Choice Music Prize

Award for Irish albums

Award

Choice Music Prize

Choice Music Prize Logo (2017–present)

Awarded for| Best album from the Republic of Ireland or Northern Ireland
Location| Vicar Street, Dublin, Republic of Ireland (2005–present)
The Olympia Theatre, Dublin (2011 ceremony)
Country| Ireland
Presented by| IRMA, IMRO and RAAP
First award| 2005
Website| choicemusicprize.com

The Choice Music Prize (Irish: Duais Cheoil Choice),[1] known for sponsorship reasons as the RTÉ Choice Music Prize is an annual music prize awarded to the best album from a band or solo musician who is born in the Republic of Ireland or Northern Ireland or holds an Irish passport. For bands, the majority of members must have been born on the island of Ireland or hold an Irish passport.[2]

After being broadcast on Today FM for nearly eleven years, in November 2016, it was announced that the Choice Music Prize would broadcast on RTÉ 2FM starting in 2017. The ceremony is held in Vicar Street, Dublin.[Note 1]

Since it first began in 2005, the main awards ceremony had been broadcast live on the Irish national radio station, Today FM, every March.[Note 2] It aired as a four-part special, beginning at 7pm and usually concluding at 11pm. Presenters of the main awards ceremony have included Michelle Doherty, Rigsy, and Today FM radio presenters Alison Curtis and Paul McLoone.

Since 2017, the Choice Music Prize has not had a sponsor. Before that, Samsung sponsored it in 2016, and Meteor sponsored it from 2011 to 2015.

## Establishment

[edit]

The Choice Music Prize was established by journalist Jim Carroll and manager Dave Reid in 2005.[3][4]

## Aim of the awards

[edit]

Old logo

According to organisers, the aim of the Choice Music Prize, is to get more airplay for Irish acts both domestically and overseas.

"It was a strange thing" remembers Cormac Brady of Super Extra Bonus Party. "It's not something we ever expected to happen to us. Winning awards certainly wasn't what we got into music for, but it brought us a hell of a lot more recognition overnight and opened a lot of doors". Julie Feeney concurs. "It was probably the biggest achievement of my life" she says. "It meant a phenomenal amount to me. It was an enormous validation" as an alternative to the industry-dominated Meteor Music Awards.[5][6] The Choice Music Prize is modelled after the Mercury Prize which is awarded each year to the best album from the United Kingdom or Ireland.[7][8][9] It is a music award voted for by a panel of twelve judges[10] based on artistic merit, regardless of genre,[10] sales, or record label. The price includes a €10,000 cheque jointly funded by the Irish Music Rights Organisation (IMRO) and the Irish Recorded Music Association (IRMA).[11][12][13][14][15] There is no sponsorship.[3]

Initially considered by co-founder Carroll as a "titchy little maverick event",[16] the Choice Music Prize has gained a reputation for producing "unpredictable" winners.[3][17] Winners thus far consist of one solo female performer, four bands and one solo male performer. Julie Feeney won the inaugural prize for Irish Album of the Year 2005. She was followed by The Divine Comedy, Super Extra Bonus Party and Jape, winners of Irish Album of the Year 2006, 2007 and 2008 respectively. Adrian Crowley won Irish Album of the Year 2009, while Two Door Cinema Club won Irish Album of the Year 2010.

The ceremony to announce the winner takes place at Vicar Street, Dublin in February or March each year. Originally presented by Michelle Doherty and Rigsy,[18] and also by Alison Curtis.,[19] Today FM radio presenter Paul McLoone presented the awards since 2012, having made his debut presiding over the 2011 Choice Music Prize ceremony and was the current host or M.C.- master of ceremonies for the prize giving ceremony with the show being broadcast live since its inception on the national and independent radio station Today FM as part of a four-hour special, airing between 7pm to 10pm. In November 2016, the Choice Music Prize announced that they had partnered with RTÉ and as such, the live ceremony will be broadcast on RTÉ 2FM from 2017 onwards.[18][19][20][21] The nominated acts are invited to perform in front of a live audience at the ceremony.[19] However, some nominated acts, such as The Chalets, Fionn Regan, Snow Patrol, Lisa Hannigan, Oppenheimer, Bell X1 and Laura Izibor, have not performed in the past due to other commitments.[22][23][24][25] David Holmes (musician) and The Script also did not perform when nominated, though Holmes and Danny O'Donoghue attended the ceremony.[25] The judging panel which is composed of various members of Irish media as such as music and broadcasting are all locked in an enclosed room during the performances on the night to debate over which act ought to win with Irish journalist Tony Clayton Lea who works for the Irish Times the Chairman of the Judging Panel with Clayton Lea also tasked with helping the panel come to a decision where they all select the one musician or band who will be announced as the winner of the Prize.[3] A secret ballot was used to decide the winner of Irish Album of the Year 2008, Ritual.[19]

Past winners and nominees have credited the Choice Music Prize with boosting their careers. Julie Feeney described winning Irish Album of the Year 2005 as "probably the biggest achievement of my life", adding "it meant a phenomenal amount to me. It was an enormous validation".[4] Duke Special, nominated for the first two awards, said his nomination for the inaugural award had helped raise his profile in the Irish media.[26] Cormac Brady stated Super Extra Bonus Party's Irish Album of the Year 2007 win "brought us a hell of a lot more recognition overnight and opened a lot of doors".[4] Nominees have doubled or trebled sales after the award has been announced.[27] Steve Jordan was influenced by the Choice Music Prize when he set up Canada's Polaris Music Prize.[28] Culture Ireland invited figures from the international music industry to the event that decided the Irish Album of the Year 2010.[29]

## Broadcast

[edit]

From its inception, the awards show was broadcast live on Today FM and a live streamed on entertainment.ie. In 2017, the awards show moved to a live broadcast on RTÉ 2FM, and highlights will continue to be shown on RTÉ2.

