Boyzone plan to release a new album in 2010 as a tribute to Stephen Gately, the band told Sky News in their only interview since the singer’s death.
The album will include two tracks that Gately had already recorded his vocals for. “We have a few songs with Stephen’s voice – what a rescue,” says Ronan. “The fans will really appreciate it.” He also says that Stephen was looking forward to the album the band was planning before his death: “He was so excited about this, he actually texted me just before he went out on the night he died and said he couldn’t wait to get started. I had never seen Stephen so full of life, so happy, so healthy and just so alive. That’s what’s making his death all the harder for us.”
Completing the record is helping Boyzone cope, says Ronan. “The band will take comfort in being together as they complete the album. We’re spending a lot of time sticking together because it is helping us to deal with our grief.”
At IMRO, we extend our condolences to Stephen’s family, friends and loved ones.
As part of the exciting programme of events taking place at the 2010 TradFest Festival, IMRO in association with TASCQ, will present a series of Master Classes in the New Theatre, Temple Bar, on Saturday 30th January.
Renowned artists Michael Rooney (11am – 1pm) & Eleanor McEvoy (2pm – 4pm) will each host a music master class.
These master classes are FREE but due to limited capacity – booking is essential. Email: keith.johnson@nullimro.ie to reserve your seat now. (please indicate which seminar(s) you would like to attend)
ELEANOR MCEVOY
In a world where the word star and the gift of talent are often devalued, Eleanor McEvoy is neither an overnight success nor a four-week wonder. Her career began at the age of four when she took piano lessons, taking up violin at the age of eight. Upon finishing school, she attended Trinity College in Dublin where she studied music by day and worked in pit orchestras and music clubs by night. Eleanor graduated from Trinity and was accepted into the National Symphony Orchestra of Ireland where she worked for four years before finally taking the plunge to concentrate on her passion for songwriting. After a long hard slog, she finally found success in 1992. It happened when one of her songs ‘Only a Woman’s Heart’ inspired the title for, and appeared on, the A Woman’s Heart anthology album. It has since gone on to become the best selling album in Irish history, staying in the Irish Top 10 for over a year. Since then Eleanor has gone on to become an artist and performer known throughout the world. Her critically acclaimed canon of work spans seven albums, several singles and appearances on numerous compilation albums. She is today recognised as one of Ireland’s most successful female singer songwriters.
MICHAEL ROONEY
Michael comes from Co. Monaghan. He is a music graduate of Queen’s University, Belfast. Michael is an internationally recognized harpist and concertina player, as well as a tutor and producer on the Irish musical scene. He is also a well known composer of traditional Irish music in Ireland, and many of his compositions can be heard on his CD Ocras. Michael spent three years working for Comhaltas Ceoltóirí Éireann, and produced the Comhaltas tours of Britain, Ireland and America during that time. He is senior All-Ireland Champion on the harp and winner of the prestigious Granard and Keadue harp competitions on several occasions. He recorded with ‘The Chieftains’ on their Grammy award winning CD entitled The Celtic Harp and toured the US with the group. In 2006 he published a book entitled Harp Tunes, which contains twenty three of his compositions.
IMRO LIVE MUSIC VENUE OF THE YEAR AWARDS 2009
VICAR STREET SCORES TOP AWARD FOR SECOND YEAR RUNNING
The awards took place at IMRO HQ in Copyright House in Dublin and were attended by venue owners and management and IMRO members from across Ireland including Keith Donald, IMRO Chairman; Victor Finn, IMRO CEO; Aiken Promotions Bren Berry; Brian Whitehead from The Olympia; Mick Dolan from Dolans’ Warehouse in Limerick; Ger Kiely from Cork’s Cyprus Avenue and Declan Forde from POD Entertainment, amongst many others. The awards were voted on by more than 6,000 IMRO members and recognise those Irish venues that provide the very highest standards in live music entertainment, both for artists and their publics.
