The Choice Music Prize is an organisation established to encourage, highlight, showcase and promote Irish music of excellence.

The ethos behind the prize is to stimulate debate and interest in Irish artists and in Irish Music and to increase public awareness of music from Ireland annually.

The Choice Music Prize aims to promote and showcase the health and growth of the local industry both within Ireland and overseas.

The project was established in 2005 to highlight those albums which deserve some extra time in the spotlight and, ultimately, to select the album which best sums up the year in Irish music. The focus and spotlight is ultimately on the ten annual shortlised artists and their respective albums.

Each year, a panel consisting of 11 media professionals, representing Irish print, radio TV, online and other assembled music professionals select the Choice Music Prize shortlist. This consists of 10 albums released by Irish acts for the very first time in any given calendar year.

Instead of using sales or airplay as criteria, the Choice Music Prize judges focus, simply and solely, on the music.

The shortlist is announced in January each year.

This years winner will be announced Wednesday 2nd March 2011 at 22:00.

http://www.choicemusicprize.com
http://www.facebook.com/pages/Choice-Music-Prize-Irish-Album-of-The-Year/119566092729?v=info