The nominees for this year’s Meteor Ireland Music Awards were announced on January 7th. Of the 14 categories, 8 (all Irish) are open to public vote, while the remaining 6 (5 international, plus the “Best Folk/Traditional” – consisting entirely of Irish acts but apparently not an area the public can be trusted on?) are not.
The Irish sections are largely unexciting – U2, the Coronas, Delorentos, Bell X1, Snow Patrol, Westlife, the Script, the Blizzards, etc. – not bad acts, just ones that have already been around for years (and years and years and years in the case of some), and most of which fit more or less into the exact same genre.
The international categories are slightly more diverse, featuring some more fresh and exciting acts such as Florence and the Machine and Lady Gaga.
Fortunately there is some recognition for innovative new Irish acts, in the form of the “Most Promising New Artist of 2010” competition, the winner of which will receive all the professional services required to release a single, and a chance to perform at Oxegen later this year.
The top 10 applicant acts will be selected online by the public, then a professional panel will narrow this down to a shortlist of 5 (based on “on composition, lyrics, melody and originality”), and finally the public will vote again to decide the overall winner.
