by Renee Israel
After the nominations for this year's Mercury Music Prize were made public late last month, punters flocked to their favourite bookie sites to place bets on which singer or group they believed would win the award.
Reasonable odds were originally offered on The XX, but after a flurry of betting activity on this band, sites such as William Hill were forced to slash the odds.
At present, odds of 7/4 are being offered by Paddy Power on three piece London band, The XX winning the awards, followed by Laura Marling (I Speak Because I Can) with odds of 5/1.
Wild Beasts (Two Dancers) and Mumford and Sons (Sigh No More) follow with odds of 6/1 and 13/2 respectively.
The Barclaycard Mercury Prize is considered one of the most prestigious music awards in the UK industry and was created solely to champion music in the country.
The awards recognize all genres of music in Britain and Ireland.
Each year, twelve Albums of the Year are announced around July time, and the overall winner is decided on the night of the awards show in September.
Nominations for this year's Mercury Music Prize Album of the Year are as follows:
The XX - XX
Laura Marling - I Speak Because I Can
Wild Beasts - Two Dancers
Mumford and Sons - Sigh No More
Villagers - Becoming a Jackal
Foals - Total Life Forever
I am Kloot - Sky at Night
Biffy Clyro - Only Revolutions
Paul Weller - Wake up the Nation
Corinne Bailey Rae - The Sea
Dizzee Rascal - Tongue 'n Cheek
Kit Downes Trio - Golden
