Author: Press Officer

The Irish Institute of Music & Song are hosting an International Songwriting Retreat from 22-28 July in Balbriggan, Dublin, Ireland. After the demand seen in 2023, this year they will also run a new Youth Songwriting Retreat for aspiring musicians aged 14-18 years old from 15-21 July. Both seven-day retreats are held on the Irish Institute of Music & Song’s purpose-built music campus in Balbriggan, Dublin, only twenty minutes from the airport and five minutes from sandy beaches and historical castles. This amazing retreat, unique in Ireland, is a rare opportunity offering aspiring and established songwriters from around the world, an opportunity to work with and learn from, some of the best songwriting mentors in the world. On this retreat, songwriters and musicians get the opportunity to relax, unwind, meet like-minded people, and develop their skills in a creative and immersive learning environment. All genres and styles are welcome, whether it’s solo songwriters, songwriting duos, or bands.

The 2024 International Songwriting Retreat mentors include Maria Christensen from Los Angeles, who wrote Jennifer Lopez’s worldwide hit “Waiting for Tonight” and has also worked with Celine Dion. Other mentors include Rob Wells from Canada, who has over four billion streams on Spotify and has written songs for Ariana Grande, Justin Bieber and Selena Gomez. Irish Artist Ryan Sheridan who has had number-one songs in both the Irish and German iTunes Singles Charts will join the retreat as a mentor. The final mentor to be announced is an award-winning Irish Artist who has toured the world with his music. Attendees on the retreats will get to work with internationally acclaimed platinum-selling mentors who have written music for some of the world’s biggest record labels, including Universal, Warner and Sony.

The International Songwriting Retreat residential package costs €1,650, while the non-resident package costs €1,080. The resident package includes seven days working with world-renowned songwriting mentors, seven nights’ on-site accommodation in modern Japanese-style pods, and all meals from the onsite award-winning restaurant. Also included is access to private rehearsal spaces and VIP membership to a series of guest speaker talks in the evening. Last year’s guest speakers included Paddy Casey and many more. At the end of the week, all artists get to perform and record their new songs in Ireland’s new state-of-the-art, 400-seat Concert Hall, ‘The Lark’ which has just been named ‘Ireland’s Favourite New Building’. The Youth Songwriting Retreat costs €500. All spaces are very limited. Please visit internationalsongwritingretreat.com to find out more and register your interest today.

IMRO have partnered with the Irish Institute of Music & Song to sponsor two scholarship places on each retreat. Scholarship places are worth between €500 to €1,650 depending on the retreat. If you are a songwriter, musician or band and would like to be in with a chance to be awarded a free scholarship to the International Songwriting Retreat or Youth Songwriting Retreat please visit internationalsongwritingretreat.com and submit your application through the ‘Scholarships’ page. Applicants must outline their songwriting experience to date and send examples of their work. The closing date for scholarship applications for the Youth Songwriting Retreat (ages 14-18) is Tuesday 9^th July 2024 with winners announced on Wednesday 10^th July 2024, while scholarships for the International Songwriting Retreat closing date is Thursday 11^th July 2024^, with winners announced on Friday 12^th July 2024. Get your applications in now!

Michael T Dawson, CEO Irish Institute of Music & Song: “We are delighted to host the 2^nd Annual International Songwriting Retreat at the Irish Institute of Music & Song. The first year was a huge success and people visited from all around the world. We are very excited to bring it back again this year and are delighted to be partnering with IMRO again this year on the retreat which will be sponsoring two scholarship places on both retreats. This provides the opportunity for new songwriters to hone their songwriting skills, network, and ultimately put them on a path in songwriting. It’s fantastic to see our purpose-built campus is becoming a destination for artists and to connect and develop their artistry”

 Victor Finn, CEO IMRO: “We are delighted to once again be partnering with the Irish Institute of Music & Song supporting their International Songwriting Retreat this coming July.  A big part of our mission at IMRO is a commitment to nurturing the creative skills of up and coming songwriters and , alongside that, it’s to educate.  That’s why we have taken the opportunity to sponsor scholarship places on the upcoming retreat, giving songwriters the opportunity to learn, develop and hone their craft.”  IMRO CEO, Victor Finn.

The Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media, Catherine Martin T.D., has today announced details of a new pilot scheme that will enable Local Authorities to increase the provision of Artist Workspaces across Ireland.