The IMRO National Live Music Venue of the Year Award 2009 was presented to Dublin’s Vicar Street for the second year running, who faced down stiff competition from a host of top national venues including the brand new O2 in Dublin’s docklands. Vicar Street’s venue and booking manager Bren Berry accepted the award on behalf of the venue, management and staff. Vicar Street was honoured for a second time, taking the top gong in the IMRO Live Music Venue of the Year 2009 – Dublin Award category.
IMRO Chairman Keith Donald told the gathered audience: “It is undoubtedly a challenging time for all of us involved in the entertainment business. This is something that I don’t need to point out to many of you working at the coalface of the live music scene here in Ireland. I’m firmly convinced though, that the venues that will survive and prosper in these difficult times are those that offer the very best product, in terms of music programming, professionalism in dealings with artists and public, venue facilities and importantly continuing to respect the rights of music creators. The very fact that you have been nominated for an award tonight is testament to the fact that you are all providing the very highest level of service in your respective regions and I would like to commend you on that.”
The IMRO Live Music Venue of the Year 2009 – Rest of Leinster Award went to The Set Theatre in Kilkenny, while the IMRO Live Music Venue of the Year 2009 – Ulster Award was presented to McGrorys in Culduff in Donegal. Dolans Warehouse in Limerick scooped the IMRO Live Music Venue of the Year 2009 – Munster Award and for the second year running, the Roisin Dubh in Galway picked up the IMRO Live Music Venue of the Year 2009 – Connaught Award.
The IMRO Live Music Venue of the Year – Hot Press Readers Award 2009 went to Cyprus Avenue in Cork and Niall Stokes, Hot Press editor commented on the night “In the midst of the general doom and gloom it’s vital that we retain our ability to have a good time. Live music is crucial to that, providing as it does the opportunity for ordinary people to immerse themselves in the magic and the excitement of the world’s most popular and accessible art form. So here’s to the movers and shakers all over Ireland who are fighting the good fight, running the venues, booking the talent and enabling us to see the musicians, the artists and the bands in action. I want to extend a particular congratulations to Cyprus Avenue, who have been flying the flag in Cork, for some years now, with great success and who are the winners of the IMRO Live Music Venue of the Year – Hot Press Readers Award 2009”. Hot Press Readers ‘Special Commendation’ Awards were also presented to The O2, Dublin; The Academy, Dublin; Roisin Dubh, Galway and The Royal Theatre, Castlebar, Mayo.
IMRO also celebrated an important milestone in their history at the awards in announcing the admission of their 7,000th member, the renowned songwriter, producer and DJ, Arveene. Along with partner in crime Misk, the Dublin duo have made a huge impact on the international dance scene, touring Europe and remixing some of the biggest names in music including The Prodigy, Felix Da Housecat, Mr Ozio, Kitsune and Zombie Nation. Arveene was presented with his IMRO membership certificate by Chairman, Keith Donald.
The nominated venues and winners in the IMRO Live Music Venue of the Year Awards 2009 are:
IMRO LIVE NATIONAL MUSIC VENUE OF THE YEAR AWARD 2009
Vicar Street, Dublin winner
IMRO LIVE MUSIC VENUE OF THE YEAR – DUBLIN AWARD 2009
Vicar Street winner
CrawDaddy
The Olympia Theatre
The O2
Whelan’s
IMRO LIVE MUSIC VENUE OF THE YEAR – REST OF LEINSTER AWARD 2009
Set Theatre, Kilkenny winner
The Backroom, Navan, Co. Meath
The Late Lounge, Kill, Co. Kildare
Spirit Store, Dundalk, Co. Louth
The Watergate Theatre, Kilkenny
IMRO LIVE MUSIC VENUE OF THE YEAR – MUNSTER AWARD 2009
Dolans Warehouse, Limerick winner
Cyprus Avenue, Cork
The Everyman Theatre, Cork
INEC, Killarney, Co. Kerry
The Pavilion, Cork
IMRO LIVE MUSIC VENUE OF THE YEAR – CONNAUGHT AWARD 2009
Roisin Dubh, Galway winner
Campbells Tavern, Headford, Galway
The Crane Bar, Galway
Royal Theatre and Event Centre, Castlebar, Co. Mayo
Town Hall Theatre, Galway
IMRO LIVE MUSIC VENUE OF THE YEAR – ULSTER AWARD 2009 (Donegal, Cavan and Monaghan)
McGrorys, Culduff, Co. Donegal winner
Balor Arts Centre, Donegal
An Grianan Theatre, Letterkenny, Co. Donegal
Iontas Theatre, Castleblaney, Co. Monaghan
Ramor Theatre, Cavan
It’s been one hectic rollercoaster year for Dublin soul diva Laura Izibor. And yes, she’s already written the material for her second album and picked the song she wants to have sung at her otherwise unplanned wedding! Jackie Hayden caught up with her in New York for this exclusive interview for MQ.
