Author: Press Officer

74 artists and music industry professionals from 12 different countries have been selected by industry and export experts as the future leaders that will take part in the Keychange development programme in 2020, after an open call that received over 650 applications. In Ireland, the Keychange partner festival is Ireland Music Week and IMRO are the sponsor.

The Irish participants are Pillow Queens, SLYK and Elaine Mai (artists) / Lia Lieghio, Shauna Watson and Mona-Lisa Das (innovators)

Launching with a full network meetup in Stockholm on February 13th, this extensive programme led by Reeperbahn Festival in partnership with PRS Foundation and Musikcentrum Öst will give the 74 women and gender minority participants all the skills and opportunities they need to get to the next stage in their career. This is the first of three cohorts that will take part in the ambitious and future-facing four year programme that was announced in Summer 2019, when Keychange was awarded €1.4m from the Creative Europe programme of the European Union.

Alongside the full network meet-ups and mentoring, participants will take part in a ‘Creative Lab’ at one of the 13 festivals that are partnered with Keychange (Ireland Music Week in October). The Creative Labs will offer showcasing opportunities to Artists, public speaking opportunities to Innovators, plus workshops, seminars, studio sessions, masterclasses and more. International collaboration lies at the heart of the programme, and Polish company Chimes have been recruited to oversee all training.

The participants will get:
– Participation in full network meet-up in Stockholm in February 2020
– Participation in full network meet-up at Reeperbahn Festival in September
– Mentoring via SheSaidSo
– For Artists: showcase and Creative Lab activity at one of the 13 partner festivals
– For Innovators: participation and Creative Lab activity at one of the 13 partner festivals
– Promotion via the Keychange database
– Capacity building with a bespoke training programme

Eleanor McEvoy, IMRO Chairperson said “International collaboration is essential to the creative and business development of all talented artists and the music industry’s future success. Enabling more women access to international networks and new markets at critical stages in their career will help them realise their potential as future leaders of an industry that is ready for and will benefit from change.  Right now we have an opportunity to respond and commit to tangible change within the music industry.  Our hope is that this will be the start of a more balanced industry which will result in benefits for everyone.”

The announcement comes at an exciting moment for Keychange; the number of organisations that have signed up to the gender balance pledge has passed 300 and Talent Norge (Norway), Norsk Tipping (Norway) and Musicians’ Union (UK) – who have lead important research and resources for cases of harrassment, discrimination, and abuse of power – have joined the movement as Sponsors. 

Canadian partners FACTOR, SOCAN Foundation, and festivals MUTEK Montreal and BreakOut West are the first outside of Europe to commit to the talent development element of the Keychange programme. Canadian artists and music industry professionals will get access to international opportunities and progression routes that would not be available to them otherwise, as well as training and participation in a valuable network. Many Canadian festivals have signed the Keychange gender pledge, and the investment into individual development is an concerted step towards meaningful and long lasting change for the Canadian music industry. 

A core value of Keychange is to break down the barriers that people face because of their gender, and from listening to the feedback from the 2018 edition of the programme, the new team put a specific budget in place to support all childcare needs. Therefore, in this first year of 2.0, Keychange has pledged a percentage of their funding to the participants, specifically for childcare, in order to facilitate their participation in the programme, and ultimately aid their development. 

Christina Schäfers, Keychange Lead and Head of Reeperbahn Festival’s programmes in arts, word and film says, “The Keychange talent development programme lies at the core of the initiative. While the pledge encourages organisations to book diverse talent, we’re helping the talent get to their stages. Following dialogue with many creators and experts during phase one, we are particularly pleased that a more inclusive approach to recruitment has resulted in a very diverse and exciting group of participants for 2020. We are proud to represent many more gender minority participants and a diverse range of ethnicities, genres and career levels.The Keychange team are busy creating a meaningful and impactful capacity building programme, and we’re looking forward to working with them all, and to seeing what they do next. We can’t wait to host this incredible cohort at the full network meet-ups in Stockholm and at Reeperbahn Festival.”

60 participants took part in the Keychange programme in 2018, including Poppy Ajudha, who has since been named as one of Barack Obama’s favourite artists, Kat Frankie, who was nominated as ‘best producer’ at the notorious ‘Preis fur PopKulture’ awards in Germany, Harriet Moss who has been promoted to Managing Director of publishers Manners McDade, and IMAN, who has written a multi-million streamed track with Zara Larsson. 

About Keychange

Keychange is a pioneering international initiative which transforms the future of music whilst encouraging festivals and music organisations to achieve a 50:50 gender balance by 2022. 74 emerging artists and innovators each year from across Europe and Canada will take part in international festivals, showcase events, collaborations and a programme of creative labs. Keychange aims to accelerate change and create a better, more inclusive music industry for present and future generations.