Research conducted by this Department, and ongoing engagement with the creative and night-time economy sectors, over the last number of years has revealed demand for artist workspaces far outweighs supply and that there is a widespread shortage of creative spaces such as studios and performance spaces.

The Department recognises that Local Authorities are instrumental in delivering the infrastructure necessary to provide a number of artists´ workspaces nationwide. Almost half of all Visual Artists’ Workspace buildings (43%) are owned by Local Authorities. In view of this the Department engaged with a number of Local Authorities ahead of developing this scheme.

The Local Authority arts offices also play a crucial role in the growth, promotion and sustainability of the arts in Ireland including support to artists through grants, residencies and career development in their respective areas.

This €6 million funding is in line with the Government’s commitment under The Programme for Government to increase the provision of affordable workspaces for artists and creative practitioners and ensure the timely delivery of arts and culture capital investment commitments, as outlined in Project Ireland 2040.

Speaking while visiting a recently developed artist workspace at Artane Place, Minister Martin commented: “As Minister for the Arts, I have been acutely aware of the pressures that artists and creatives, including those in the electronic music sector, have faced in finding suitable workspaces and that is why I made a commitment to provide capital funding towards the provision of artist workspaces. Much of our cultural infrastructure is initiated by our local authorities and they have been a crucial resource in the delivery of arts and culture interventions over many decades.  In 2023 my Department provided €3million to Dublin City Council for ‘Space to Create’ which will see the development of sixty artist workspaces in Dublin City.  Today’s launch will now address the shortage of workspaces in the rest of the country.”

Coilín O’Reilly, Chair of the CCMA RCCH Committee and Chief Executive of Carlow County Council, said: “The ‘Artists Workspaces Scheme’ is a welcome addition to the toolbox Local Authorities can use to address the issues of vacancy and dereliction, as well as adding vibrancy, activation and colour to our towns and villages. With 40% matched funding from Local Authorities, this scheme represents a partnership that can transform the arts at a local level.”

Features of the Pilot Artist Workspaces scheme include:

• Local Authorities are invited to propose capital projects for Artist workspaces which are fit for purpose, design focused, accessible and affordable.
• Funding will be made available for projects that focus on the delivery of infrastructure to increase availability and access to Artist Workspaces.
• Funding of €6 million is being provided by the Department and each Local Authority can apply for up to €150,000/€300,000 (depending on their location) for a single project under the scheme and would itself provide match funding of 40%. This match funding will bring the overall value of the scheme to €10 million.
• Capital grants up to a maximum of €300,000 will be made available to the following densely populated Local Authority areas should they apply; Cork City Council, Dún Laoghaire–Rathdown County Council, Fingal County Council, Galway City Council, Limerick City and County Council, Louth County Council, South Dublin County Council, Waterford City and County Council;
• Capital grants up to a maximum of €150,000 will be made available to the remaining Local Authorities.

Applications are now being accepted from today and further information can be found at the following link:  https://www.gov.ie/en/publication/46f4f-creative-arts-grants-and-funding/

WE’VE ONLY JUST BEGUN FESTIVAL
3 NIGHT FESTIVAL
WHELAN’S DUBLIN
THURSDAY 8 / FRIDAY 9 / SATURDAY 10 AUGUST 2024
Tickets from €7 per night // €15 full festival on sale now

TICKETS: https://weveonlyjustbegun.ie/tickets

Doors 7.30pm (18+)

““The three day showcase features some of the biggest names in homegrown live music.” – District
““We’re absolutely delighted to be partnering with We’ve Only Just Begun Festival again.” – 2FM
“For anyone interested in investigating exactly how the Irish music landscape is looking (and sounding), the event is a must.” – The Irish Times

We’ve Only Just Begun is an annual three night festival which takes place in iconic music venue Whelan’s in the heart of Dublin city. Spread out across two stages, 23 bands, solo acts and DJs play to a sold out crowd across an entire weekend. Headline acts from previous years who have featured in the main room include Pillow Queens, Sorcha Richardson, SPRINTS, Soda Blonde, AIMÉE, Rosie Carney and Cathy Davey. The second stage showcases some of the most exciting up and coming acts in the Irish music scene at the moment.