Laura Izibor’s debut album for Atlantic Records, Let The Truth Be Told, was released to considerable public and critical acclaim in the summer of 2009, culminating in her being nominated for a Soul Train Award. She’s attracted sincere nods of approval from soul royalty like Aretha Franklin and Al Green. Outstanding tracks like ‘Don’t Stay’, ‘From My Heart To Yours’ and ‘Shine’ heralded the arrival of a major soul talent, one who has set the American music industry alight and proved that Irish musical talent isn’t confined to boyband pop, rock and trad acts.
Izibor crackles with down-to-earth good humour, but even she admits it’s been quite hectic this past while. “It’s been a fantastic year, getting the album out and it being so well received. It’s been great fun too. There were so many times I wondered if it would ever get to this at all. Now, I’m really lovin’ it. It’s so much sweeter. It’s really organic. I enjoy working hard, doing all the promo stuff which initially I thought was going to be a bit of a drag. In fact, after the first three months of promo in the USA, I was ready to quit because it wasn’t fun. If you ask The Script or anybody else they’ll tell you that promo work in the USA is really a hard slog, non-stop rushing from place to place without a let-up. But then the album came out and people started coming to my shows and writing and saying nice things, and that’s when I realised what all the promo had been about. Thinking that I was going to be touring with all these great musicians made me see that this was what I’d been aiming for from way back. Besides, I’m learning about the business all the time. I’ve just done gigs in New York and Boston, and I’ve got a bunch of headline gigs coming up in Orlando and Miami in Florida, London and Paris and so on. So it’s busy, busy, busy, just the way I like it.”
She was also invited to perform at the beginning of November for the prestigious Endeavor charity event in New York at the behest of Warner’s biggest cheese Edgar Bronfman. It’s a heavy-duty show that traditionally attracts an audience of penguin-suited, lavishly-dressed millionaires. Was she fazed by this at all?
“Well, corporate shows are always tough, but this one really rocked and we actually managed to get them up off their seats. I was later told that in the five years of the event nobody had managed to get them off the seats! But when you’re playing with such great musicians for an audience who are obviously enjoying what you do, you’d have to be mad not to love doing it. I’ve even sometimes lately actually asked myself: is it supposed to be this much fun? And we get paid as well!”
There have been setbacks for her along the way, and when I suggest she might have a stubborn streak, she laughs. But did she ever think of just giving in? “I think it’s more than just being stubborn. I’ve never had that stars in the eyes thing that some people get. It was more like ‘feck the lot of them’ when things would go wrong. I just want to do this thing no matter what and to enjoy it, and that’s exactly what’s happening now,” she told MQ.
With musical influences that include such soul legends as Stevie Wonder and Roberta Flack, Izibor is equally clued in to the contemporary scene as well. When asked what she has on her iPhone, she replies, “I just love my iPhone! But my trumpeter was teasing me the other day because I just added ‘I Ain’t Missing You’. I also just bought ‘Fever’ by Elvis Presley. That’s my favourite version of that song. I’ve got Corrine Bailey Rae who I love, especially ‘Like A Star’. That’s going to be my wedding song. I haven’t actually got a wedding planned or anything. Maybe in about ten years! But I have the music sorted!”
