Singer Raye wins Mercury Prize for ‘This Music May Contain Hope’

LONDON, Oct 22 (Reuters) Singer Raye won the Mercury Prize for her second studio album This Music May Contain Hope on Thursday, beating the likes of ​veteran Paul McCartney, rock band Suede and rapper ‌Dave for the British music award. Judges praised the scale, structure, ambition and sheer charm of the 28-year-old chart-topper s 73-minute record, which blends jazz, orchestral pop, funk and other genres. Hope is a very cheesy word ‌but ​hope is just something that we ⁠all need, Raye said while ⁠accepting the award at the ceremony held in the northern English city of Newcastle. Music is medicine, so I just hope as well that message comes across to ​anyone who needs it. First handed out to rockers Primal Scream in 1992, the annual £25,000 ($33,495) Mercury Prize shortlists 12 ⁠albums released by British and ⁠Irish acts in the United Kingdom in ​the past year. It is considered less mainstream than the BRIT Awards, ​Britain s pop music honours, and is open to ‌all music genres.