Here are the key dates for this year's RTÉ Choice Music Prize

With ten Irish albums being selected by a panel of twelve musicians, media professionals and industry experts, the shortlist for this year's RTÉ Choice Music Prize, Irish Album of the Year 2017, in association with IMRO & IRMA, will be announced on Wednesday 10th January 2018.

The winning album will be announced at the RTÉ Choice Music Prize live event, held in Vicar Street, Dublin on Thursday 8th March 2018. 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.

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 2017 will be announced on Wednesday 31st January 2018. A special event featuring exclusive performances from both Album of the Year and Song of the Year nominees will be held in Dublin’s Tramline venue that evening.

Previous recipients of the Album of the Year include the Divine Comedy, Jape, Adrian Crowley, Two Door Cinema Clu, Villagers, the Gloaming and Rusangano Family, while Song of the Year has previously been awarded to Royseven, Gavin James, the Original Rudeboys, the Script and Picture This.

Commenting on this year's event, Dan Healy, Head of RTÉ 2FM, said in the release, “After a really exciting first year, everyone in 2FM is absolutely up for this year’s RTÉ Choice Music Prize which gives us yet another opportunity right across RTÉ to shine a spotlight like no one else on the very best in Irish music. Our all-Irish music days, which we introduced to celebrate last year’s partnership, have become one of the most popular things we do on the station. Here’s to another great year for Irish artists and for the RTÉ Choice Music Prize on 2FM.”

Adrian Lynch, Head of Audiences, Channels and Marketing, RTÉ, said, “After the success of year one of our partnership with the Choice Music Prize, RTÉ2 is gearing up to play an important role in helping all nominees make a bigger impact and reach new audiences. The reaction to our broadcast of last year's awards event and preview on RTÉ2 was really encouraging and by working closely with our colleagues in 2FM and across RTÉ, we are looking forward to doing our bit to make 2018 a year to remember for all nominees."

Tickets for the Choice Music Prize live event will go on sale from all Ticketmaster outlets on Friday 17th November priced €28.00 including booking fee.

For more information visit the official websitechoicemusic.ie.