Music
08 Jan 25

Choice Music Prize Breakthrough Irish Artist of the Year shortlist announced

Jordan Adetunji.

The Choice Prize is gearing up to return for its 20th year – with the highly anticipated live event taking place in Vicar Street in March

This week's Choice Music Prize announcements continue today – with the nominees for Breakthrough Irish Artist of the Year unveiled on RTÉ 2FM's Tracy Clifford Show.

This year's five nominated acts are:

The Choice Music Prize live event/ceremony is set to take place in Vicar Street in Dublin on Thursday, March 6. It will also be broadcast live on RTÉ 2FM, with a TV-special set to be aired on RTÉ2 later in March.

The Breakthrough Irish Artist of the Year category celebrates an artist who "has achieved substantial success for the first time in key areas of Irish and/or international areas of the industry including radio play, streaming, charts, touring."

Previous winners of Breakthrough Irish Artist of the Year include Jazzy and Cian Ducrot.

Jazzy at the RTE Choice Music Prize 2024. Copyright Peter O'Hanlon.

2025 marks the 20th anniversary of the Choice Music Prize.

"The RTÉ Choice Music Prize continues to highlight, promote and support Irish music across annually," the Choice Music Prize founder, Dave Reid, recently stated. "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..."

The shortlists for additional Choice Music Prize categories will also be announced this week – including the nominees for Irish Song of the Year on Friday.

📣 BREAKTHROUGH IRISH ARTIST OF THE YEAR 📣

Huge congrats to the RTÉ Choice Prize Breakthrough Artist nominees :@BiigPiigMusic @KingfishrBand @JordanAdetunji @KNEECAPCEOL @SPRINTSmusic #RTEChoicePrize pic.twitter.com/1hAL2ff6vS

— RTÉ Choice Music (@choiceprize) January 8, 2025