Julie Feeney, winner of the 2006 Choice Music Prize for best Irish album, has since one on to international success. Tony Clayton-Leasizes up the contenders for this year's contest

YOU'D have thought we'd be relatively blase about awards by this stage, but all the talk around our way is who will win the forthcoming Choice Music Prize for best Irish album of 2006.

The prize generates creative and credible nattering because it's deemed to be independent of corporate sponsors who might want their name/logo/aesthetic all over the joint. Also, the likes of George Murphy and Luan Parle aren't on the shortlist. We think it's as principled an album awards event as there has ever been in this country. And no, on this particular occasion we won't want to demand a recount.

"The main intention of the Choice Music Prize is to try and provide airtime and promotional exposure for 10 Irish acts in any given year," says co-organiser Dave Reid. "It's working, and not just in Ireland - Choice is definitely providing good coverage outside the country, which is one of the main goals as well. I mean, you could argue that this time last year Julie Feeney wasn't even too well known in Ireland, but then after she won the inaugural award she went on to secure a deal with Sony/BMG and has since achieved quite major coverage."

The absence of a major sponsor might have caused a few sleepless nights for Reid and his partner (music journalist Jim Carroll, of The Ticket) when they were setting up the awards project. But thanks to the absence of commercial input, neither judges nor organisers are swayed into having an album on the final list that they'd rather wasn't there.

Choice, however, does have industry supporters: Imro (the Irish Music Rights Organisation), Irma (Irish Recorded Music Association) and Raap (Recorded Artists and Performers Ltd). Between these three organisations, a cash prize of €10,000 and a specially commissioned award are given to the winner. Aiken Promotions helps out with the staging of the event at Dublin's Vicar St venue, while Dublin-based Friction PR racks up the hours writing press releases and sorting out liggers with AAA laminates.

Is it a financial problem that the Choice Music Prize doesn't have a sponsor? No, says Reid. "It basically means that the main focus of the coverage is on the 10 acts chosen; it isn't about me or Jim or anyone else. It's a passion for the two of us, to be honest. It could do with some financial involvement, I suppose, but that isn't the main aim, which is to provide exposure for Irish acts."

Even in its second year there is already an increased awareness of the award. Julie Feeney's win at the inaugural event proved not just to be advantageous to her alone; it also signalled a turnaround for adventurous decisions within a music community that often falls prey to obvious ones.

Feeney's victory was also not a hollow one, as has been proven by her signing last year to Sony BMG, as well as the raft of positive reviews for her major-label re-release that have recently appeared in the UK press.

The early decision to go for an industry/critics' vote rather than a public one has also been vindicated. "The people on the panel [ which includes Sinéad Gleeson of The Ticket] know their job, their music, their Irish music, and they work in that area pretty much full-time," Reid says. "It's their opinions, obviously, but it's their duty to know what is and what isn't good."

Besides, he adds, a public vote loses that all-important element of credibility. "You'd get people from certain parts of the country voting for their favourite acts. The judging panel, remember, are picked from around Ireland, and it isn't just music critics. We have producers, presenters, a good cross-section. Having a public vote wouldn't add much to it."

THE IMMEDIATE In Towers & Clouds

The sound of a band thoroughly enjoying itself and caring not a fiddler's flip for stylistic restraint.

DIRECTOR We Thrive on Big Cities

Just the kind of urgent, interesting and immensely appealing modern rock music we need.

SNOW PATROL Eyes Open

The crossover album of 2006 - unavoidable if gorgeous blend of anthemic rock music and starry-eyed slow songs. (But there seems to some confusion as to precisely what nationality Snow Patrol are. The Brits Awards have them down for best British band/album/single.)

DUKE SPECIAL Songs from the Deep Forest

More superb songwriting craft, albeit with a dreadlocked twist and twirl - a record smarter than above average.

THE DIVINE COMEDY Victory for the Comic Muse

Old values of song- and lyric writing remain intact and in the very capable hands of Neil Hannon.

DAVID KITT Not Fade Away

The surprise return of 2006, and an album title to bear in mind should anyone get other ideas.

REPUBLIC OF LOOSE Aaagh!

Kick out the traffic jams and tell Iggy Pop the news - there are very naughty, dirty boys on the prowl.

MESSIAH J & THE EXPERT Now This I Have to Hear

Refined hip-hop/urban music that snags in all the right places.

SI SCHROEDER Coping Mechanisms

Intriguing, melody-driven and a little bit melancholic. Bar tender, what's the damage?

FIONN REGAN The End of History

A bolt from the blue: tricky lyrics, deft guitar playing and cool melodies delivered by a warm-hearted singer-songwriter.

* The Blizzards: A Public Display of Affection

Cheeky, commendably melodic, great fun - and the songs raise the roof in a live setting.

* Shaz Oye: Truth According To . . .

Singular Irish experience (social, sexual, the whole enchilada) evoked by a voice that almost matches the intensity of Nina Simone and Antony Hegarty.

* Damien Rice: 9

Brave, emotionally lethal songs from a singer-songwriter who, frankly, doesn't care whether or not he alienates listeners. We like that.

* Ann Scott: We're Smiling

Slow burning, ambient, blissfully tuneful and just a little bit strange. How on earth did this slip through the net?

* Simple Kid: 2

Cork's bedsit Beck (right) ruminates on life, religion and self-help manuals with the help of Casio beats and pop melodies.

* The Cake Sale: The Cake Sale

In which Lisa Hannigan, Paul Noonan, Damien Rice, Dave Geraghty, Gemma Hayes, Gary Lightbody and Glen Hansard damn well break our hearts.

The 2006 album of the year will be selected by the judging panel at the Choice Music Prize event at Vicar St, Dublin, on Wednesday, February 28th.

The winning act will receive a €10,000 prize provided by the Irish Music Rights Organisation and the Irish Recorded Music Association. The winner will also receive a specially commissioned award, courtesy of the Recorded Artists and Performers Ltd.

Tickets for the event are on sale from all Ticketmaster outlets (price €25, including booking fee). Acts performing include Director, The Divine Comedy, Duke Special, The Immediate, David Kitt, Messiah J & the Expert, Republic of Loose and Si Schroeder.

For further information, visit www.choicemusicprize.com.