Choice Music Prize#Irish Album of the Year 2007

The Choice Music Prize was established by journalist Jim Carroll and manager Dave Reid in 2005.{{cite news|author=Eoin Butler|url=http://www.irishtimes.com/newspaper/ireland/2009/0115/1231738223715.html|title=Choice script upset by inclusion of . . . The Script|date=15 January 2009|access-date=3 March 2010| newspaper=The Irish Times}}

File:Choice_Music_Prize.png

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.{{cite news|author=Brian Boyd|url=http://www.irishtimes.com/newspaper/ireland/2010/0304/1224265560989.html|title=Crowley's 'Season of Sparks' provides the heat at Choice Music Prize|date=4 March 2010|access-date=4 March 2010|newspaper=The Irish Times|quote=The Choice is viewed as an alternative to the more mainstream Meteor Awards, which took place last month.}}{{cite news|author=Brian Boyd|url=http://www.irishtimes.com/newspaper/weekend/2010/0306/1224265694409.html|title=Season in the sun|date=6 March 2010|newspaper=The Irish Times|access-date=7 March 2010|quote=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.}} 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.{{cite news|author=Ed Power |url=http://www.independent.ie/entertainment/music/mercury-is-rising-for-our-sensitive-songbird-1840253.html |archive-url=https://archive.today/20120802042001/http://www.independent.ie/entertainment/music/mercury-is-rising-for-our-sensitive-songbird-1840253.html |url-status=dead |archive-date=2 August 2012 |title=Mercury is rising for our sensitive songbird |date=25 July 2009 |access-date=3 March 2010 |newspaper=Irish Independent |quote=At the Mercurys, we are told, quality is what really counts (a similar independence of spirit informs its Irish equivalent, the Choice prize). }}{{cite news|url=http://www.irishexaminer.com/breaking/entertainment/mheymhqlgboj/|title=Delorentos favourites to win Choice Music Prize|date=10 January 2008|access-date=3 March 2010|newspaper=Irish Examiner|quote=The Choice Music Prize, seen as the Irish equivalent to the Mercury Music Prize, will take place in Vicar Street on 27 February.}}{{cite web|author=John Meagher |url=http://www.independent.ie/entertainment/music/music-gurus-shun-household-names-1261968.html |archive-url=https://archive.today/20120804055201/http://www.independent.ie/entertainment/music/music-gurus-shun-household-names-1261968.html |url-status=dead |archive-date=4 August 2012 |title=Music gurus shun household names |date=10 January 2008 |work=Irish Independent |publisher=Independent News & Media |access-date=3 March 2010 |quote=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. }} It is a music award voted for by a panel of twelve judges based on artistic merit, regardless of genre,{{cite web|url=http://www.rte.ie/arts/2005/1129/choicemusicprize.html|title=New Irish music award launched|date=29 November 2005|publisher=RTÉ|access-date=3 March 2010}} 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).{{cite web|url=http://www.rte.ie/arts/2008/0228/choicemusicprize.html|title=Shock result in Choice Music Prize|date=28 February 2008|access-date=3 March 2010|publisher=RTÉ|quote=Super Extra Bonus Party receive a cheque for €10,000 and a specially commissioned award.}}{{cite magazine|url=http://www.hotpress.com/news/5171298.html|title=Choice Music Prize Shortlist|date=14 January 2009|access-date=3 March 2010|magazine=Hot Press|quote=The shortlist has been announced for the fourth annual Choice Music Prize, which is worth a cool €10,000 to the winners. }}{{cite web|url=http://www.rte.ie/arts/2009/0305/choicemusicprize.html|title=Jape album wins Choice Music Prize|date=5 March 2009|access-date=3 March 2010|publisher=RTÉ|quote=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.}}{{cite web|url=http://www.independent.ie/breaking-news/national-news/entertainment/dublin-musician-jape-wins-choice-music-prize-1661980.html |archive-url=https://archive.today/20120803010233/http://www.independent.ie/breaking-news/national-news/entertainment/dublin-musician-jape-wins-choice-music-prize-1661980.html |url-status=dead |archive-date=3 August 2012 |title=Dublin musician Jape wins Choice Music Prize |date=5 March 2009 |work=Irish Independent |publisher=Independent News & Media |access-date=3 March 2010 |quote=He wins a cheque for €10,000 and a specially-commissioned award. }} There is no sponsorship.

