The Mercury music prize combines star power and industry credibility â€' isn't it time that classical music had something similar?

I return to the blogosphere to find there's another debate on concert etiquette going on, triggered by the nation's favourite grey-haired electronica maestro, Jonathan Harvey â€' I agree with commenter MVMountwood, who said he wished that Harvey's music "routinely attracted as much media attention" as his comments on classical music culture â€' and to see that Mark-Anthony Turnage has ripped off Beyonce at the Proms. And also to find that minimalist indie band the xx have walked away with this year's Mercury music prize.

These events prompted the following thoughts, in no particular order. Firstly, that classical music still lacks any award ceremony to match the combination of media impact and artistic seriousness of the Mercurys or the Turner prize (and no, the Classical Brits and their record-industry back-slapping don't count). The nearest we have are the venerable Royal Philharmonic Society awards and the PRS new music award.

The PRS gong ought to be the real Turner equivalent. The winner, announced on the 16 September, gets £50,000 for a new piece of music â€' more than twice...

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Mercury Prize-winners The xx are the latest triumph for a small yet influential independent label.

With hushed, early-hours dynamics and an undertow of sexual desire, the xx's debut album is a compelling listen. But that probably wasn't the only reason the judges picked it ...

Video: Rosie Swash on the Mercury red carpet
Live blog: Relive the night as it happened

It's always worth remembering that the whole point of the Mercury prize is to sell records. The story of its creation bears repeating, not least because the prize itself â€' always big on high-mindedness of the "all-that-matters-is-the-music" variety â€' seems so keen that it's forgotten. You don't find any mention of John "Webbo" Webster on its website, which seems a bit unfair because, as well as being the man who gave the world Now That's What I Call Music ... compilations, he devised the awards while head of marketing at Virgin Records.

In fact, the Mercury has more in common with Webster's other big idea than it would like to think. Just as Now That's What I Call Music ... was, and is, about squeezing out extra revenue by recycling old hits, so the prize was initiated for purely commercial reasons, with no more high-minded intent than dragging record buyers of a certain age into shops during the traditionally dead summer sales period: the appointment of august rock critic and academic Simon Frith as chair of the judges was suggested by music industry trade association the BPI to emphasise the independence of the awards.

By the...

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Prize win sees the xx step into the spotlight

The xx beat late favourite Paul Weller to win this year's Mercury Prize for their debut album xx.

Romy Madley Croft reveals the band's plans following win

The xx have won this year's Mercury Music Prize for their debut album xx.

Photo by Tim Kiernan

London goth-pop up-and-comers the xx were already on a hell of a winning streak, but now they've added a very serious notch to their belt. Today, the band took home the Barclaycard Mercury Prize.

Band beat the likes of Paul Weller, Foals, Mumford & Sons

The XX are back as favorites to win the Barclaycard Mercury Prize in London tonight (Sept. 7) with their debut "XX" (Young Turks/XL Recordings). Their betting odds with bookmaker William Hill are evens.