Mercury victory for album that's sold fewer than 3,000 copies

Published on Wednesday 9 September 2009 00:55

THE coveted Mercury Prize has been won by a rapper whose album has sold less than 3,000 copies and has not even been listed in the UK charts.

Speech DeBelle lifted the revered award for best record of the year with her album Speech Therapy, which was inspired by a stint of homelessness.

She saw off 11 other shortlisted acts at a ceremony at the Grosvenor House Hotel in London and her victory saw her follow in the footsteps of acts such as Klaxons, Arctic Monkeys and last year's victors, Elbow.

The south Londoner lived in a hostel after her parents asked her to leave home in her teens after a troubled period of her life, which she used as inspiration for this album.

The award – whose full title is the Barclaycard Mercury Prize – is designed to reward the best album of the past 12 months and is worth 20,000. But for most acts it is the extra exposure and the boost in sales that is most important. Each of the nominated acts has also seen a sales push.

DeBelle said: "I feel so good. It feels better than I imagined. My family's here. My friends are here. I'm from south London – I don't get emotional – I'm emotional. This proves if you believe in something and you think you can do it, you can achieve it."

Accepting the award from host Jools Holland, DeBelle thanked her band and producers, before turning to family members.

When the rapper's name was read out her band and supporters jumped up and down and climbed on their table in celebration. Mercury judge Charles Hazlewood, the broadcaster and conductor, said: "She's just quietly telling her stories in the most beguiling way."

Speech Therapy has not sold enough copies to reach the Official UK Albums Chart having sold fewer than 3,000 since its release in June. Half of those sales have come since the album was shortlisted seven weeks ago.

But this is set to change, with a spokesman for the Official Charts Company predicting a significant surge. Since the Mercury shortlist was announced sales of all 12 albums have seen their sales improve, he said.

The only Scottish act in the running for the award was Glasvegas, with their eponymous debut album.

Official Charts Company managing director Martin Talbot said: "After tonight's fantastic achievement, Speech DeBelle can look forward to a big surge in interest – and the sales that come with that. It is one of the least established albums in the history of the Mercurys and an album which still has great potential."