The event was aired live each year on Today FM in a special awards ceremony that takes place at Vicar Street which was presented by Paul McLoone and a pre-recorded show is aired on RTÉ2 television since 2015 on hosted by Bláthnaid Treacy. The event used to be streamed live on entertainment.ie and Muzu.tv until 2015.[30]

## Sponsorship

[edit]

It was announced on Monday 10 October 2011 that Meteor had become the official sponsor of the award, having previously sponsored the Meteor Music Awards.[31] In the run-up to the nominees (to be announced on 11 January 2012),[32] both the award organisers and Meteor promised to present a number of live performances showcasing what they considered some of the best albums from 2011. Meteor Choice Music Prize Presents... began on 1 November 2011 with a live performance by Snow Patrol at Dublin's Button Factory, and was followed by a live performance from Lisa Hannigan and James Vincent McMorrow on 8 December 2011, also in Dublin's Button Factory.

In 2016, Samsung came on board to be the official partner of the awards show.[33] However, from 2017 the awards show will be supported by RTÉ online, on radio and on television.[34]

## Winners and shortlisted nominees

[edit]

Neil Hannon, winner with The Divine Comedy in 2006 and nominee with The Duckworth Lewis Method in 2009 Super Extra Bonus Party, winners in 2007 Jape, winners in 2008 and 2011 Adrian Crowley, winner in 2009 Two Door Cinema Club, winners in 2010 Delorentos, winners in 2012 Villagers, winners in 2013 SOAK, winner in 2015 CMAT, 2022 winner Year  | Winner  | Album  | Shortlisted nominees & albums[21][35][36][37][38] | Judges[26]

|
|
|
|

2005  |  Julie Feeney |  13 Songs[39] |

* Bell X1 - Flock
* Cane 141 - Moonpool
* The Chalets - Check In
* Joe Chester - A Murder of Crows
* Duke Special - Adventures in Gramophone
* Hal - Hal
* Nick Kelly - Running Dog
* Emmett Tinley - Attic Faith
* Turn - Turn LP

2006  | The Divine Comedy | Victory for the Comic Muse[23] |

* Director - We Thrive on Big Cities
* Duke Special - Songs from the Deep Forest
* The Immediate - In Towers and Clouds
* David Kitt - Not Fade Away
* Messiah J and the Expert - Now This I Have to Hear
* Fionn Regan - The End of History
* Republic of Loose - Aaagh!
* Si Schroeder - Coping Mechanisms
* Snow Patrol - Eyes Open

* John Caddell (Phantom FM)
* Stuart Clark (Hot Press)
* Alison Curtis (Today FM)
* Neil Dunphy (Sunday Tribune)
* Sinéad Gleeson (The Ticket)
* Rick O'Shea (RTÉ 2fm)
* Nick Kelly (Irish Independent)
* Mike Knightson (Limerick's Live 95fm)
* Padraic Kileen (Irish Examiner)
* Eamon Sweeney (Foggy Notions)
* Tanya Sweeney (Irish Daily Star)
* Jonny Tiernan (Alternative Ulster magazine)

2007  | Super Extra Bonus Party | Super Extra Bonus Party[40] |

* Adrian Crowley - Long Distance Swimmer
* Cathy Davey - Tales of Silversleeve
* Delorentos - In Love with Detail
* Dry County - Unexpected Falls
* The Flaws - Achieving Vagueness
* David Geraghty - Kill Your Darlings
* Kíla - Gamblers' Ballet
* Róisín Murphy - Overpowered
* Stanley Super 800 - Louder & Clearer

* Brian Boyd (The Irish Times)
* Michael Carr (Cork's 96FM and Cork Independent)
* Ronan Casey (Westmeath Examiner)
* Alan Corr (RTÉ Guide)
* Dan Hegarty (2FM)
* Anne Marie Kelly (Today FM)
* Sheena McGinley (entertainment.ie)
* Una Mullally (Sunday Tribune and the Una Rocks blog)
* Paul McClean (BBC Northern Ireland)
* Nadine O'Regan (The Sunday Business Post, Phantom 105.2 and blogger)
* Leagues O'Toole (Foggy Notions)
* Jon Richards (Galway Bay FM)

2008  |  Jape | Ritual[11] |

* Fight Like Apes - Fight Like Apes and the Mystery of the Golden Medallion
* Mick Flannery - White Lies
* Halfset - Another Way of Being There
* Lisa Hannigan - Sea Sew
* David Holmes (musician) - The Holy Pictures
* Messiah J and the Expert - From the Word Go
* Oppenheimer - Take the Whole Midrange and Boost It
* R.S.A.G. - Organic Sampler
* The Script - The Script

