Here are the 10 albums shortlisted for the RTÉ Choice Music Prize 2022

The 10 nominees for the eighteenth RTÉ Choice Music Prize 2022 were announced today, with 10 albums selected by a panel of judges to go forward to the live show live at Vicar Street on Thursday March 9th.

The list of albums from 2021 that have been shortlisted are:

• Anna Mieke – Theatre (Anna Mieke under license to Nettwerk Music Group)
• Aoife Nessa Frances – Protector (Partisan Records)
• CMAT – If My Wife New I’d Be Dead (CMATBABY)
• Dermot Kennedy – Sonder (Island)
• Fontaines D.C. – Skinty Fia (Partisan Records)
• Just Mustard – Heart Under (Partisan Records)
• Pillow Queens – Leave the Light On (Royal Mountain Records)
• Sorcha Richardson – Smiling Like An Idiot (Faction Records)
• The Mary Wallopers – The Mary Wallopers (The Mary Wallopers)
• Thumper – Delusions of Grandeur (Eva Magical Music Sounds)

Gilla Band’s Most Normal are the most surprising omission, in a fine year that also includes fine albums from Cormac Begley, Elaine Howley, Oliveyolive, Robocobra Quartet, Silverbacks, Junior Brother, Meryl Streek and more. Here are Nialler9’s Irish albums of 2021.

The winning Album of the Year 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.

RAAP, Culture Ireland, FMC and Minding Creative Minds are also official project partners of the RTE Choice Music Prize.

Judges

Mags Blackburn
Red FM Cork

Christine Costello
The Thin Air

Neil Doherty
RTÉ Radio 1

Adam Hogan
RTÉ 2fm

Ed 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
The Business Post

Aoife Woodlock
Other Voices

The Choice announced three new categories for this year including  Irish Artist of the Year, Irish Breakthrough Artist and Classic Irish Album.

Irish Artist of the Year – shortlist Tuesday 10^thJanuary

Irish Breakthrough Artist – shortlist Wednesday 11^th January

Classic Irish Album – further details Thursday 12^th January

Irish Song of the Year – shortlist Friday 13^th January

(the public vote for SOTY will open at the end of the week)

For Those I Love won the Choice Music Prize for best Irish album in 2021.

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