Mercury Prize to add public voting element for the first time

The dates for this year's prize and the new judging panel have also been revealed.

Details about this year's Mercury Prize have began to unravel, with a number of exciting new features announced by the organisers.

In addition to a new sponsor in Hyundai, a new public voting element has been revealed. Following the longlist launch event - which will see the 12 Hyundai Mercury Prize '2016 Albums of the Year' be unveiled - on August 4, the public will be able to select one album to head straight into the pool of six finalists.

Following the public's first-time involvement, the judging panel will choose the further five finalists and then ultimately decide on the overall winner.

This year's panel is not known in its entirety but names announced so far include Jamie Cullum, Jarvis Cocker, Ellie Rowsell of Wolf Alice and Naughty Boy.

All six finalists and the overall winner will be announced during the 2016 Awards Show, which will take place on Thursday 15 September.