Choice Music Awards - CELEBRATING HIGHLIGHTING SHOWCASING & PROMOTING THE BEST OF IRISH MUSIC

The search for the Irish Song of the Year 2011 has begun!

Meteor has announced a new addition to the Meteor Choice Music Prize, the inaugural Irish Song of the Year will see 10 of Ireland’s favourite songs from the past year compete to take home the title of Meteor Choice Music Prize Irish Song of the Year 2011. The overall winner will be decided by the public through text vote or by online voting on Meteor’s Facebook page and will be announced at the Meteor Choice Music Prize live event on March 8th.

Compiled by a combination of the Meteor Choice Music Prize judging panel and the Irish airplay charts, this shortlist boasts exceptional musical talent that has captured the national airwaves over the past year. The shortlist is as follows:
 

• Bell X1 - Velcro
• Cashier No 9 - Goldstar
• The Coronas - Addicted to Progress
• Lisa Hannigan - Knots
• The Kanyu Tree - Radio
• Little Green Cars - The John Wayne
• Royseven - We Should be Lovers
• Maverick Sabre - Let Me Go
• Snow Patrol - Called Out In the Dark
• This Club - I Won’t Worry

You can vote for your favourite here -
https://apps.facebook.com/312762578767529/

Meadhbh Quinn, Meteor’s Head of Brand & Marketing Communications said: “Each year the Meteor Choice Music Prize stimulates debate and invigorates interest in Irish music, the launch of the Irish Song of the Year gives everyone the opportunity to share their opinion through a public voting system.

The Meteor Choice Music Prize is essential for the Irish music industry as it promotes and showcases the local industry both within Ireland and overseas. Meteor is passionate about supporting the Irish music industry and this year we will work to shine the spotlight on the very best of Irish music as chosen by the public.”

The shortlisted songs will be profiled on air by Tony Fenton on Today FM from Monday, 6th February with two songs from the list played each day. The winning entry will be awarded the Meteor Choice Music Prize Irish Song of the Year Trophy along with a prize fund. Vote online at www.facebook.com/Meteor or text SONG to 085 711 4444. Voters are in with a chance to win tickets to the Meteor Choice Music Prize event on 8th March and can enter a vote once a day until voting closes on March 4th.

The Meteor Choice Music Prize live event will be broadcast live on Today FM in a special four hour extended programme during the Paul McLoone show. Tickets for the Meteor Choice Music Prize live event are on sale from all Ticketmaster outlets and from http://www.ticketmaster.ie, priced €22.50 including booking fee.

The winner of the Meteor Choice Music Prize Irish Album of the Year 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 of the shortlisted acts will receive a specially-commissioned award, courtesy of the Recorded Artists Actors & Performers Ltd (RAAP).Most of the shortlisted albums will be available through retail partners HMV and once again, Culture Ireland will fund the attendance of key overseas delegates at the event

The line-up for the Meteor Choice Music Prize live event has been announced today with all 10 acts confirmed to perform at the Olympia Theatre, Dublin on Thursday, March 8th 2012.

The line-up is as follows (artists listed in alphabetical order):

And So I Watch You From Afar
Bell X1
Cashier No 9
Lisa Hannigan
The Japanese Popstars
Jape
Patrick Kelleher & His Cold Dead Hands
Pugwash
Tieranniesaur
We Cut Corners

The Meteor Choice Music Prize will be broadcast live on the night on Today FM in a special four-hour extended programme during the Paul McLoone show. Tickets for the Meteor Choice Music Prize live event are on sale from all Ticketmaster outlets and from http://www.ticketmaster.ie priced €22.50 including booking fee.

The winning 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 of the shortlisted acts will receive a specially-commissioned award, courtesy of the Recorded Artists Actors & Performers Ltd (RAAP). Most of the shortlisted albums will be available through retail partners HMV and once again, Culture Ireland will fund the attendance of key overseas delegates at the event.

And the nominees are -

And So I Watch You From Afar – Gangs (Richter Collective)
Bell X1 – Bloodless Coup (Belly Up Records)
Cashier No 9 – To The Death of Fun (Bella Union)
Lisa Hannigan - Passenger (Hoop)
The Japanese Popstars – Controlling Your Allegiance (EMI)
Jape – Ocean of Frequency (Music Is For Losers)
Patrick Kelleher & His Cold Dead Hands – Golden Syrup (Osaka Records)
Pugwash – The Olympus Sound (EMI/1969 Records)
Tieranniesaur – Tieranniesaur (Popical Island)
We Cut Corners – Today I Realised I Could Go Home Backwards (Delphi)

More details here

Meteor and Choice Music Prize are today (16th November) announcing details of a second intimate gig as a part of the Meteor Choice Music Prize Presents series. Featuring both Lisa Hannigan and James Vincent McMorrow, the special performance will take place on Thursday, 8th December in the Button Factory, Dublin.

This is the second event in The Meteor Choice Music Prize Presents, a series of intimate gigs to take place over the coming months to celebrate the best of Irish music and will feature the very best of home grown talent. Snow Patrol headlined the first event with a truly magnificent performance in the Button Factory at the beginning of November. The exclusive events form part of the coveted Meteor Choice Music Prize and will culminate with the awards in March.

Taking place on Thursday, 8th December in the Button Factory, critically acclaimed, Lisa Hannigan will perform a number of songs from her second album, ‘Passenger’. Lisa’s music has received critical praise, both in Ireland and abroad including a Choice Music Prize nomination for her debut album and her performance promises to be truly memorable.

Dublin born James Vincent Mc Morrow will also take to the stage in the Button Factory. James will perform songs from his Choice Music Prize nominated debut record, Early in the Morning. Described as “Gorgeous" by NME and "Haunting, atmospheric…wintry wistfulness" by the Guardian the album is a stunning collection of songs recorded over 5 months in an isolated house by the sea.

Tickets to this exclusive event can be won via the following:
Meteor Facebook Page: www.facebook.com/meteor
Meteor Goodie Bag: www.meteorgoodiebag.ie
Meteor Twitter: @meteor_mobile
Meteor Mobile Internet www.meteor.ie

Some videos and images from the night.

Chasing Cars

Called out in the Dark

Gallery