Arctic Monkeys, Winehouse vie for Mercury Prize

British indie band Arctic Monkeysare up for a second consecutive Mercury Prize, as organizers announced this year's shortlist for the prestigious U.K. musical honour.

The quartet from Sheffield, England, won the Mercury last year for their debut Whatever People Say I Am, That's What I'm Not, and this year they're nominated forFavourite Worst Nightmare.

Tough competition comes in the form of soulful singer Amy Winehouse, nominated for her acclaimed album Back to Black which includes the hit singles You Know I'm No Good and Rehab.

Past winner Dizzee Rascal, who beat Coldplay for the honour in 2003, is a contender for Maths and English.

Other nominees this yearinclude:

• Basquiat Strings, Basquiat Strings with Seb Rochford.
• Bat for Lashes, Fur and Gold.
• Fionn Regan, The End of History.
• Jamie T, Panic Prevention.
• Klaxons, Myths of the Near Future.
• Maps, We Can Create.
• New Young Pony Club, Fantastic Playroom.
• The View, Hats Off to the Buskers.
• The Young Knives, Voices of Animals and Men.

The winner of the 20,000 (about $42,700 Cdn) award will be announced Sept. 4 in London.

Judging chair Simon Firth, a sociologist and former rock critic,hailed the shortlisted artists as "a wealth of eclectic talent."

Established in 1992, the Mercury Prize celebrates the British or Irish artist or group that has produced the best album of the past year, regardless of genre, according to judges. In the past, well-known or established artists have lost out to newcomers or little-known acts.

The prize is considered one of the most notable awards on the British musical scene, and nominees often see a sales boost after the shortlist is announced.

Past winners have also included Franz Ferdinand, Primal Scream and PJ Harvey.