* Niall Byrne (State/Nialler9 blog)
* Edel Coffey (Irish Independent)
* Ian Dempsey (Today FM)
* James Foley (Record of the Day)
* Andrew Hamilton (Clare People)
* Kieran Hurley (Cork Campus Radio)
* Paul Mallon (Irish Daily Star Sunday)
* Lauren Murphy (entertainment.ie)
* Sinead Ni Mhorda (Phantom FM)
* Ed Power (Freelance)
* Rigsy (BBC Northern Ireland¹s Across The Line/ATL TV)
* Ian Wilson (RTÉ 2fm)

2009  |  Adrian Crowley | Season of the Sparks[41] |

* And So I Watch You from Afar - And So I Watch You From Afar
* Bell X1 - Blue Lights on the Runway
* Codes - Trees Dream in Algebra
* Dark Room Notes - We Love You Dark Matter
* The Duckworth Lewis Method - The Duckworth Lewis Method
* Julie Feeney - Pages
* Valerie Francis - Slow Dynamo
* Laura Izibor - Let the Truth Be Told
* The Swell Season - Strict Joy

* Martin Burns (News of the World)
* Josh Clarke (I102-104FM, Galway)
* Roisin Dwyer (Hot Press)
* Tony Fenton (Today FM)
* Cathal Funge (Phantom 105.2, Dublin)
* Padraic Halpin (Ragged Words)
* Sophie Gorman (Irish Independent)
* John McMahon (RTÉ 2fm)
* Rob O'Connor (Beat 102 103, Waterford)
* Eva Staic (Spin 1038, Dublin)
* Chris Wasser (Evening Herald)
* Aoife Woodlock (Other Voices)

2010  | Two Door Cinema Club | Tourist History[42] |

* Adebisi Shank - This Is the Second Album of a Band Called Adebisi Shank
* The Cast of Cheers - Chariot
* Cathy Davey - The Nameless
* Fight Like Apes - The Body of Christ and the Legs of Tina Turner
* Halves - It Goes, It Goes (Forever & Ever)
* Imelda May - Mayhem
* James Vincent McMorrow - Early in the Morning
* O Emperor - Hither Thither
* Villagers - Becoming a Jackal

* Aidan Cuffe (GoldenPlec)
* Ray D'Arcy (Today FM)
* Michelle Doherty (Phantom 105.2)
* Dave Fanning (RTÉ 2fm)
* Shane Hegarty (The Irish Times)
* Chris Jones (Alternative Ulster)
* Danny McElhinney (The Irish Mail on Sunday)
* John Meagher (Irish Independent)
* Jenny Mulligan (entertainment.ie)
* Celina Murphy (Hot Press)
* Phil Udell (State.ie)
* Tony Clayton-Lea (Chairman of Judging Panel)

2011

* Held on Thursday 8 March 2012
* Paul McLoone's debut as M.C.
* Broadcast live on Today FM

| Jape | Ocean of Frequency |

* And So I Watch You From Afar - Gangs
* Bell X1 - Bloodless Coup
* Cashier No. 9 - To the Death of Fun
* Lisa Hannigan - Passenger
* The Japanese Popstars - Controlling Your Allegiance
* Jape - Ocean of Frequency
* Patrick Kelleher and His Cold Dead Hands - Golden Syrup
* Pugwash - The Olympus Sound
* Tieranniesaur - Tieranniesaur!
* We Cut Corners - Today I Realised I Could Go Home Backwards

* Brian Adams (Today FM)
* John Barker (98FM)
* Stuart Clarke (Hot Press)
* Siobhan Maguire (The Sunday Times)
* Naomi McCardle (Harmless Noise)
* Lauren Murphy (The Irish Times)
* Nadine O'Regan (RTÉ/Phantom/Sunday Business Post)
* Colm O'Sullivan (Red FM)
* Ed Power (Irish Independent/Irish Examiner)
* Rigsy (BBC1 Northern Ireland)
* Penny Rose-Hart (RTÉ Radio 1)

2012

* Held on 7 March 2013
* Broadcast live on Today FM

| Delorentos | Little Sparks |

* Wallis Bird - Wallis Bird
* The Cast of Cheers - Family
* Adrian Crowley - I See Three Birds Flying
* Damien Dempsey - Almighty Love
* Julie Feeney - Clocks
* Heathers - Kingdom
* Mumblin' Deaf Ro - Dictionary Crimes
* Two Door Cinema Club - Beacon
* Windings - I Am Not The Crow

* Mark Kavanagh (Irish Daily Star)
* KC (Today FM)
* Aoife Barry (The Ticket/Blogger/2XM)
* Craig Fitzpatrick (Hot Press)
* Elaine Buckley (RTÉ, State, Entertainment.ie)
* Sean Rocks (Radio1/Arena)
* Eamonn Sweeney (Irish Independent)
* Andy Kavanagh (TG4)
* Steven McCauley (BBC Radio Foyle)
* Eoghan O'Sullivan (Irish Examiner / blogger)
* Claire Beck (Phantom FM & GoldenPlec)

2013

* Held on 27 February 2014
* Broadcast live on Today FM

|  Villagers |  {Awayland} |

* And So I Watch You from Afar - All Hail Bright Futures
* Bell X1 - Chop Chop
* Girls Names - The New Life
* Kodaline - In a Perfect World
* Little Green Cars - Absolute Zero
* Mano Le Tough - Changing Days
* My Bloody Valentine - MBV
* O Emperor - Vitreous
* Lisa O'Neill - Same Cloth or Not

