The shortlist for this year’s RTÉ Choice Music Prize Irish Song of the Year 2020, in association with IMRO & IRMA, was announced today on RTÉ 2FM’s Tracy Clifford Show.

The shortlist is as follows:

Denise Chaila – Chaila  (Narolane)

Gemma Dunleavy – Up De Flats (Up De Flats)

Fontaines D.C. – Televised Mind (Rough Trade)

Niall Horan – No Judgement (Capitol Records)

Jafaris – Haunted (Jafaris)

Gavin James – Boxes (GS Believe)

Dermot Kennedy – Giants (Island Records)

Picture This – Winona Ryder (Universal Music)

Pillow Queens – Holy Show (Pillow Queens Records)

True Tides – Survive (Temple Records)

Votes are limited to one per person per day. Only votes cast in the Republic of Ireland will be counted. Voting closes at midnight on Sunday 28^th February.

The Irish Album and Song of the Year 2020 will be announced live on RTÉ 2FM in a special Tracy Clifford Show from 12-3pm on Thursday 4^th March and broadcast live on RTÉ Player. The show will feature live performances from some of the shortlisted acts and further details on the line-up will be announced soon.

A special RTÉ Choice Music Prize highlights programme will be broadcast on RTÉ2 television the following week.

UPDATE:

We are delighted to announce that Soak will also be joining us in Vicar Street on Thursday 05 March to perform a selection of songs from her nominated album, Grim Town.

This brings the number of nominated performs to 8 with the full line-up of:

Daithi

Mick Flannery

Fontaines D.C.

Jafaris

Junior Brother

Sorcha Richardson

Soak

Maija Sofia

A limited number of tickets are still available for the Vicar Street show.

The winning album will be announced at the RTÉ Choice Music Prize live event in Vicar Street, Dublin on Thursday 5^th March and broadcast live on RTÉ 2FM in a special four-hour extended show from 7-11pm. A special TV programme of the event highlights will be broadcast on Sunday 15^th March on RTÉ2, presented by Eoghan McDermott and Bláthnaid Treacy.

The 10 shortlisted albums are:

Daithi – L.O.S.S. (Strange Brew)

Mick Flannery –  Mick Flannery (Rosaleen Records)

Fontaines D.C. – Dogrel (Partisan Records)

Girl Band – The Talkies (Rough Trade Records)

Jafaris – Stride (DFL)

Junior Brother – Pull The Right Rope (Strange Brew)

Lankum – The Livelong Day (Rough Trade Records)

Soak – Grim Town (Rough Trade Records)

Maija Sofia – Bath Time (Trapped Animal Records)

Sorcha Richardson  – First Prize Bravery (Faction Records)

The 15th annual RTÉ Choice Music Prize will once again celebrate the best in Irish recorded music. The Prize has become one of the music-industry highlights of the year since its inception in 2005. The Irish Album of the Year award is chosen from a shortlist of ten albums by a panel of twelve Irish music media professionals and industry experts. The full list of judges can be found here.

Culture Ireland will fund the attendance of influential overseas Industry executives to attend the RTE Choice Music Prize Live Event and RTÉ Choice Music Prize “Conversations” will return and take place during the day on the 5^th.

Tickets for the Choice Music Prize live event are on sale now from all Ticketmaster outlets and from http://www.ticketmaster.ie priced €28.00 including booking fee.

RTÉ Choice Music Prize is back and continues to champion Irish music. Key dates for 2020’s event announced today live on 2FM’s Tracy Clifford Show by previous nominees, The Academic.

The RTÉ Choice Music Prize Live Event will take place on Thursday 5^th March 2020 in Vicar Street, Dublin. Tickets go on sale this Friday 29^th November at 9am from Ticketmaster outlets and here priced €28.00 including booking fee.

Other key dates include:

Irish Album of the Year 2019 Shortlist Announcement – Wednesday 8^th January 2020

Irish Song of the Year 2019 Shortlist Announcement – Wednesday 29^th January 2020

The Irish Album of the Year 2019 will be announced at the Live Event and will be broadcast live on RTÉ 2FM in a special four hour extended programme from 7-11pm, with a special RTÉ Choice Music Prize highlights programme going out on RTÉ2 television the following week.

Adrian Lynch, Head of Audiences, Channels and Marketing, RTÉ, said, “Our channels are once again ready to play a central role in helping all this year’s nominees make a big impact and reach new audiences. From the strong engagement we get across our social channels to the positive reaction we receive to our broadcast of the awards event, we are looking forward to doing all we can to make 2019 another year to remember for all nominees.”

Dan Healy, Head of RTÉ 2FM, said, “The RTÉ Choice Music Prize continues to provide a wonderful opportunity, not just on 2FM, but right across RTÉ to shine a spotlight, like no one else, on the very best in Irish music- and what a year it has been. There are so many incredible Irish artists right now and we are more than happy to support them on 2FM. Our all-Irish music days, which we developed to support our RTÉ Choice Music Prize partnership, remain one of the most popular things we do on the station. So, here’s to another great year for Irish artists and for the RTÉ Choice Music Prize on 2FM.”

RTÉ Choice Music Prize ‘Conversations’ will return and take place on the day of the RTÉ Choice Music Prize Live Event. ‘Conversations’ is an international music forum designed to encourage frank exchanges amongst panellists and with the audiences to challenge and elucidate the biggest prevailing issues confronting artists and industry professionals.