For Let The Truth Be Told Izibor eschewed collaborations, preferring to keep it focused on her own talent. But how is album two shaping up with new songs?
“I’m just so looking forward to it. I have all of the songs already written and I’m hoping to have some collaborations with some interesting artists on it. Nothing has been confirmed as yet. I went home to Dublin a few weeks ago and without thinking about it I straight off wrote what will probably be three singles for the next album. There’s no doubt that being back in the familiar surroundings of family and the city I grew up in helps that creativity. Don’t get me wrong, I’ve written some good songs while away, but they just come out of nowhere when I’m at home. It must be the comfort of being at home. I write nearly always on the piano, but occasionally on the guitar.”
In terms of marketing, has Izibor a sense of her audience? “Definitely now much more than when I started out. Having been through the first album, I think I now have a strong idea as to where I fit in the music business and who my core audience is. I have a much clearer idea of the direction I need to go, and that’s exactly where I’m going.”
Laura was only 17 and in geography class when she got the call telling her that she was going to support James Brown. How did the rest of her class react to this? The disarmingly frank Izibor tells me, “To be honest, I didn’t really know which James Brown it was. When I realised who it was, I was out of there! I didn’t have time to worry what the other girls thought. I was out of there so fast!”
That focused impulse and unerring instinct reflects a woman far more mature than her years suggest, an artist who has a firm grasp of who she is and where she’s going. And that place is called Up.
The Choice Music Prize – Irish Album of the Year returns in 2010.
It will be the fifth outing for the event, which was established to highlight and acknowledge the best in Irish music.
A shortlist of 10 Irish albums, released for the first time during 2009, will be announced on Wednesday 13 January 2010. This shortlist will be chosen by 12 Irish media professionals.
The winner will be selected at the Choice Music Prize live event at Vicar Street, Dublin on Wednesday 3 March 2010.
The winning act will receive a cheque for €10,000, courtesy of the Irish Music Rights Organisation (IMRO) and Irish Recorded Music Association (IRMA), and a specially commissioned award, courtesy of Recorded Artists and Performers Ltd (RAAP).
THE STORY SO FAR
The Choice Music Prize – Irish Album Of The Year was established to celebrate and acknowledge the work of Irish musicians. Instead of using sales or airplay as criteria, the Choice Music Prize focuses, simply and solely, on the music.
The winners of the Choice Music Prize to date are as follows:
2005 Julie Feeney – 13 Songs (Julie Feeney)
2006 The Divine Comedy – Victory For The Comic Muse (Parlophone)
2007 Super Extra Bonus Party – Super Extra Bonus Party (Alphabet Set)
2008 Jape – Ritual (Co-Op Records)
The Choice Music Prize was founded by Dave Reid and Jim Carroll.
Irish Book Choice would like to take this opportunity of introducing you to IMRO member, Peter McCluskey and a special Christmas book event.
Peter is a director of Danceline Music and has just published his second novel, "Here Comes Robert Kingdom" – a story about an unemployed stay-at-home Dad /songwriter.
All monies from any copy sold this year is going directly to Crumlin Children’s Hospital – a hospital in desperate need of funds.
Please help Peter to help the children this Christmas : Visit his website to buy a book and also for full information.
Leinster Leader : "A laugh out loud read"
Liffey Champion: "Humorous, poignant and down-to-earth"
Irish Independent : "McCluskey to make waves with novel
*** Special Discount Delegate Rate for Irish Industry Delegates – €395 (€472.42 incl VAT) – Valid until 15th December 2009 ***
These are certainly challenging times for everyone involved in the Music Industry particularly so in Ireland given the size of the domestic market here. Companies and artists that will fair best in a rapidly evolving marketplace are those who firmly have their eye on international trade opportunities and overseas artist development.