* John Balfe (Entertainment.ie)
* Aidan Butler (RTÉ Radio One)
* Niall Byrne (Nialler9, Irish Independent)
* Steve Cummins (The Irish Post)
* Shilpa Ganatra (Irish Daily Star)
* Daniel Gray (Totally Dublin)
* Laurence Mackin (The Irish Times)
* Una Mullally (The Irish Times and TG4)
* Fin O'Leary (MCD Concerts)
* Colm O'Sullivan (Today FM)
* Niall Stokes (Hot Press)
* Amy McGarrigle (BBC Northern Ireland)
* Laura Kirkpatrick (Spotify)

2014

* Held on 5 March 2015
* Broadcast live on Today FM

|  The Gloaming | The Gloaming |

* Aphex Twin - Syro
* Delorentos - Night Becomes Light
* Hozier - Hozier
* James Vincent McMorrow - Post Tropical
* Sinéad O'Connor - I'm Not Bossy, I'm the Boss
* Damien Rice - My Favourite Faded Fantasy
* The Riptide Movement - Getting Through
* U2 - Songs of Innocence
* We Cut Corners - Think Nothing

2015

* Held Thursday 3 March 2016
* Broadcast live on Today FM
* Paul McLoone's final appearance as M.C.
* Final broadcast on Today FM

|  SOAK | Before We Forgot How to Dream |

* Girl Band - Holding Hands with Jamie
* Ham Sandwich - Stories from the Surface
* Gavin James - "Bitter Pill"
* Jape - This Chemical Sea
* Le Galaxie - Le Club
* Colm Mac Con Iomaire - And Now The Weather
* Róisín Murphy - Hairless Toys
* Villagers - Darling Arithmetic
* Young Wonder - Birth

* Emily Brown (Spin Southwest)
* Roddy Cleere (KCLR)
* Tom Dunne (Newstalk)
* Sínead Gleeson (The Irish Times)
* Joe Harrington (Joe.ie)
* James Hendicott (GoldenPlec)
* Edwin McFee (Hot Press)
* Louise McSharry (2FM)
* Sinéad Ní Mhórdha (Radio Nova)
* Ed Smith (Today FM)
* Phil Taggart (BBC Radio 1)
* Mike Walsh (Radio X)

2016

* Held on Thursday 9 March 2017
* Eoghan McDermott's debut as M.C.
* Broadcast live for the first time on RTÉ 2FM, with highlights on RTÉ2

| Rusangano Family |  Let The Dead Bury The Dead |

* All Tvvins - llVV
* Wallis Bird - Home
* Bantum - Move
* The Divine Comedy - Foreverland
* Lisa Hannigan - At Swim
* Katie Kim - Salt
* James Vincent McMorrow - We Move
* Overhead, The Albatross - Learning to Growl
* We Cut Corners - The Cadences of Others

* Louise Bruton – Freelance & The Irish Times
* Brian Coney – Editor, The Thin Air
* Maire Dineen – Súgradh Productions (Imeall TG4/Body & Soul)
* Suzanne Doyle – Music, Film & Television Consultant
* Dan Hegarty – RTÉ 2FM
* Paddy McKenna – Editor, Joe.ie
* Cathal Murray – RTÉ Radio 1
* Barbara Nic D – Classic Hits 4FM
* Colm O’Regan – Hot Press
* Niall Power – Head of Music, Beat FM
* Eva Short – GoldenPlec & Deputy Editor, Trinity News

2017[43]

* Held in Vicar Street on 8 March 2018
* Broadcast live on RTÉ 2FM, with highlights on RTÉ2

| Ships |  Precession  |

* Come On Live Long – In The Still
* Marlene Enright – Placemats and Second Cuts
* Fangclub – Fangclub
* Lankum – Between The Earth & Sky
* James Vincent McMorrow – True Care
* New Jackson – From Night to Night
* Otherkin – OK
* Fionn Regan – The Meetings of the Waters
* Talos – Wild Alee

* Kate Brennan-Harding – Today FM
* Martin Byrne – Music Consultant
* Stephen Byrne – GoldenPlec
* Tracy Clifford – RTÉ 2FM
* Alan Donovan – Cork's RedFM
* Dave Hanratty – Freelance journalist & broadcaster with NO ENCORE podcast
* Hugh Linehan – The Irish Times Culture/Arts/Ticket Editor
* Ann Marie Shields – BIMM
* Lilian Smith – RTÉ Radio 1
* Danny Wilson – Totally Dublin

2018[44]

* Held in Vicar Street on 7 March 2019
* Broadcast live on RTÉ 2FM, with highlights on RTÉ2

| O Emperor | Jason |

* The Academic – Tales From The Backseat
* Delorentos – True Surrender
* Just Mustard – Wednesday
* Kojaque – Deli Daydreams
* Lisa O'Neill – Heard A Long Gone Song
* Saint Sister – Shape of Silence
* Rejjie Snow – Dear Annie
* Villagers – The Art Of Pretending To Swim
* Wyvern Lingo – Wyvern Lingo

* Louise Cantillion (Classic Hits)
* Zara Hedderman (Thin Air / Totally Dublin / freelance)
* Conor McCaffrey (Irish Daily Star / mookidmusic.com)
* Mike McGrath-Bryan (freelance / nialler9.com)
* Danny McElhinney (The Irish Mail on Sunday)
* Cathy Moorehead (Across The Line)
* Ed Smith (Today FM)
* Tara Stewart (RTÉ 2FM)
* Dean Van Nguyen (freelance / The Irish Times)
* Stephen White (thelastmixedtape.com)