The 15th annual RTÉ Choice Music Prize will once again celebrate the best in Irish recorded music. The Prize has become one of the music industry highlights of the year since its inception in 2005. The Irish Album of the Year award is chosen from a shortlist of ten albums by a panel of eleven Irish music media professionals and industry experts.

The winning act will receive €10,000, a prize fund which has been provided by The Irish Music Rights Organisation (IMRO) and The Irish Recorded Music Association (IRMA).

“We are delighted to continue our longstanding association with Irelands critically acclaimed music prize. Irish music continues to push new boundaries and the Choice Music Prize provides a great platform for new music to resonate so strongly with audiences in Ireland and important overseas markets”. Victor Finn, Chief Executive of IMRO

“The Choice Music Prize continues to highlight new music in Ireland. IRMA supports the Choice Music Prize as it recognising the extraordinary talent that has emerged in recent times in Ireland. Irish acts continue to shine at home and abroad reaffirming our position as a source of enviable musical talent. The Choice Music Prize honours these talents and IRMA congratulates all nominees and wishes them the best of luck for the future.” Willie Kavanagh, Chairman of IRMA

All shortlisted acts will receive a specially commissioned award.

RAAP and Culture Ireland are also official project partners of the RTE Choice Music Prize.

Culture Ireland will fund the attendance of influential overseas Industry executives to attend the RTE Choice Music Prize Live Event on March 5^th.

The Choice Music Prize website has published a list of Irish albums released to date in 2019. This list can be viewed at here and notified by email regarding any additions list@choicemusicprize.com.

Tickets for the Choice Music Prize live event will go on sale from all Ticketmaster outlets and from http://www.ticketmaster.ie on this Friday 222^nd November priced €28.00 including booking fee.

The RTÉ Choice Music Prize Live Event will take place on Thursday 7^th March 2019 in Vicar Street, Dublin. Tickets go on sale this Friday 23^rd November from Ticketmaster outlets and http://www.ticketmaster.ie priced €28.00 including booking fee.

Other key dates include:

Irish Album of the Year 2018 Shortlist Announcement – Wednesday 9^th January 2019

Irish Song of the Year 2018 Shortlist Announcement – Wednesday 30^th January 2019

The Irish Album of the Year 2018 will be announced at the Live Event and will be broadcast live on RTÉ 2FM in a special four hour extended programme from 7-11pm, with a special RTÉ Choice Music Prize highlights programme going out on RTÉ2 television the following week.

Adrian Lynch, Head of Audiences, Channels and Marketing, RTÉ, said, “The success of our partnership with the Choice Music Prize over the past two years highlights how our television, radio and online platforms can combine to great effect to promote nominated artists and support Irish music talent. This was another great year for Irish music and we are looking forward to doing our bit across RTÉ2, 2FM and rte.ie to make 2018 a year to remember for all RTÉ Choice Music Prize nominees.”

According to Alan Swan, Director of Music, 2FM, “Giving airplay to emerging and established Irish talent is at the very core of what we do at 2FM and our RTÉ Choice Music Prize All-Irish music days, which celebrate Irish music and artists, have become one of the most popular features on the station. This has been such an exciting year for Irish music and we can’t wait to celebrate it with the RTÉ Choice Music Prize on 2FM.”

RTÉ Choice Music Prize “Conversations” will return and take place on the day of the RTÉ Choice Music Prize Live Event. Making its debut last year, this imaginative and provocative international music forum is designed to encourage frank exchanges amongst panellists and with the audiences to challenge and elucidate the biggest prevailing issues confronting artists and industry professionals.

The 14th annual RTÉ Choice Music Prize will once again celebrate the best in Irish recorded music.   The Prize has become one of the music industry highlights of the year since its inception in 2005. The Irish Album of the Year award is chosen from a shortlist of ten albums by a panel of twelve Irish music media professionals and industry experts.

The winning act will receive €10,000, a prize fund which has been provided by The Irish Music Rights Organisation (IMRO) and The Irish Recorded Music Association (IRMA).

“2018 has witnessed another incredible year for Irish music.  A wealth of emerging artists have made serious inroads in various international territories, clearly demonstrating the creative force of Irish music creators right now. Choice Music Prize recognises and champions some of our finest songwriters and IMRO is delighted to continue its longstanding association with this prestigious music prize” Victor Finn, Chief Executive of IMRO

“It is with great pleasure that we see the Choice Music Prize grow in stature and significance every year. New music is the lifeblood of the Recorded Music Industry and the Choice Music Prize puts a spotlight on some Ireland’s best new music.” Willie Kavanagh, Chairman of IRMA

All shortlisted acts will receive a specially commissioned award.

RAAP and Culture Ireland are also official project partners of the RTE Choice Music Prize.

This year RTÉ Choice Music Prize are delighted to have also partnered with Yangaroo Music Ireland who will provide all eligible artists a simple, free route for instant delivery of a digital copy of their eligible album directly to the Irish Album of the Year judging panel.  Yangaroo Music Ireland (http://www.yangaroomusic.ie) offer a professional digital delivery service for Labels and Artists to deliver their new music releases instantly to media, venues, festivals and promoters in Ireland.

Culture Ireland will fund the attendance of influential overseas Industry executives to attend the RTE Choice Music Prize Live Event on March 7^th.

The Choice Music Prize website has published a list of Irish albums released to date in 2018. This list can be viewed and updated by logging onto http://www.choicemusicprize.ie.

Tickets for the Choice Music Prize live event will go on sale from all Ticketmaster outlets and from http://www.ticketmaster.ie on this Friday 23^rd November priced €28.00 including booking fee.