our artists – this is a mind-blowing result. It’s one of the strongest lists I’ve seen in years.”
“The Mercury Prize is a cornerstone of the music business… we are beside ourselves with excitement for our artists.”
Jim Chancellor, Fiction/Caroline
He added: “The Mercury Prize is an absolute cornerstone of the music business and a very special event.
“I know some have suggested it’s fallen off its pedestal a little bit in terms of media attention – that it needs to get a bit of that mojo back – but you can feel a real buzz about it building this year. This shortlist should really help with that; it includes some very big artists.
“Both Fiction and Caroline try to be purveyors of the classiest music out there – we’re always striving to put out great records.”
Chancellor has personal history with the Mercury Prize: Fiction-signed Elbow picked up the coveted winner’s trophy in 2008 for The Seldom Seen Kid.
Other albums which made the Mercury Prize this year include efforts from Ed Sheeran, Stormzy, The xx, Blossoms, J Hus, Alt-J and Sampha.
You can see the full list of 12 below.
The Hyundai Mercury Prize takes place at London’s Hammersmith Apollo on Thursday, September 14.