2019[45]

* Held in Vicar Street on 5 March 2020
* Broadcast live on RTÉ 2FM, with highlights on RTÉ2

| Lankum | The Livelong Day |

* Daithi – L.O.S.S.
* Mick Flannery – Mick Flannery
* Fontaines D.C. – Dogrel
* Girl Band – The Talkies
* Jafaris – Stride
* Junior Brother – Pull The Right Rope
* SOAK – Grim Town
* Maija Sofia – Bath Time
* Sorcha Richardson – First Prize Bravery

* Claire Beck (Today FM)
* Sarina Bellissimo (Spin 1038)
* Andrea Cleary (freelance)
* Steve Grainger (Cork's RedFM)
* Jenny Greene (RTÉ 2FM)
* Molly King (Other Voices)
* Michael Lanigan (Sunday Business Post)
* Roisin McNickle (BBC Northern Ireland)
* Eoin Murray (The Thin Air)
* Fiachna Ó Braonáin (RTÉ Radio 1)
* Tadgh Williams (Beat 102 103)

2020[46][47]

* Held on 4 March 2021
* Broadcast live on RTÉ 2FM, with highlights on RTÉ2

| Denise Chaila | Go Bravely |

* Bitch Falcon – Staring At Clocks
* Fontaines D.C. – A Hero's Death
* JyellowL – 2020 D|Vision
* Róisín Murphy – Róisín Machine
* Nealo – All The Leaves Are Falling
* Pillow Queens – In Waiting
* Ailbhe Reddy – Personal History
* Niamh Regan – Hemet
* Silverbacks – Fad

* Trishauna Archer (Beat FM)
* Pamela Blake (Today FM)
* Pavel Barter (The Sunday Times)
* Gemma Bradley (BBC Radio One Introducing/BBC Radio Ulster Across the Line)
* Lisa Connell (GCN)
* Tracy Clifford (RTÉ 2fm)
* Lauren Murphy (freelance)
* Derek O’Connor (RTÉ Culture)
* Claire Regan (LMFM/Virgin Media)
* Louise Tighe (FM104)
* Ray Wingnut (Spin South West)

2021[48]

* Held on 3 March 2022 [49]

| For Those I Love | For Those I Love |

* Bicep – Isles
* Mick Flannery & Susan O'Neill – In The Game
* For Those I Love – For Those I Love
* Orla Gartland – Woman On The Internet
* HousePlants – Dry Goods
* Kojaque – Town's Dead
* Elaine Mai – Home
* Saint Sister – Where I Should End
* Soda Blonde – Small Talk
* Villagers – Fever Dreams

* Eve Blair (BBC Radio Ulster)
* Craig Connolly (District Magazine)
* Conor Halpin (Red FM)
* Ciara King (2FM)
* Martina McGlynn (RTÉ Radio 1)
* Kieran McGuinness (Radio Nova)
* John Meagher (Irish Independent)
* Aoife Moriarty (Buzz.ie/Irish Daily Star)
* Emma Nolan (FM104)
* Kate O’Dwyer (RTÉ One)
* Orla Ormond (Today FM)[50]

2022

* Held on 9 March 2023[51]

| CMAT | If My Wife New I'd Be Dead |

* Fontaines D.C. – Skinty Fia
* Aoife Nessa Frances – Protector
* Just Mustard – Heart Under
* Dermot Kennedy – Sonder
* The Mary Wallopers – The Mary Wallopers
* Anna Mieke – Theatre
* Pillow Queens – Leave the Light On
* Sorcha Richardson – Smiling Like an Idiot
* Thumper – Delusions of Grandeur

* Mags Blackburn (Cork's Red FM)
* Christine Costello (The Thin Air)
* Neil Doherty (RTÉ Radio 1)
* Adam Hogan (RTÉ 2fm)
* Eddie Hughes (KCLR)
* Lauren Johnson (BBC Northern Ireland)
* Sophia McDonald (Totally Dublin/Dublin Digital Radio)
* Shannon McNamee (The Journal of Music)
* Des O’Driscoll (The Irish Examiner)
* Nadine O'Regan (Business Post)
* Aoife Woodlock (Other Voices)[50]

2023

* Held 7 March 2024[52][53]

| Lankum | False Lankum |

* Grian Chatten – Chaos for the Fly
* CMAT – Crazymad, for Me
* John Francis Flynn – Look Over the Wall, See the Sky
* Kojaque – Phantom of the Afters
* Rachael Lavelle – Big Dreams
* The Murder Capital – Gigi's Recovery
* The Scratch – Mind Yourself
* Soda Blonde – Dream Big
* Ezra Williams – Supernumeraries[54]

* Robert Brown (Chordblossom)
* Beta da Silva (RTÉ 2fm)
* Kate Demolder (freelance)
* Saibh Downes (RTÉ Entertainment)
* Louise Duffy (RTÉ Radio 1)
* John Loftus (8Radio)
* Siobhan McAndrew (BBC Radio Ulster)
* Alannah McGhee (Other Voices)
* Dylan Murphy (District Magazine)
* Eimear Shannon (Today FM)
* Ava Somers (Beat 102 103)[50]

## Eligibility

[edit]

In order to be considered for the Choice Music Prize a release must meet all of the following conditions:

1. All albums must have been released for the very first time in Ireland in the previous calendar year. This means that the album must have been made available for purchase by the general public (in shops, at gigs or on websites) for the very first time in Ireland (i.e. Republic of Ireland and/or Northern Ireland) between 1 January and 31 December of that year.
2. Re-issues, multi-artist compilations, live albums and Best of collections are not eligible
3. The artist(s) in question must have been born in Ireland (i.e. Republic of Ireland or Northern Ireland) and/or hold an Irish passport. Bands are eligible to be nominated if the majority of the band members were born in Ireland (i.e. Republic of Ireland or Northern Ireland) and/or hold an Irish passport.
4. For the purposes of the Choice Music Prize, an album must contain six or more tracks and/or be over 33 minutes and 20 seconds in length.

