A new partnership deal has been announced between RTÉ and the Choice Music Prize for the Irish Album of the Year 2016.
Formerly the Meteor Choice Award, the prize celebrates the best in Irish recorded music and has become one of the highlights of the Irish musical calendar since its inception in 2005.
The shortlisted albums for the newly re-named RTÉ Choice Music Prize, in association with IMRO & IRMA, will be announced on Wednesday 11th January, 2017.
The winning album will be announced at a live event held in Vicar Street, Dublin on Thursday 9th March.
As part of the new partnership, the event will be broadcast live on RTÉ 2FM in a special four hour extended programme from 7-11pm and on RTÉ2 as part of a special RTÉ Choice Music Prize programme, approximately one week later.
Dan Healy, Head of RTÉ 2FM, said he is "looking forward to fully unleashing the power of the station to get right behind the best albums and songs recorded by Irish artists over the past year and what a great year it has been."
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.
The shortlist for the RTÉ Choice Music Prize – Irish Song of The Year 2016 will be announced on Wednesday 1st February, 2017.
A Special event featuring exclusive performances from both Album of the Year and Song of the Year nominees will be held in Dublin that evening.
Director-General of RTÉ, Dee Forbes, said the announcement comes as "supporting Irish music and Irish musicians is a core part of what RTÉ does" and the partnership will allow the broadcaster to "take our support one step further."
Tickets for the Choice Music Prize live event will go on sale from Ticketmaster outlets on December 2 priced €26.50 including booking fee.
