Singer Raye wins Mercury Prize for ‘This Music May Contain Hope’

LONDON — British Singer Raye won the Mercury Prize for her second studio album “This Music May Contain Hope” on Thursday, beating the likes ​of veteran Paul McCartney, rock band Suede and rapper ‌Dave for the British music award.

Judges praised the “scale, structure, ambition and sheer charm” of the 28-year-old chart-topper’s 73-minute record, which blends jazz, orchestral pop, funk and ​other genres.

“Hope is a very cheesy word ... but hope is ​just something that we all need,” Raye said while ⁠accepting the award at the ceremony held in the northern English ​city of Newcastle.

“Music is medicine, so I just hope as well ​that message comes across to anyone who needs it.”

First handed out to rockers Primal Scream in 1992, the annual £25,000 ($33,495) Mercury Prize shortlists 12 albums released by British ​and Irish acts in the United Kingdom in the past ​year. It is considered less mainstream than the BRIT Awards, Britain’s pop music honours, ‌and ⁠is open to all music genres.

This year’s contenders included McCartney, who was nominated for his album “The Boys of Dungeon Lane”, and past winners Suede and Dave, who were shortlisted for their respective records “Antidepressants” and “The ​Boy Who Played ​The Harp”.

For Subscribers

FOR SUBSCRIBERSNew AI tool for voters offers a specialized chatbot to explain your ballot

FOR SUBSCRIBERSGOP retreats from North Carolina as Trump admits Democrats likely to win Senate seat

FOR SUBSCRIBERSNetflix’s latest cliff-hanger? Where it’s headed as a business

FOR SUBSCRIBERSOpenAI agents are shutting off ways to monitor misbehavior

FOR SUBSCRIBERSWhy John Turturro is having the best year of any New Yorker

FOR SUBSCRIBERSJames Talarico digs in with Black voters in pursuit of an elusive Democratic win in Texas

FOR SUBSCRIBERSRussian operatives likely spread fake videos targeting the Texas Senate race, researchers say

FOR SUBSCRIBERSRepublicans seek inroads with Black voters in Michigan’s tight Senate race

FOR SUBSCRIBERSEurope’s protests are about more than schools — they’re a generational roar

FOR SUBSCRIBERSTrump is desperate to bring gas prices down. The solution might be in India.

FOR SUBSCRIBERSInteractive map: How far do you live from the nearest data center?

FOR SUBSCRIBERSA decade ago, data centers overtook a rural community. It hasn’t been the same since.

FOR SUBSCRIBERSiPhone Duo review: The good, the bad and the buggy

FOR SUBSCRIBERSAnger over rising prices could be decisive in Alaska’s unusually close Senate race

FOR SUBSCRIBERSDOJ weighs election litigation against more states

Slide 1 of 1

For Subscribers

FOR SUBSCRIBERSNew AI tool for voters offers a specialized chatbot to explain your ballot

FOR SUBSCRIBERSGOP retreats from North Carolina as Trump admits Democrats likely to win Senate seat

FOR SUBSCRIBERSNetflix’s latest cliff-hanger? Where it’s headed as a business

FOR SUBSCRIBERSOpenAI agents are shutting off ways to monitor misbehavior

FOR SUBSCRIBERSWhy John Turturro is having the best year of any New Yorker

FOR SUBSCRIBERSJames Talarico digs in with Black voters in pursuit of an elusive Democratic win in Texas

FOR SUBSCRIBERSRussian operatives likely spread fake videos targeting the Texas Senate race, researchers say

FOR SUBSCRIBERSRepublicans seek inroads with Black voters in Michigan’s tight Senate race

FOR SUBSCRIBERSEurope’s protests are about more than schools — they’re a generational roar

FOR SUBSCRIBERSTrump is desperate to bring gas prices down. The solution might be in India.

FOR SUBSCRIBERSInteractive map: How far do you live from the nearest data center?

FOR SUBSCRIBERSA decade ago, data centers overtook a rural community. It hasn’t been the same since.

FOR SUBSCRIBERSiPhone Duo review: The good, the bad and the buggy

FOR SUBSCRIBERSAnger over rising prices could be decisive in Alaska’s unusually close Senate race

FOR SUBSCRIBERSDOJ weighs election litigation against more states

Slide 1 of 1

The ⁠nominees also included singer Olivia Dean for “The Art of Loving”, former Little Mix star Jade for “That’s Showbiz ​Baby!”, and producer Nia Archives, who was recognised for “Emotional ​Junglist.”

Band ⁠Knats, musicians Kojey Radical and Dove Ellis were also in the running for their respective records “A Great Day In Newcastle,” “Don’t Look Down” and “Blizzard.”

Florence + the ⁠Machine’s “Everybody ​Scream” and “Help (2),” a compilation album by various ​artists for War Child, completed the list.

Rocker Sam Fender won the prize last year ​for his third album “People Watching.”