There is no formal application process for the Choice Music Prize. Once an album meets the above criteria, it is eligible to be considered by the judges for selection.

> It's not about the best debut album or the best out-there album or the best pop album or the best album by an old-timer – it's the album that you, the judges, believe best sums up the previous year in Irish music, made by the act you, the judges, believe best represents Irish music and the Choice Music Prize right now.
>  — E-mail reminder sent to judges of Irish Album of the Year 2008.[55]

## See also

[edit]

* Mercury Prize (United Kingdom)
* Polaris Music Prize (Canada)
* Australian Music Prize (Australia)
* Prix Constantin (France)
* Shortlist Music Prize (United States)
* Nordic Music Prize (Nordic countries)

## Notes

[edit]

1. ^ With the exception of the 2012 ceremony, which was held in the Olympia Theatre, Dublin.
2. ^ With the exception of the 2014 ceremony, which took place on 27 February 2014.

## References

[edit]

General

* John Meagher (15 February 2008). "Choice Cuts". Irish Independent. Archived from the original on 7 January 2013. Retrieved 3 March 2010.
* Eamon Sweeney (1 March 2010). "A Prize debate". Irish Independent. Retrieved 3 March 2010.

Specific

1. ^ Dhonnacha, Barbara Nic (3 March 2016). "Cé aige a mbeidh an 'Choice'? Réamhaisnéis na nduaiseanna le Barbara Nic D."
2. ^ "Eligibility - Choice Music Prize". choicemusicprize.ie.
3. ^ a b c d Fiona McCann (28 February 2008). "Surprise Choice victory for Kildare band". The Irish Times. Retrieved 3 March 2010. "With no commercial input or sponsorship, it is designed to highlight Irish albums released over the preceding year which, according to its website, "deserve some extra time in the spotlight". At 12-1 odds going into the evening, Super Extra Bonus Party were an unexpected choice, beating favourite Cathy Davey for the prestigious prize, which has become renowned for being unpredictable. [...] The judging panel, which this year included 2FM's Dan Hegarty, Anne Marie Kelly from Today FM and Sunday Tribune journalist Una Mullally, debate the entries in a secluded room during the artists' performances, revealing their choice at the end of the night."
4. ^ a b c Eoin Butler (15 January 2009). "Choice script upset by inclusion of . . . The Script". The Irish Times. Retrieved 3 March 2010.
5. ^ Brian Boyd (4 March 2010). "Crowley's 'Season of Sparks' provides the heat at Choice Music Prize". The Irish Times. Retrieved 4 March 2010. "The Choice is viewed as an alternative to the more mainstream Meteor Awards, which took place last month."
6. ^ Brian Boyd (6 March 2010). "Season in the sun". The Irish Times. Retrieved 7 March 2010. "Crowley has been around long enough to know that the Choice Music Prize award won't mean he'll be challenging Jedward for press coverage anytime soon. The Choice – Ireland's answer to the UK's Mercury Music Prize – is an "alternative" award to the chart-driven likes of the Meteors and the Brits. Many of the albums that have been nominated for the award over its five-year existence have been self-released and would never have been commercial "hits" by any stretch of the imagination."
7. ^ Ed Power (25 July 2009). "Mercury is rising for our sensitive songbird". Irish Independent. Archived from the original on 2 August 2012. Retrieved 3 March 2010. "At the Mercurys, we are told, quality is what really counts (a similar independence of spirit informs its Irish equivalent, the Choice prize)."
8. ^ "Delorentos favourites to win Choice Music Prize". Irish Examiner. 10 January 2008. Retrieved 3 March 2010. "The Choice Music Prize, seen as the Irish equivalent to the Mercury Music Prize, will take place in Vicar Street on 27 February."
9. ^ John Meagher (10 January 2008). "Music gurus shun household names". Irish Independent. Independent News & Media. Archived from the original on 4 August 2012. Retrieved 3 March 2010. "Three other top names - The Thrills, Damien Dempsey and Declan O'Rourke - also failed to make the shortlist of 10 for the Choice Music Prize, regarded as the Irish equivalent of the Mercury Music Prize."
10. ^ a b "New Irish music award launched". RTÉ Entertainment. Raidió Teilifís Éireann. 29 November 2005. Retrieved 3 March 2010.
11. ^ a b "Dublin musician Jape wins Choice Music Prize". Irish Examiner. 5 March 2009. Archived from the original on 6 March 2009. Retrieved 3 March 2010. "He wins a cheque for €10,000 and a specially-commissioned award."
12. ^ "Shock result in Choice Music Prize". RTÉ Entertainment. Raidió Teilifís Éireann. 28 February 2008. Retrieved 3 March 2010. "Super Extra Bonus Party receive a cheque for €10,000 and a specially commissioned award."
13. ^ "Choice Music Prize Shortlist". Hot Press. 14 January 2009. Retrieved 3 March 2010. "The shortlist has been announced for the fourth annual Choice Music Prize, which is worth a cool €10,000 to the winners."