Initially considered by co-founder Carroll as a "titchy little maverick event",{{cite web|author=Caitrina Cody|url=http://www.independent.ie/entertainment/music/jolly-jape-admits-hes-surprised-to-scoop-choice-gong-1661637.html|title=Jolly Jape admits he's surprised to scoop Choice gong|date=5 March 2009|work=Irish Independent|publisher=Independent News & Media|access-date=3 March 2010|quote="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.}} the Choice Music Prize has gained a reputation for producing "unpredictable" winners.{{cite news|author=Brian Boyd|url=http://www.irishtimes.com/newspaper/ireland/2009/0305/1224242305828.html|title=Jape the surprise choice as Ritual takes the plaudits|date=5 March 2009|access-date=3 March 2010|newspaper=The Irish Times|quote=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.}} 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,{{cite web|url=http://www.imro.ie/newstastic//news.php?item=9522 |title=Rigsy & Michelle Doherty host live event. |date=27 March 2007 |access-date=3 March 2010 |publisher=Irish Music Rights Organisation (IMRO) |quote=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. |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070927190807/http://www.imro.ie/newstastic//news.php?item=9522 |archive-date=27 September 2007 }} and also by Alison Curtis., 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.{{cite web|url=http://www.imro.ie/newstastic//news.php?item=9762 |title=Choice Music Prize - Shortlist Announced |date=15 January 2009 |access-date=3 March 2010 |publisher=Irish Music Rights Organisation (IMRO) |quote=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. |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090503000228/http://www.imro.ie/newstastic//news.php?item=9670 |archive-date=3 May 2009}}{{cite web|author=Shelley Marsden |url=http://www.theirishworld.com/article.asp?SubSection_Id=11&Article_Id=4480 |title=The shortlist has been announced for the third Choice Music Prize in Ireland |date=10 January 2007 |access-date=3 March 2010 |publisher=The Irish World |quote=The event will be live on Today FM as part of a "Tom Dunne Presents the Choice Music Prize" special broadcast. |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110717005028/http://www.theirishworld.com/article.asp?SubSection_Id=11&Article_Id=4480 |archive-date=17 July 2011}} The nominated acts are invited to perform in front of a live audience at the ceremony. 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.{{cite web|url=http://www.rte.ie/arts/2006/0207/choicemusicprize.html|title=Choice Music Prize tickets go on sale|date=7 February 2006|access-date=3 March 2010|publisher=RTÉ|quote=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.}}{{cite web |url=http://www.rte.ie/arts/2007/0301/choicemusicprize.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070303092909/http://www.rte.ie/arts/2007/0301/choicemusicprize.html |url-status=dead |archive-date=3 March 2007 |title=Choice Music Prize for The Divine Comedy |date=1 March 2007 |access-date=1 July 2019 |publisher=RTÉ|quote=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.}}{{cite news|url=http://www.independent.ie/national-news/sparky-rock-singer-scoops-top-album-title-2088024.html |archive-url=https://archive.today/20120802160627/http://www.independent.ie/national-news/sparky-rock-singer-scoops-top-album-title-2088024.html |url-status=dead |archive-date=2 August 2012 |title=Sparky rock singer scoops top album title |author=Colin Gleeson |date=4 March 2010 |work=Irish Independent |publisher=Independent News & Media |access-date=4 March 2010 }}{{cite magazine|url=http://www.hotpress.com/news/5293910.html|title=UPDATED: Jape wins 2009 Choice Music Prize|date=5 March 2009|access-date=3 March 2010|magazine=Hot Press|quote=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.}} David Holmes (musician) and The Script also did not perform when nominated, though Holmes and Danny O'Donoghue attended the ceremony. 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.{{cite news|author=Fiona McCann|url=http://www.irishtimes.com/newspaper/ireland/2008/0228/1203619560024.html|title=Surprise Choice victory for Kildare band|date=28 February 2008|access-date=3 March 2010|newspaper=The Irish Times|quote=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.}} A secret ballot was used to decide the winner of Irish Album of the Year 2008, Ritual.{{cite news|author=Brian Boyd|url=http://www.irishtimes.com/newspaper/breaking/2009/0305/breaking9.htm|title=Dublin band Jape wins overall prize at Choice Music awards|date=5 March 2009|access-date=3 March 2010|newspaper=The Irish Times|quote=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.}}

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". Duke Special, nominated for the first two awards, said his nomination for the inaugural award had helped raise his profile in the Irish media.{{cite news|author=Una Mullally |url=http://www.tribune.ie/article/2007/feb/18/who-wins-you-dont-decide/ |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160306234818/http://tribune.ie/article/2007/feb/18/who-wins-you-dont-decide |url-status=dead |archive-date=6 March 2016 |title=Who wins? You don't decide. . . |date=18 February 2007 |access-date=3 March 2010 |newspaper=Sunday Tribune |quote=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." }} 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". Nominees have doubled or trebled sales after the award has been announced.{{cite web|author=Jeananne Craig |url=http://www.herald.ie/entertainment/around-town/crowley-wins-euro10k-choice-music-award-2088382.html |archive-url=https://archive.today/20120801124034/http://www.herald.ie/entertainment/around-town/crowley-wins-euro10k-choice-music-award-2088382.html |url-status=dead |archive-date=1 August 2012 |title=Crowley wins €10k Choice music award |date=4 March 2010 |work=Evening Herald |publisher=Independent News & Media |access-date=4 March 2010 |quote=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. }} Steve Jordan was influenced by the Choice Music Prize when he set up Canada's Polaris Music Prize.{{cite magazine|url=http://www.chartattack.com/news/41260/the-polaris-music-prize-will-go-to-canadas-best-album |title=The Polaris Music Prize Will Go To Canada's Best Album |access-date=3 March 2010 |first=Steve |last=McLean |magazine=Chart |date=2 June 2006 |quote=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." |url-status=usurped |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110607171434/http://www.chartattack.com/news/41260/the-polaris-music-prize-will-go-to-canadas-best-album |archive-date= 7 June 2011 }} Culture Ireland invited figures from the international music industry to the event that decided the Irish Album of the Year 2010.{{cite news|author=Brian Boyd|url=http://www.irishtimes.com/newspaper/ireland/2011/0304/1224291283152.html|title=Bangor band wins top music prize|date=4 March 2011|access-date=4 March 2011|newspaper=The Irish Times|quote=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.|archive-date=23 October 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121023093957/http://www.irishtimes.com/newspaper/ireland/2011/0304/1224291283152.html|url-status=dead}}

