Dermot Kennedy wins RTÉ Choice Music Prize Irish Song of the Year 2021
RTÉ Choice Music Prize Irish Album of the Year 2021 to be announced tonight.
Dermot Kennedy has been voted the RTÉ Choice Music Prize Irish Song of the Year for his song ‘Better Days’. The announcement was made by The Script’s, Danny O’Donoghue on the Tracy Clifford Show on RTÉ 2FM and live streamed on RTÉ Player. ‘Better Days’ by Dermot Kennedy was selected from a shortlist of 10 songs by public vote (Ireland only), via the RTÉ 2FM and Choice Music Prize websites. Fans were given the chance to get behind their favourite Irish song of 2021 until midnight on Sunday 27th February.
The full RTÉ Choice Music Prize Song of The Year 2021, in association with IMRO & IRMA, was:
Bobbi Arlo – Feel It
Dermot Kennedy – Better Days
Elaine Mai – No Forever feat. MayKay
Inhaler – It Won’t Always Be Like This
Jack O’ Rourke – Sea Swimming
Kynsy – Mr Nice Guy
Picture This – Things are Different
Shane Codd – Always on My Mind feat. Charlotte Haining
Soda Blonde – Small Talk
Soulé – Queenish
Commenting, Adam Fogarty, Head of Music at RTÉ 2FM: “When the shortlist was announced earlier this year, I was keen to highlight that the sheer quality of the 10 songs reflects the incredible standards now being reached routinely by musicians and artists in Ireland across a range of genres. These songs, and so many others produced by Irish artists during another extremely challenging year for the music industry, are as good as anything you will find anywhere in the world. We are so proud in 2FM, through the RTÉ Choice Music Prize and through 2FM Rising to continue to support our great artists and musicians in every way we can and help them reach new audiences.”
The winner of the RTÉ Choice Music Prize Irish Album of the Year 2021 will be announced at the RTÉ Choice Music Prize Live Event in Vicar St tonight by Noel Hogan of The Cranberries. The event will be hosted by RTÉ 2FM’s, Tracy Clifford and will be broadcast live on RTÉ2FM with exclusive performances from eight of the nominated artists.
The nominees for the RTÉ Choice Music Prize Irish Album of The Year 2021 are:
Bicep – Isles (Ninja Tune)
Mick Flannery & Susan O’Neill – In the Game (Rosaleen Records / Rosa Productions)
For Those I Love – For Those I Love (September Recordings)
Orla Gartland – Woman on the Internet (New Friends Music)
HousePlants – Dry Goods (Bone China Records)
Kojaque – Town’s Dead (Soft Boy Records)
Elaine Mai – Home (Elaine Mai)
Saint Sister – Where I Should End (Saint Sister)
Soda Blonde – Small Talk (Velveteen Records)
Villagers – Fever Dreams (Domino)
The winner will receive a cheque for €10,000, a prize which has been provided by the Irish Music Rights Organisation (IMRO) and the Irish Recorded Music Association (IRMA), as well as a specially commissioned award.
RTÉ2 will broadcast a one-hour TV highlights programme of the RTÉ Choice Music Prize, featuring performances from the eight acts, along with interviews by Bláthnaid Treacy, on Sunday March 13th at 11pm.
Project Partners are Culture Ireland, The BAI, RAAP, FMC & Minding Creative Minds.