RTÉ has announced a new partnership with the RTÉ Choice Music Prize. The partnership will see both RTÉ2 and RTÉ 2FM play a lead role in supporting what has become one of the highlights of the Irish musical calendar as part of a new agreement.
Commenting on the announcement, Dee Forbes, Director-General RTÉ, said,
“Supporting Irish music and Irish musicians is a core part of what RTÉ does and this partnership will allow us to take our support one step further. Through RTÉ2 and RTÉ2FM, two established brands with a long and rich history in supporting Irish music, and through our popular online and mobile platforms, RTÉ will put the RTÉ Choice Music Prize at the centre of a campaign that will bring the best Irish artists and songs from the past year to a wider audience.”
The shortlist for this year’s RTÉ Choice Music Prize, Irish Album of the Year 2016, in association with IMRO & IRMA, will be announced on Wednesday 11th January, 2017.
Commenting on the announcement, Victor Finn, Chief Executive IMRO said, “We are delighted to continue our longstanding association with this important music prize. Irish music continues to push new boundaries and this prize shines a light on the music creators and songs that resonate so strongly with audiences at home and abroad”.
And Willie Kavanagh, IRMA Chairman adds “We at IRMA are happy to continue our support of the RTE Choice Music Prize. The ongoing search for new artists and new music, which is the focus of the RTE Choice Music Prize, represents the life blood of the music industry in Ireland”.
The winning album will be announced at the RTÉ Choice Music Prize live event, held in Vicar Street, Dublin on Thursday 9th March 2017. As part of the new partnership, the event will be broadcast live on RTÉ 2FM in a special four hour extended programme from 7-11pm and on RTÉ2 as part of a special RTÉ Choice Music Prize programme, approximately one week later.
The 12th annual RTÉ Choice Music Prize will once again celebrate and acknowledge the best in Irish recorded music. The prize has become one of the highlights of the Irish musical calendar since its inception in 2005 and is awarded to the Irish Album of the Year, as chosen from a shortlist of ten releases 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). All of the shortlisted acts will receive a specially commissioned award.
RAAP, Culture Ireland & Golden Discs are also official project partners. Culture Ireland will fund the attendance of influential overseas Industry executives to attend the Choice Music Prize Live Event on March 9th while Golden Discs will feature special stands showcasing the RTE Choice Music Prize nominees across their stores nationwide.
A list of Irish albums released to date in 2016 is available here.
RTÉ Choice Music Prize – Irish Song of The Year 2016
The shortlist for the RTÉ Choice Music Prize – Irish Song of The Year 2016 will be announced on Wednesday 1st February, 2017. A Special event featuring exclusive performances from both Album of the Year and Song of the Year nominees will be held in Dublin that evening.
Tickets for the Choice Music Prize live event will go on sale from all Ticketmaster outlets and from ticketmaster.ie on Friday December 2nd priced €26.50 including booking fee.
