For Those I Love win the RTÉ Choice Music Prize Irish Album of the Year 2021
For Those I Love win the RTÉ Choice Music Prize Irish Album of the Year 2021
Dermot Kennedy takes home the RTÉ Choice Music Prize Irish Song of the Year 2021
TV Highlights Programme to Broadcast on Sunday 13th March at 11pm.
For Those I Love has been announced as the winner of the RTÉ Choice Music Prize Irish Album of the Year 2021 for the album For Those I Love (September Recordings). Noel Hogan, from The Cranberries, made the announcement in Vicar St after the judging panel, made up of Irish music media professionals and chaired by Jim Carroll, met up this evening to decide on the winning album.
For Those I Love received 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.
The event, hosted by Tracy Clifford, took place live in Vicar St and on RTÉ2FM with exclusive performances from eight of the nominated artists.
Dermot Kennedy has been voted the RTÉ Choice Music Prize Irish Song of the Year for his song ‘Better Days’. The announcement was made earlier today 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.
Commenting on tonight’s awards, RTÉ Director General Dee Forbes said: “We are so happy to be back in Vicar Street for RTÉ Choice Music Prize live event to celebrate our artists and musicians after two long and difficult years for the industry. Last year, with restrictions in place, we reimagined RTÉ Choice Music prize live on 2FM’s Tracy Clifford Show which we also simulcast on the RTÉ Player, along with a highlights programme on RTÉ2. One of the real learnings for RTÉ during this period has been the ways we have found to support our artists and musicians by providing them with a platform, across our TV, radio and online services to reach and connect with their audiences. It’s a role we want to build on into the future. Congratulations to all this year’s shortlisted artist and musicians and thank you for your songs and your albums which have been an inspiration to so many of us over the past year.”
RTÉ2 will broadcast a one-hour TV 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.
Notes:
The RTÉ Choice Music Prize is organised by David Reid. RTÉ Brainstorm editor and co-founder of the RTÉ Choice Music Prize Jim Carroll is the chairman of the judging panel. It is unique in that the judging of the Irish Album of the Year focuses simply and solely on the music (as opposed to sales, streaming or airplay).
The 2021 album shortlist:
- 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)