Keychange is led by Reeperbahn Festival, PRS Foundation and Musikcentrum Öst, supported by the Creative Europe programme of the European Union, in partnership with Tallinn Music Week, Iceland Airwaves, BIME, Oslo World, Linecheck/Music Innovation Hub, Ireland Music Week, SACEM, Liverpool Sound City, Way Out West, Spring Break, MAMA, MUTEK and Breakout West.

Keychange is sponsored by FACTOR, Fundación SGAE, GEMA, Gorwelion Horizons, IMRO, the Musicians’ Union, Norsk Tipping, Roskilde Festival, Smirnoff Equalising Music, SOCAN Foundation, Songtrust, SoundCloud, STEF, STIM, and Talent Norge. 

www.irelandmusicweek.com
Keychange.eu

The Irish Music Rights Organisation CLG (IMRO) is delighted to announce that the IMRO Live Music Venue of the Year Awards 2019 will take place on Tuesday 11th February 2020. This year will see a change of location for the Awards, with the event taking place at club Twenty Two, South Anne Street in Dublin.

The nominees shortlist was announced today by IMRO Chief Executive, Victor Finn.

The annual awards, now in their twelfth year, celebrate the venues and individuals working in the live music industry, whose passion and determination brings the joy and inimitable experience of live music to the public across Ireland.  

More than 13,000 IMRO members were given the opportunity to vote for their favourite venues of 2019 for inclusion on the awards shortlist. Venues were judged on atmosphere, sound and lighting, staging, diversity of programming, the staff and management of each venue and accessibility for people with disabilities, all of which are essential foundations for a truly remarkable live music venue. IMRO members also voted on Ireland’s music festivals, tech crews and for the IMRO Outstanding Contribution to Live Music, the receiver of which shall be announced on the night of the Awards.

Music venues and festivals play a vital role in the music industry in Ireland, giving international and homegrown artists of all levels a platform to engage with existing fans and build new audiences. They also play a central role in urban and rural communities across the country, providing a social gathering space for a multitude of audience types, and contributing hugely to the domestic economy.

Of the Awards, Victor Finn, IMRO Chief Executive said, “The important role that venues and festivals make nationally is all too often overlooked. They provide an essential platform and support network for Irish and international artists and bands of all levels, in addition to their vital contribution to communities both economically and socially. The IMRO Live Music Venue Awards have grown from their inception to become one of the most anticipated dates in the Irish music industry calendar. The awards are an opportunity to acknowledge venues big and small across the country and to celebrate the individuals whose hard work and commitment help our vibrant and eclectic music industry to flourish.”

At the ceremony in club Twenty Two on February 11th, awards will be presented to live music venues in each of the following regions: Dublin, Leinster (excluding Dublin), Connacht, Munster and Ulster (Donegal, Monaghan, Cavan). The IMRO Music Festival of the Year, IMRO Small Music Festival of the Year, IMRO Tech Crew of the Year Award and a special Outstanding Contribution to Live Music Award will also be presented. Performances on the night will come from emerging acts Soda Blonde, Alex Gough and Elm.

One overall award will be presented to the IMRO National Live Music Venue of the Year. This award is decided upon by the public, who vote for their live music venue of the year from the combined shortlist of all the regions.

Live music fans should simply log on to https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/imrovenueawards and choose their favourite from the shortlist provided, by 5pm on the 7th of February. Voters will by entered into a draw to be in with a chance to win an iPad.

The ceremony will also see the presentation of the award for Hot Press Live Music Venue of the Year via The Readers Poll which is contributed to by Hot Press fans and can be viewed at Hotpress.com

Niall Stokes, editor of Hot Press said “Irish music is going through a real purple patch at the moment, with brilliant new artists emerging across every genre – and a lot of them are making a serious impact internationally. They deserve to. We are producing some truly great music here at the moment.

This extraordinary surge of creativity in Irish music would not be possible without great live venues. They give artists and bands a vital platform, especially at the start of their careers. A healthy live music scene is at the very heart of things – and music is flourishing all over Ireland. 

That’s why the IMRO Live Music Venues Awards are so important. It matters a lot to us, here at Hot Press, to lend our support to the awards – and to do everything we can to promote live music in Ireland. We want Irish artists to experience recognition and success like never before during the year ahead. I firmly believe that 2020 is going to be a great one.”

The winners of the IMRO Live Music Venue of the Year Awards 2019 will be announced on Tuesday 11th February 2020 from a live event from Twenty Two, Dawson Street in Dublin.

