CMAT speaks out as Lankum Choice Music Prize speech 'cut' from RTÉ 2FM broadcast
Lankum has been announced as the winner of the RTÉ Choice Music Prize Irish Album of the Year 2023 for the album False Lankum at Vicar St Dublin. Picture: Andres Poveda
RTÉ has denied claims that it "cut" Lankum’s acceptance speech from its broadcast of the Choice Music Awards.
Irish stars such as CMAT spoke out on Friday about the folk music group's speech appearing to be "cut" from RTÉ 2FM’s broadcast of the awards.
Lankum picked up the RTÉ Choice Music Prize for Irish Album of the Year at the event which took place at Vicar Street on Thursday night. The prize was presented for their album, False Lankum.
Following prizes such as Song of The Year, Irish Artist of the Year and Breakthrough Irish Artist of the Year, the final award of the night was Irish Album of the Year which was presented to Lankum by former winner and Limerick hip-hop artist, Denise Chalia.
After their name was announced, the Dublin-based band — which is made up of multi-instrumentalists Ian Lynch, Daragh Lynch, Cormac MacDiarmada and Radie Peat — appeared on stage to accept the award.
As seen in footage captured by those in the audience, the band used their time on stage to speak in support of Palestine, and to call for a boycott of Israeli goods in Ireland.
Lankum's Choice Prize acceptance speech pic.twitter.com/ah6i8wvms8
— The Point Of Everything (@TPOEblog) March 8, 2024
However, on the RTÉ 2FM broadcast available online, Lankum’s acceptance speech cannot be heard. The broadcast instead ends after the band is announced as the winner and cuts to the host bidding the audience and listeners at home a good night.
This portion of the awards is available to listen to within the RTÉ Choice Music Prize After-party show.
Taking to X (formally Twitter), last year’s Album of the Year winner and fellow nominee, CMAT shared a video of Lankum’s speech taken by an audience member.
“I believe it was incredibly disrespectful of @RTÉ2fm to cut @LankumDublin‘s winning speech out of their broadcast, in which Ian spoke so eloquently about the genocide happening in Palestine right now,” she said.
i believe it was incredibly disrespectful of @RTE2fm to cut @LankumDublin ‘s winning speech out of their broadcast, in which Ian spoke so eloquently about the genocide happening in Palestine right now. so here it is again- hopefully more people hear it. all the love 🇮🇪❤️🇵🇸 https://t.co/Ihhz0WfSBz
— cmat (@cmatbaby) March 8, 2024
In a statement to the Irish Examiner, RTÉ said that Lankum's acceptance speech at last night's RTÉ Choice Music Prize "was carried in full, live on RTÉ 2fm, without any interruption".
"Audio files, which allow listeners to listen back to programmes are generated automatically. The RTÉ Choice Music Prize audio file was pre-programmed to record up to 11.15pm, allowing for a short overrun," it continued.
"As there was an unexpected and considerable overrun in the live event, neither the announcement of the RTÉ Choice Music Prize Irish Album of The Year, nor Lankum's acceptance were available in the listen back edition.
"The full programme, as broadcast, is currently being restored to the listen back edition and will be available online."
The RTÉ Choice Music Prize was broadcast live on RTÉ 2FM on Thursday night and featured performances and interviews with the nominees.
Highlights of the Choice Music Prize event will be broadcast on RTÉ2 on Thursday at 10.30pm.