We’ve Only Just Begun is officially partnered with RTE 2FM, IMRO, Minding Creative Minds and supported by Rockshore.

1 Weekend // 3 Nights // 2 Stages // 23 Acts

Thurs 8th

Niamh Bury
Amy Michelle
Maria Kelly
DeCarteret
Dream Boy
Emma Noodles
Vi0let

Fri 9th

Cruel Sister
Celaviedmai
Rachel Mae Hannon
Dose
Spooklet
Shark School
Stella and the Dreaming
Thanks Mom

Sat 10th

The Cliffords
Annie-Dog
Blue
CABL
Tidah
Martina and the Moons
Theo

For more information on each of the incredible artists on our lineup check out weveonlyjustbegun.ie/lineup

Notice anything about the line-up? Tell us when you see it!

#WOJBFestival

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Brussels, 23 May 2024 – The European Grouping of Authors’ Societies (GESAC), which represents 32 copyright management organisations from the European Union, Iceland, Norway, and Switzerland, and over one million songwriters, composers, and rightsholders from all artistic fields, has elected its new Board for the 2024-2026 mandate at its General Assembly in Brussels.

Victor Finn, CEO of the Irish Music Rights Organisation (IMRO), has been re-elected to the GESAC Board. Upon his re-election, Finn expressed his gratitude and highlighted the significance of his role during a pivotal period for the protection and development of creators’ rights. He stated:

“I’m honoured to be re-elected to the board of GESAC at a crucial time for the protection and development of creators’ rights. The new European Parliament and Commission have a vital role to play in ensuring human creativity can continue to flourish and ensure we have the regulations in place to allow meaningful collaboration with the fast-paced evolution of AI platforms. I look forward to working closely with our newly appointed General Manager, Adriana Moscoso Del Prado Hernández.”

Finn also extended his best wishes to the outgoing General Manager, Véronique Desbrosses, acknowledging her three decades of dedicated service to GESAC and the creators it represents:

“Wishing Véronique Desbrosses, our retiring General Manager, all best wishes. Thank you, Véronique, for your dedication, loyalty, and expertise to GESAC and creators over the past 30 years.”

The GESAC General Assembly, which took place in Brussels, is a crucial event for shaping the future of copyright management and ensuring that creators’ rights are upheld and advanced in the evolving digital landscape.

The IMRO Radio Awards, the pinnacle of recognition for Irish radio professionals, officially announce the opening of entries for the 2024 Awards. This annual event, renowned for celebrating the best in radio broadcasting across Ireland, promises to spotlight the creativity and dedication of the nation’s most beloved radio voices and the teams behind them.

Entries are open to licensed analogue and digital terrestrial commercial and public service radio stations operating on the island of Ireland. The 2024 IMRO Radio Awards ceremony will be held on Friday, October 4^th, at the Lyrath Estate Hotel, Kilkenny .

This year’s ceremony introduces a fresh category, the Sustainability Award, reflecting the industry’s commitment to promoting environmental consciousness.

This new category (C9) will honour those broadcasters who excel in creating impactful content that encourages sustainable lifestyles and environmental awareness, integrating these crucial themes into the fabric of everyday listening.

Nominees for this year’s awards will be announced in the coming months. The categories range from captivating talk shows to enthralling music broadcasts, each demonstrating the versatile power of radio to inform, entertain, and inspire.

The event is once again sponsored by IMRO, with the support of Coimisiún na Meán. The awards night, to be held later this year promises to be a memorable celebration of the enduring and emerging talents that define Irish radio. More details about the event will be available soon.

“Each year, we strive to adapt and reflect the evolving landscape of radio broadcasting,” said Chris Doyle, Chairperson of the IMRO Radio Awards. “This new Sustainability award showcases radio’s role in educating and engaging the public on pressing global issues like climate change. The IMRO Radio Awards committee is proud to showcase this industry’s overall great work and to reward their achievements at this year’s event. ”

 “This event has truly become a cornerstone of the broadcasting sector, highlighting the incredible talent within Irish radio. The awards ceremony not only celebrates individual achievements but also acknowledges the collective dedication and creativity that set these professionals apart. We’re proud to show our appreciation for their hard work and the invaluable contributions they make to the industry.”   said Eleanor McEvoy, IMRO Chairperson.

For updates and additional information, please visit https://www.imroradioawards.ie/