MIDEM is the world’s largest music industry trade fair, which has been held annually at the Palais des Festivals in Cannes, France, since 1967. Bringing together musicians, business people, cultural policy makers, and journalists from many countries, it provides a forum for business talks, discussing political and legal issues, and showcasing new artists, musical trends and music-related products.
MIDEM is the one stop destination for the world’s music community, providing the most valuable knowledge and connections to source business and find solutions.
MIDEM STATS
8,000 participants
4,000 companies
80 countries
450 Journalists
300 Media
60 national pavilions
Gain the knowledge to bring your business/career forward – MidemNet digital business conference and MIDEM conferences
Connect to the right people – MIDEM networking solutions
Create the buzz to launch your artist(s) – MIDEM concerts & showcases solutions
For the first time Midemnet is now included in the Midem registration price!
The next MidemNet and MIDEM will take place from 24 to 27 January 2010, Palais des Festivals et des Congrès, Cannes, France
If you would like attend MIDEM 2010 and be part of the Irish Pavilion please contact keith.johnson@nullimro.ie in order to obtain the necessary registration forms.
The Irish Stand will be located on the main ground floor area of the conference centre and it will provide Irish delegates with the perfect surroundings to host meetings and promote their music and company services.
*** The Irish participation at MIDEM 2010 is made possible through support from the following organisations ***
IMRO has announced the shortlist for the second annual IMRO Live Music Venue of the Year Awards. The awards recognise Irish venues which provide the very highest standards in live music entertainment. Over 400 venues across Ireland qualified for the awards and more than 6,000 IMRO members were asked to vote for their top picks in an online poll. Venues are judged on a number of criteria including ambience, staging, sound and lighting facilities, diversity of programming, venue staff and management and promotional activities.
The awards acknowledge the efforts made by live music venues in providing quality entertainment for the Irish public and the role they play in developing and nurturing the music community in Ireland.
Along with one overall award for National Live Music Venue of the Year, awards will be presented to the leading live music venues in the following regions: Dublin, Leinster (excluding Dublin) Connaught, Munster and Ulster (covering Donegal, Monaghan and Cavan).
There will also be a special Hot Press Readers Award for Best Venue, as voted by Hot Press magazine readers. This will give music fans the opportunity to support their favourite live music venues across Ireland.
The IMRO Live Music Venue of the Year Awards 2009 will take place on Tuesday, December 1st at IMRO Headquarters in Dublin.
The nominees for the IMRO Live Music Venue of the Year Awards 2009 are (in alphabetical order):
DUBLIN
CrawDaddy
The Olympia Theatre
The O2
Vicar Street
Whelan’s
REST OF LEINSTER
The Backroom, Navan, Co. Meath
The Late Lounge, Kill, Co. Kildare
Set Theatre, Kilkenny
Spirit Store, Dundalk, Co. Louth
The Watergate Theatre, Kilkenny
MUNSTER
Cyprus Avenue, Cork
Dolans Warehouse, Limerick
The Everyman Theatre, Cork
INEC, Killarney, Co. Kerry
The Pavilion, Cork
CONNAUGHT
Campbells Tavern, Headford, Galway
The Crane Bar, Galway
Roisin Dubh, Galway
Royal Theatre and Event Centre, Castlebar, Co. Mayo Town Hall Theatre, Galway
ULSTER (Donegal, Cavan and Monaghan)
Balor Arts Centre, Donegal
An Grianan Theatre, Letterkenny, Co. Donegal
Iontas Theatre, Castleblaney, Co. Monaghan
McGrorys, Culduff, Co. Donegal
Ramor Theatre, Cavan
IMRO has announced the shortlist for the second annual IMRO Live Music Venue of the Year Awards. The awards recognise Irish venues which provide the very highest standards in live music entertainment. Over 400 venues across Ireland qualified for the awards and more than 6,000 IMRO members were asked to vote for their top picks in an online poll. Venues are judged on a number of criteria including ambience, staging, sound and lighting facilities, diversity of programming, venue staff and management and promotional activities.
