Brand new, poll position

It's that time of year again. The annual Hot Press Readers' Poll results are in.. and what results they are.

The Irish half of the poll was characterised by the amazing success of new, independent and emerging artists, whose huge support from the polling public shot them ahead of the several massive international names Ireland can claim. Thus, The Frames scooped Best Group 2002 above U2, JJ72, Ash and The Corrs and Best Live Act above The Cranberries and Sinead O'Connor, despite not having released a studio album in 2002. Damien Rice trounced the likes of Sinead O'Connor and U2 for Best Album 2002 and Best Album Art - and also polled exceptionally well for Male Singer (no. 2), Best Single ('The Blower's Daughter'), Best Songwriter (no. 3) and Live Act (no. 2) - all with, it is amazing to consider, his debut album (O). A second debuting artist, Gemma Hayes, took Best Irish Female Singer over the woman whose picture all but appears next to the phrase in the dictionary, Sinead O'Connor - and this in the year O'Connor won such 'return-to-form' raves for Sean Nos Nua. Last but not least The Revs polled exceptionally well overall, sharing Top 10 shortlist status with the aforementioned emerging and international Irish luminaries in the categories of Debut Album, Best Male Singer, Best Songwriter, Best Group, Best Single, Best Musician, Best Album and Best Album Art - and winning Most Promising Act over such critically lauded heavy-hitters as The Thrills, Woodstar and Desert Hearts.

Internationally, several artists long held in huge affection by Irish music-listening audiences did predictably well: Dave Grohl's beloved Foo Fighters; David Gray; the Chili Peppers. But the surprise high poller was newcomer skate-punk princess Avril Lavigne, who swept away Best Debut Album (Let Go) and Most Promising Act, and placed very well for Best Single ('Complicated', no. 2) and Best Female Singer (3rd, after PJ Harvey and category winner Pink).

Stay tuned to hotpress.com for the full Readers' Poll results - including the winners of Best Irish and best International Musician, Best Film, Love and Loathe of the Year and a surprise win in Best TV Programme. Or, if you can't wait, full results are in the current issue of Hot Press, on newsstands now.