THE 10 finalists for the new Shortlist Prize for Artistic Achievement in Music were announced yesterday.

Competing for a $10,000 award from Virgin Megastore are Ryan Adams, Air, Bilal, Nikka Costa, Dandy Warhols, Jay Dee, Gorillaz, PJ Harvey, Talib Kweli & Hi-Tek and Sigur Ros.

The Shortlist was created to honor creative and adventurous albums – as opposed to those with sales success.

It’s similar to the Mercury Award, the U.K.’s most prestigious music award.

Nominees were selected by a panel of pop stars including Beck, Macy Gray and Trent Reznor.