Bjork, N.E.R.D., Cee-Lo and the Hives are among the 10 finalists for this year’s Shortlist Prize, which celebrates acclaimed artists whose work has yet to reach widespread commercial success.
Other finalists for the award, to be presented Oct. 29 in Los Angeles, are Aphex Twin, the Avalanches, DJ Shadow, Doves, the Flaming Lips and Zero 7.
Last year, Icelandic band Sigur Ros took home the $10,000 first prize.
“The Shortlist honors creative achievement across all genres of music, from the energetic punk of the Hives to the late-night grooves of Zero 7,” said co-founder Tom Sarig in a statement.
“This year’s panel of (judges) was inspired by all sorts of experimentation, from the layered guitar soundscapes of the Flaming Lips to the lyrical diversity of rapper Cee-Lo, who is opening new doors for personal expression in hip-hop.”
N.E.R.D., which fuses hip-hop, rock and funk, is a side project of hit producers Pharrell Williams and Chad Hugo, otherwise known as the Neptunes. They were among the panel of Shortlist judges, but since N.E.R.D. is among the finalists, they have been removed.
Other judges include Jill Scott, U2’s Larry Mullen Jr., Alanis Morissette, Mos Def, Beck, and film directors Spike Jonze and Baz Luhrmann.