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.{{cite web|url=http://entertainment.ie/music/news/Meteor-Choice-Music-Prize-Whos-gonna-win-Watch-the-event-live-here/171115.htm|title=Meteor Choice Music Prize: Who's gonna win? Watch the event live here!|last=Entertainment.ie|date=7 March 2013 }}

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.{{Cite web |url=http://www.state.ie/34714-news/meteor-to-sponsor-the-choice-music-prize |title=Meteor to sponsor the Choice Music Prize - News | State Magazine |access-date=10 October 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111013105536/http://www.state.ie/34714-news/meteor-to-sponsor-the-choice-music-prize |archive-date=13 October 2011 |url-status=dead}} In the run-up to the nominees (to be announced on 11 January 2012),{{cite web|url=http://www.choicemusicprize.com/|title=Choice Music Prize - Celebrating the Best Irish Music|website=Choicemusicprize.com}} 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.{{Cite web|url=https://www.todayfm.com/music/celebrating-10-years-ofthe-meteor-choice-music-prize-385710|title=Celebrating 10 Years of…the Meteor Choice Music Prize|website=TodayFM}} However, from 2017 the awards show will be supported by RTÉ online, on radio and on television.{{cite web|url=https://www.imro.ie/featured-article/rte-choice-music-prize-irish-album-year-2016/|title=RTÉ Choice Music Prize - Irish Album of the Year 2016|website=Imro.ie|date=11 January 2017 }}

The Choice Music Prize is awarded in five categories:{{Cite web|url=https://www.choicemusicprize.ie/the-prizes/|title=The Prizes|publisher=Choice Music Prize|access-date=6 April 2025}}

• Irish Album of the Year
• Irish Song of the Year
• Irish Artist of the Year
• Irish Breakthrough Artist of the Year
• Irish Classic Album of the Year

File:Neil Hannon.jpg, winner with The Divine Comedy in 2006 and nominee with The Duckworth Lewis Method in 2009]]

File:Press2 web.jpg, winners in 2007]]

File:Jape.jpg, winners in 2008 and 2011]]

File:Aidrian-Crowley.jpg, winner in 2009]]

File:Two door cinema club, Kitsune, bluebird.jpg, winners in 2010]]

File:Delorentos during their 'last ever' show on 21 May 2009.JPG, winners in 2012]]

File:Villagers_(Haldern_Pop_Festival_2013)_IMGP4573_smial_wp.jpg, winners in 2013]]

File:Soak WBW (2).jpg, winner in 2015]]

File:CMAT, Brooklyn, March 2022 2 (cropped).jpg, 2022 winner]]

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.

{{cquote|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.{{cite news|author=John Meagher|url=http://www.independent.ie/entertainment/day-and-night/columnists/loaded-13022009-1638435.html|title=Loaded: 13/02/2009|date=13 February 2009|access-date=3 March 2010|newspaper=Irish Independent}} }}

• 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)

{{reflist|group=Note|refs=With the exception of the 2014 ceremony, which took place on 27 February 2014.

With the exception of the 2012 ceremony, which was held in the Olympia Theatre, Dublin.}}

;General

• {{cite news|author=John Meagher |url=http://www.independent.ie/entertainment/day-and-night/features/choice-cuts-1290248.html |archive-url=https://archive.today/20130107201536/http://www.independent.ie/entertainment/day-and-night/features/choice-cuts-1290248.html |url-status=dead |archive-date=7 January 2013 |title=Choice Cuts |newspaper=Irish Independent |date=15 February 2008 |access-date=3 March 2010 }}
• {{cite news | author= Eamon Sweeney | url = http://www.independent.ie/entertainment/day-and-night/features/a-prize-debate-2084908.html | title = A Prize debate | newspaper= Irish Independent| date= 1 March 2010 | access-date= 3 March 2010}}

;Specific

{{Reflist|30em}}

• [http://www.choicemusicprize.com/ Choice Music Prize official site]

{{Music awards}}

Category:2000s in Irish music

Category:2010s in Irish music

Category:Awards established in 2005