The shortlists for the 2024 RTÉ Choice Prize awards have now been released and the nominations are shaping up to be some of the most hotly contested in recent years. Awards are up for grabs in the Irish Artist of the Year, Irish Breakthrough Artist of the Year, the publicly voted Irish Song of the Year and the ever-prestigious Irish Album of the Year.
As always, the standards for nominations are top-notch. However, this year stands out due to the higher number of nods to Northern Irish artists, with acts like Jordan Adetunji, KNEECAP and RÓIS scattered throughout the shortlists. Any fan of the Northern Irish scene knows that world-class acts are plentiful on this part of the island, so it’s a pleasant sight to see this recognised elsewhere.
The Irish Artist of the Year list is as follows;
- Jordan Adetunji
- CMAT
- Fontaines D.C.
- Jazzy
- KNEECAP
Jazzy is nominated for the second time in a row, her world-dominating pop having secured her the Artist of the Year & Breakthrough Artist of the Year last year. Even with past success in mind, it’s impossible to count out Belfast-based glitch-rapper Jordan Adetunji’s chart success home & abroad, the massively popular CMAT, KNEECAP’s success in theatres & the charts or Fontaines D.C.’s Grammy-recognised album release in 2024.
The Irish Breakthrough Artist of the Year list is as follows;
- Jordan Adetunji
- Biig Piig
- Kingfishr
- KNEECAP
- Sprints
Again, Jordan Adetunji’s stellar year in worldwide charts & KNEECAP’s music and film success are well known to Northern Irish audiences, but Biig Piig’s trippy, atmospheric singles from upcoming album 11:11, Kingfishr’s various banjo-core singles & Sprints’ electrifying debut album Letter to Self have all had massive success home and abroad in 2024.
The Irish Song of the Year shortlist is as follows;
- Chubby Cat – Quiet
- Cian Ducrot – Here It is
- CMAT – Aw, Shoot
- Fontaines D.C. – Starburster
- Hozier – Too Sweet
- Jazzy – Make Up
- Jordan Adetunji – Kehlani
- Kabin Crew – The Spark
- Niamh Regan – Music
- Picture This – Act of Innocence
The Song of the Year list, as voted for by the public, was won last year by Cian Ducrot’s ‘Heaven’. NI audiences will of course be keeping an eye out for Chubby Cat’s glitchy, understated Quiet or Jordan Adetunji’s earth-shatteringly popular Kehlani.
The Irish Album of the Year shortlist is as follows;
- A Lazarus Soul – No Flowers Grow In Cement Gardens
- Curtisy – What Was The Question
- Fontaines D.C. – Romance
- Orla Gartland – Everybody Needs a Hero
- KNEECAP – Fine Art
- NewDad – MADRA
- Niamh Regan – Come As You Are
- Róis – Mo Léan
- Silverbacks – Easy Being a Winner
- SPRINTS – Letter To Self
The biggest prize of the night is contested by a lazarus soul’s lament for an older, kinder Dublin in No Flowers Grow In Cement Gardens; Mumble-rap trailblazer Curtisy’s What Was The Question?; Fontaines D.C.’s Grammy-recognised Romance; Internet Darling Orla Gartland’s Everybody Needs A Hero; KNEECAP’s Gaeilge smash Fine Art; Galway innovators NewDad’s MADRA; Niamh Regan’s charming folk-fusion Come As You Are; The illustriously Celtic Mo Léan from Fermanagh’s Róis; Silverback’s eclectic and bouncy Easy Being a Winner and SPRINTS’ raucous, powerful Letter to Self.
For the second year in a row Chordblossom will have a representative on the Album of the Year judging panel. Aaron Cunningham will have the opportunity to shape who takes home the coveted prize in Dublin.
Dave Reid, Choice Music Prize co-founder, commented – “The RTÉ Choice Music Prize continues to highlight, promote & support Irish music annually. We are delighted to be hosting the 20th edition of the project in 2025 and right now music across all genres in Ireland is in its healthiest state ever. We would like to thank all our partners and supporters down through the years as we strive to continue to shine a light on quality Irish music both domestically and internationally into the future”.
The Irish Album of the Year 2024 will be announced live from Vicar St. on RTÉ 2FM in a special show 7-11pm on Thursday 6th March. Further information about the Prize and the event can be found online.