The awards acknowledge the efforts made by live music venues in providing quality entertainment for the Irish public and the role they play in developing and nurturing the music community in Ireland.
Along with one overall award for National Live Music Venue of the Year, awards will be presented to the leading live music venues in the following regions: Dublin, Leinster (excluding Dublin) Connaught, Munster and Ulster (covering Donegal, Monaghan and Cavan).
There will also be a special Hot Press Readers Award for Best Venue, as voted by Hot Press magazine readers. This will give music fans the opportunity to support their favourite live music venues across Ireland.
The IMRO Live Music Venue of the Year Awards 2009 will take place on Tuesday, December 1st at IMRO Headquarters in Dublin.
The nominees for the IMRO Live Music Venue of the Year Awards 2009 are (in alphabetical order):
DUBLIN
CrawDaddy
The Olympia Theatre
The O2
Vicar Street
Whelan´s
REST OF LEINSTER
The Backroom, Navan, Co. Meath
The Late Lounge, Kill, Co. Kildare
Set Theatre, Kilkenny
Spirit Store, Dundalk, Co. Louth
The Watergate Theatre, Kilkenny
MUNSTER
Cyprus Avenue, Cork
Dolans Warehouse, Limerick
The Everyman Theatre, Cork
INEC, Killarney, Co. Kerry
The Pavilion, Cork
CONNAUGHT
Campbells Tavern, Headford, Galway
The Crane Bar, Galway
Roisin Dubh, Galway
Royal Theatre and Event Centre, Castlebar, Co. Mayo Town Hall Theatre, Galway
ULSTER (Donegal, Cavan and Monaghan)
Balor Arts Centre, Donegal
An Grianan Theatre, Letterkenny, Co. Donegal
Iontas Theatre, Castleblaney, Co. Monaghan
McGrorys, Culduff, Co. Donegal
Ramor Theatre, Cavan
“Artist Income Streams & Intellectual Property Rights”
DATE: Saturday 26th September 2009 // 11.30am – 6.00pm
LOCATION: Offices of Irish Music Rights Organisation, Copyright House, Pembroke Row, Lower Baggot Street, Dublin 2
info@nullmusicmanagersforum.ie
DISCUSSION PANEL GUESTS
GARY McCLARNON – Manager Mister Scruff & MMF UK Vice Chairman
SCOTT COHEN – The Orchard, Founder & VP International
RUPERT SPRAWSON – Entertainment Lawyer
ALAN CULLIVAN – Manager The Thrills
STUART WORTHINGTON (Moderator) – Manager Happy Mondays & Chief Training Officer MMF UK
LIAM MURPHY – Live Wire Business Management
PROGRAM OF TRAINING SUBJECTS
Part #1: “The Real 360 Degrees: Artist, Music, Content & Rights Management – Income & Value Chains”
– Creation to consumption: the who/what/where/how/when of the value & use of music (songs/performances/recordings) today
– Income participation / roles & rewards. Who’s contracted to whom? Who pays whom and who doesn’t get paid? What are the implications & options available?
– Intellectual property: the theory (ownership, duration, infringements & exceptions), and the practical realities of copyright, neighbouring & performer rights, trading names, trade marks, image & moral rights, sample clearance, etc.
– Consumer back to creator: royalty streams & cash flow: accounting & payment, examples & issues
Part #2: “The Artist/Fan/Audience Relationship & Digital Marketing Update 2009”
– Art, emotion & trusted relationships: ignore at your peril!
– Understanding the “new” business models; structuring & defining your own
– Building communities & database management
– Digital marketing & distribution services: sorting the wheat from the chaff?
– New partnerships, new money?
The cost of the event is €32 for MMF members and €70 for non-MMF members and it is necessary that you register in advance for the event.
