BPI chief executive Geoff Taylor has praised the shortlist for the 2017 Hyundai Mercury Prize as a “celebration of our highly diverse and creative industry”.

Speaking to Music Week at the nominations ceremony, Taylor said he’s “very optimistic” about the state of British music, adding that the presence of debut albums by Stormzy, J Hus and Loyle Carner demonstrates that “urban music has been the story of the year”.

Featuring four more maiden records – from Blossoms, The Big Moon, ...