14. ^ "Jape album wins Choice Music Prize". RTÉ Entertainment. Raidió Teilifís Éireann. 5 March 2009. Retrieved 3 March 2010. "Egan receives a cheque for €10,000, provided by the Irish Music Rights Organisation (IMRO) and the Irish Recorded Music Association (IRMA), and a specially commissioned award."
15. ^ "Dublin musician Jape wins Choice Music Prize". Irish Independent. Independent News & Media. 5 March 2009. Archived from the original on 3 August 2012. Retrieved 3 March 2010. "He wins a cheque for €10,000 and a specially-commissioned award."
16. ^ Caitrina Cody (5 March 2009). "Jolly Jape admits he's surprised to scoop Choice gong". Irish Independent. Independent News & Media. Retrieved 3 March 2010. ""Our titchy little maverick event has morphed into an event that is prominent on the musical scene," said co-founder of the Choice Music Prize, Jim Carroll."
17. ^ Brian Boyd (5 March 2009). "Jape the surprise choice as Ritual takes the plaudits". The Irish Times. Retrieved 3 March 2010. "The Choice Prize, now in its fourth year, generally rewards critical acclaim over sheer commercial sales and has thrown up some surprising winners over the years. Jape/Richie Egan was not the bookie's favourite to win this year."
18. ^ a b "Rigsy & Michelle Doherty host live event". Irish Music Rights Organisation (IMRO). 27 March 2007. Archived from the original on 27 September 2007. Retrieved 3 March 2010. "The BBC's David 'Rigsy' O'Reilly & Channel 6's Michelle Doherty will host the Choice Music Prize – Irish Album of the Year live event in Vicar Street, Dublin on 28 February 2006. [...] The event will be broadcast live on the night by Pet Sounds on Today FM."
19. ^ a b c d Brian Boyd (5 March 2009). "Dublin band Jape wins overall prize at Choice Music awards". The Irish Times. Retrieved 3 March 2010. "Many of the shortlisted acts played live last night to a capacity crowd in a show that was hosted by DJ Alison Curtis and broadcast live on Today FM. The ten judges finally came up with an overall winner at 10.30pm. [...] Such was the closeness of the vote that the judges finally decided on a secret ballot to come up with the winner."
20. ^ "Choice Music Prize - Shortlist Announced". Irish Music Rights Organisation (IMRO). 15 January 2009. Archived from the original on 3 May 2009. Retrieved 3 March 2010. "The overall Album of the Year will be selected by this judging panel at the Choice Music Prize event at Vicar Street, Dublin on Wednesday 4 March. The event will be presented as a special live broadcast on Today FM."
21. ^ a b Shelley Marsden (10 January 2007). "The shortlist has been announced for the third Choice Music Prize in Ireland". The Irish World. Archived from the original on 17 July 2011. Retrieved 3 March 2010. "The event will be live on Today FM as part of a "Tom Dunne Presents the Choice Music Prize" special broadcast."
22. ^ "Choice Music Prize tickets go on sale". RTÉ Entertainment. Raidió Teilifís Éireann. 7 February 2006. Retrieved 3 March 2010. "Nine of the ten acts on the Choice Music Prize shortlist will attend and perform live - the only absentee being The Chalets, who will be on tour in Europe with the Kaiser Chiefs."
23. ^ a b "Choice Music Prize for The Divine Comedy". RTÉ Entertainment. Raidió Teilifís Éireann. 1 March 2007. Archived from the original on 3 March 2007. Retrieved 1 July 2019. "The other two shortlisted acts, Fionn Regan and Snow Patrol, were unable to attend the ceremony due to touring commitments in Australia and the US respectively."
24. ^ Colin Gleeson (4 March 2010). "Sparky rock singer scoops top album title". Irish Independent. Independent News & Media. Archived from the original on 2 August 2012. Retrieved 4 March 2010.
25. ^ a b "UPDATED: Jape wins 2009 Choice Music Prize". Hot Press. 5 March 2009. Retrieved 3 March 2010. "Although The Script and David Holmes did not perform tracks from their nominated albums, both Holmes and Script singer Danny were at the show, and seemed in top form. Lisa Hannigan and Oppenheimer were unable to attend due to touring commitments."
26. ^ a b Una Mullally (18 February 2007). "Who wins? You don't decide. . ". Sunday Tribune. Archived from the original on 6 March 2016. Retrieved 3 March 2010. "For Duke Special, it's his second nomination, having also made the shortlist last year. The Choice Music Prize has definitely made a difference to his profile. "Last year, it was one of the things that, along with touring loads and loads, got people talking about the record. The best thing for me was that newspapers and radio were talking about it and playing it for the first time. That was a real turning point for me - it can't be underestimated the impact that [getting nominated] has.""
27. ^ Jeananne Craig (4 March 2010). "Crowley wins €10k Choice music award". Evening Herald. Independent News & Media. Archived from the original on 1 August 2012. Retrieved 4 March 2010. "According to industry estimates, Choice-nominated acts can expect at least a doubling or even trebling in sales of their record over coming day and weeks."
