The Barclaycard Mercury Music Prize nominations for 2012 have been announced, with Universal Music Publishing artists Jessie Ware, Plan B and Richard Hawley featured on the shortlist.

Jessie Ware’s debut album ‘Devotion’ comprises of 11 laid-back, soulful pop songs that run the spectrum of sweet to dark - described by BBC Music as, “the sort of sophisticated, soulful pop record that comes along all too rarely.”

Plan B’s ‘Ill Manors’ was both his third studio album and the soundtrack to his hard-hitting directorial film debut of the same name. It debuted at No. 1 in the UK album charts, and received widespread critical acclaim, with The Independent proclaiming it, “one of the most exhilarating albums of the year.”

Richard Hawley’s seventh studio album ‘Standing at the Sky’s Edge’ drew inspiration from his home town of Sheffield, and was held up as a “masterpiece” by The Word, who went on to declare, “there isn't a greater or more unusual talent operating in British music.” This is the second time he has been nominated for the prize.

In the run up to the awards ceremony, a series of ‘Albums of the Year’ live gigs are planned  featuring exclusive one-off shows from shortlisted artists at intimate London venues.

Previous UMPG artists to have won the Mercury Prize include The xx for ‘xx’ (2009), Klaxons for ‘Myths of the Near Future’ (2007) and Franz Ferdinand for ‘Franz Ferdinand (2004)’.

The 2012 winner will be announced on Thursday 1st November.