Dermot Kennedy and the Pillow Queens lead the shortlist for this year's RTÉ Choice Music Prize Irish Album of the Year 2022.
The list of talent acknowledged for the award, in association with IMRO and IRMA, was announced on Monday’s edition of RTÉ 2FM's Tracy Clifford Show, as she kicked off a week of shortlist announcements.
The 18th annual RTÉ Choice Music Prize will once again celebrate the best in Irish recorded music.
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The full shortlist consists of Anna Mieke – Theatre, Aoife Nessa Frances – Protector, CMAT – If My Wife New I’d Be Dead, Dermot Kennedy – Sonder, Fontaines D.C. – Skinty Fia, Just Mustard – Heart Under, Pillow Queens – Leave the Light On, Sorcha Richardson – Smiling Like An Idiot, The Mary Wallopers – The Mary Wallopers, and Thumper – Delusions of Grandeur.
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).
All shortlisted acts will receive a specially commissioned award.
The Tracy Clifford Show will broadcast a week of Choice Music Prize announcements and activities, including the Irish Song of the Year nominees, as well as revealing three new prizes: Irish Artist of the Year, Irish Breakthrough Artist and Classic Irish Album.
The Prize has become one of the music-industry highlights of the year since its inception in 2005.
As part of RTÉ's continued commitment to promoting Irish music, 2FM celebrated the shortlist announcement across its schedule with all Irish music all day from 6am to midnight.
Commenting, Adam Fogarty, Head of Music, RTÉ 2FM, said: “It’s been another year of quality music from Irish artists which we’re looking forward to celebrating on 2FM.
“The new prizes, particularly Irish Artist of the Year and Irish Breakthrough Artist, along with Irish Song of the Year will ensure that we get to put an even bigger spotlight on incredible Irish artists and recognise their achievements over the last twelve months.”
The Irish Artist of the Year shortlist will be announced on Tuesday 10th January, Irish Breakthrough Artist – shortlist Wednesday 11th January
Classic Irish Album will follow on Thursday 12th January and Irish Song of the Year shortlist will land on Friday 13th January.
The public vote for Song of the Year will open at the end of the week.
The Irish Album of the Year 2022, along with the four prizes above, will be announced live from Vicar St on RTÉ 2FM in a special show 7-11pm on Thursday 9th March.
The show will feature live performances from some of the shortlisted acts, further details on the line-up to be announced soon.
Tickets are on sale now via Ticketmaster.
RAAP, Culture Ireland, FMC and Minding Creative Minds are also official project partners of the RTE Choice Music Prize.
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