RTÉ Choice Music Prize: Dermot Kennedy and CMAT among Album of the Year nominees

Album of the year nominees. Credit: @RTE.ie

Paul Hyland

The Album of the Year nominees have been revealed for the 2022 RTÉ Choice Music Prize awards.

The nominees from each category are being revealed live on 2FM’s Tracy Clifford Show, from 12pm, every day this week.

The announcements began with Album of the Year today and will continue with Irish Artist of the Year tomorrow, Irish Breakthrough Artist (Wednesday), Classic Irish Album (Thursday) and Irish Song of the Year (Friday). The public vote for Song of the Year will open at the end of this week.

This is the 18th year of the annual awards which celebrate the best in Irish recorded music.

The Irish Album of the Year award is chosen from a shortlist of 10 albums by a panel of 11 Irish music media professionals and industry experts.

The 2022 Album of the Year nominees are as follows:

  • 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)

The annual awards are hosted in association with the Irish Music Rights Organisation (IMRO) and the Irish Recorded Music Association (IMRA). 2FM is celebrating the nominee announcements with an “All Irish All Day” music schedule today.

The awards ceremony will be held on March 9 in Dublin’s Vicar Street. The event’s promoters said the “show will feature live performances from some of the shortlisted acts, further details on the line-up to be announced soon”.

2FM’s head of music, Adam Fogarty, said: "It’s been another year of quality music from Irish artists which we’re looking forward to celebrating on 2FM.

"The new prizes, particularly Irish Artist of the Year and Irish Breakthrough Artist, along with Irish Song of the Year will ensure that we get to put an even bigger spotlight on incredible Irish artists and recognise their achievements over the last 12 months.”

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