To celebrate Pride, Ireland’s trade association for those working independently in music- AIM Ireland – hosted a special discussion in Dublin, as part their our In The Round series, entitled ‘Amplifying LGBTQIA+ voices in Ireland’s Independent Music Sector’.
In Ireland, 43% of LGBTQIA+ artists and arts workers say they have lost or missed opportunities and experienced microaggressions in their workplace due to their gender identity, gender expression, sexual orientation, or intersex status (AMPLIFY: A CALL FOR TRANSFORMATIVE ACTION Report, 2024)
It is essential that the voices of those within the LGBTQIA+ community, who are working independently in music in Ireland, are amplified. Advocacy is a pillar of AIM Ireland’s mission, and the theme for 2024’s In The Round series is inclusivity and diversity. The organisation hosted the first event in the series ‘Empowering Women In Music’ in March, to coincide with Internationals Womens Day.
Participants of ‘Amplifying LGBTQIA+ voices in Ireland’s Independent Music Sector’ discussed:
- Queer collaboration and team building
- Allyship and lack of LGBTQIA+ visibility
- Experiences of discrimination
- Algorithm bias
- LGBTQIA+ representation on festival line-ups
Participants for the event were Julie Hough (Veta Records), Sexy Tadgh & MGMT (Artists & SosArtists), Clare Martin (Amplify Agency), Namya (Guest Artist), Gui Morais (Symphonic//Producer), Ele Breslin (X-Collective) and Emily Shaw (Music Consultant)
AIM Ireland Events Sub-Committee member Dwayne Woods moderated the discussion, and co-ordinated the event.
“Identity-based discrimination remains a significant issue, manifesting in various forms. A recent report from the Safe to Create programme revealed that over half (53%) of LGBTQIA+ respondents felt their colleagues lacked awareness and sensitivity regarding LGBTQIA+ identities. Additionally, 73% indicated that LGBTQIA+ artists and arts workers are bearing the burden of improving conditions.” said Gill Dooley, CEO of AIM Ireland,
“At AIM Ireland, advocacy is a cornerstone of our mission. We are committed to representing the rich diversity of the independent music community in Ireland, understanding that our sector’s strength lies in its inclusivity. This edition of In The Round has provided a vital platform for amplifying the voices of LGBTQIA+ individuals working independently in music in Ireland. We deeply appreciate their honesty, contributions, and remarkable ability to share their experiences.”