28. ^ McLean, Steve (2 June 2006). "The Polaris Music Prize Will Go To Canada's Best Album". Chart. Archived from the original on 7 June 2011. Retrieved 3 March 2010. "While the Mercury Prize was the first of its kind, the U.S. had the Shortlist Music Prize until it was replaced this year by the New Pantheon Music Award. Australia has recently launched the Australian Music Prize and Ireland has created the Choice Music Award. "I was talking to the directors of both of those over the past few months to compare notes," says Jordan. "They were in a similar situation. "They had the idea five years ago and had been working on it piecemeal to get it to the point where it could come off. It was good to know that I wasn't alone in taking so long to make it happen.""
29. ^ Brian Boyd (4 March 2011). "Bangor band wins top music prize". The Irish Times. Archived from the original on 23 October 2012. Retrieved 4 March 2011. "There was an international dimension to last night's ceremony with Culture Ireland (a State agency for the promotion of Irish arts worldwide) inviting over some key international music industry press, promoters and publishers to attend the event."
30. ^ Entertainment.ie (7 March 2013). "Meteor Choice Music Prize: Who's gonna win? Watch the event live here!".
31. ^ "Meteor to sponsor the Choice Music Prize - News | State Magazine". Archived from the original on 13 October 2011. Retrieved 10 October 2011.
32. ^ "Choice Music Prize - Celebrating the Best Irish Music". Choicemusicprize.com.
33. ^ "Celebrating 10 Years of…the Meteor Choice Music Prize". TodayFM.
34. ^ "RTÉ Choice Music Prize - Irish Album of the Year 2016". Imro.ie. 11 January 2017.
35. ^ "Choice Music nominees announced". RTÉ Entertainment. Raidió Teilifís Éireann. 15 January 2009. Retrieved 3 March 2010.
36. ^ Charlie Taylor (13 January 2010). "Bell X1 on Choice prize shortlist". The Irish Times. Retrieved 3 March 2010.
37. ^ Anna Forbes (3 March 2011). "Choice Music Prize Preview". State. Archived from the original on 5 March 2011. Retrieved 3 March 2011.
38. ^ "Choice Prize Shortlist Announced". RTÉ Ten. Raidió Teilifís Éireann. 11 January 2012. Archived from the original on 15 January 2012. Retrieved 11 January 2012.
39. ^ "Julie Feeney takes the Choice Music Prize". RTÉ Entertainment. Raidió Teilifís Éireann. 1 March 2006. Retrieved 3 March 2010.
40. ^ "Super Extra Bonus Party win Choice Music Prize". Irish Independent. Independent News & Media. 28 February 2008. Archived from the original on 1 August 2012. Retrieved 3 March 2010.
41. ^ "Adrian Crowley wins the Choice Music Prize!". Hot Press. 3 March 2010. Retrieved 3 March 2010.
42. ^ Adelina Campos (4 March 2011). "Choice Music Prize is won by Two Door Cinema Club". Evening Herald. Independent News & Media. Retrieved 4 March 2011.
43. ^ "2017 Shortlist | Choice Music Prize". choicemusicprize.ie. Archived from the original on 15 March 2018. Retrieved 28 March 2018.
44. ^ "2018 Shortlist – Choice Music Prize".
45. ^ "2019 Shortlist – Choice Music Prize".
46. ^ "Judges 2020 – Choice Music Prize".
47. ^ "RTÉ Choice Music Prize Returns in 2021 – Choice Music Prize".
48. ^ "Choice Music Prize".
49. ^ "Ticketmaster - RTE Choice Music Prize In Association with Imro & Irma".
50. ^ a b c "Judges – Choice Music Prize".
51. ^ White, Stephen (9 March 2023). "CMAT wins RTÉ Choice Music Prize Album of the Year 2022". The Last Mixed Tape.
52. ^ "RTÉ Choice Music Prize announces 2024 return". 15 November 2023 - via www.rte.ie. `{{cite journal}}`: Cite journal requires `|journal=` (help)
53. ^ "Lankum awarded RTÉ Choice Music Prize Irish Album of the Year 2023". RTÉ Media Sales.
54. ^ "2023 Irish Album of the Year – Choice Music Prize".
55. ^ John Meagher (13 February 2009). "Loaded: 13/02/2009". Irish Independent. Retrieved 3 March 2010.

## External links

[edit]

* Choice Music Prize official site

* v
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Music awards

Worldwide|

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Asia and
Oceania|

* Anugerah Industri Muzik (MLY)
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Europe|

* Amadeus Austrian Music Awards
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* Meteor Music Awards (IRL)
* Mercury Prize (UK)
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* Music Industry Awards (BEL)
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* P3 Gull (NOR)
* PLAY - Portuguese Music Awards
* Porin Music Award (CRO)
* Premio Nacional de Música (SPA)
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* Sanremo Music Festival Awards (ITA)
* Scots Trad Music Awards (UK)
* Scottish Album of the Year Award (UK)
* Scottish Alternative Music Awards (UK)
* Scottish Music Awards (UK)
* Smash Hits Poll Winners Party (UK)
* Spellemannprisen (NOR)
* Swallow Music Awards (ARM)
* TMF Awards (BEL/NED)
* Victoires de la Musique (FRA)
* YUNA (UKR)
* ZAI Awards/Aurel Awards (SK)
* Zamu Music Awards (BEL)

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