IMRO LIVE MUSIC VENUE OF THE YEAR AWARDS SHORTLIST

Dublin

Bord Gáis Energy Theatre, Dublin 2
Vicar Street, Dublin 8
Arthur’s Blues and Jazz Club, Dublin 8
The Old Storehouse, Dublin 2
The Underground, Dublin 2

Rest of Leinster

The Royal Meath Bar, Navan, Co Meath
Kavanagh’s Bar & Venue, Portlaoise, Co. Laois
Bridge House Hotel, Tullamore, Co. Offaly
The Spirit Store, Dundalk, Co. Louth
The Set Theatre, Kilkenny

Ulster

Iontas Theatre, Castleblayney Co. Monaghan
An Grianán Theatre, Letterkenny, Co. Donegal
McGinley’s Bar, Letterkenny, Co. Donegal
The Chasin’ Bull, Bundoran, Co. Donegal
Balor Arts Centre, Ballybofey, Co Donegal

Munster

Coughlan’s Bar & Live Music Venue, Cork
Mike the Pies, Listowel, Co. Kerry
De Barra’s Folk Club, Clonakilty, Co. Cork
Connolly’s of Leap, Co. Cork
Crane Lane Theatre, Cork

Connacht

Matt Molloy’s, Westport, Co. Mayo
The Quays Bar, Galway
JJ Harlow’s Bar, Roscommon
Anderson’s Live, Sligo
Róisín Dubh, Galway

IMRO Music Festival of the Year 2019

All Together Now
Body & Soul
Electric Picnic
Longitude
Féile ’19
Galway International Arts Festival
Forbidden Fruit
Sea Sessions
Live @ The Iveagh Gardens
Sligo Live

IMRO Small Music Festival of the Year 2019

Clonakility International Guitar Festival
It Takes A Village
Claremorris Folk Festival
K-Fest Arts Festival
Another Love Story
The Acoustic Yard Festival
Sounds from a Safe Harbour
Ireland Music Week
Kilkenny Tradfest
Doolin Folk Festival

IMRO Tech Crew of the Year 2019

Coughlan’s Live Bar and Music Venue
Axis Arts Centre and Theatre
BelloBar
Sea Sessions
Other Voices
Beatyard
Live at St. Luke’s
The Sugar Club
Olympia Theatre
The Academy

#IMROVenueAwards

The Irish Music Rights Organisation CLG (IMRO) has become the first creative and entertainment sector company to be accredited with the KeepWell Mark, Ibec’s award for promoting happiness, health and safety in the workplace.

IMRO has heavily invested in employee wellness, safety and health in recent years and this has been recognised by Ibec, Ireland’s largest and most influential business representation organisation.

The KeepWell Mark is an exclusive workplace wellness accreditation programme developed by Ibec in 2017. It recognises organisations who put the wellbeing of employees at the forefront of company policy. The first of its kind in Ireland, the mark is a set of health and wellbeing standards that companies can achieve through the promotion of wellbeing in the workplace.

The accreditation takes a holistic approach, focusing on eight key areas and how they can impact business. These eight areas of improvement are leadership, absence management, smoke free, physical activity, health and safety, mental health, healthy eating, and intoxicants.

IMRO has hosted and supported a number of initiatives over the past two years focused on raising awareness of the complex ranges of mental health challenges facing individuals working in the creative industries sector in Ireland. Further investment in this important area is scheduled by IMRO through targeted programmes and initiatives for its members and employees in 2020.

The KeepWell Mark process starts with benchmarking current company practice against recognised standards followed by clear guidance on how to make improvements with support and resources provided.

On achieving the KeepWell Mark, Sarah Sweetnam, Director of Finance, Distribution and Human Resources said: “It is becoming increasingly apparent that businesses in Ireland need to make the health and wellbeing of their employees a top priority. While some old-fashioned stereotypes about life in the music industry persist, IMRO is determined to prove that those working in music can have healthy, safe and happy careers.”

Ms Sweetnam added: “We are extremely proud to achieve The KeepWell Mark accreditation, demonstrating our commitment to and raising the standards of employee health, wellbeing, and safety across all aspects of our business operations. Our industry is firmly built on our people, they are our greatest asset and their health and wellbeing is of paramount importance to IMRO. We hope that our staff will soon begin to feel the tangible benefits of The KeepWell Mark, and that we will set an example for other Irish businesses by following industry best practice”.

Sophie Moran, KeepWell Mark Programme Manager said: “We are delighted to present IMRO with The KeepWell Mark for demonstrating their commitment to employee health and wellbeing and taking steps to support their people. It’s fantastic to see an organisation like IMRO leading the way for others in the music industry.”

Marking its 65th year, The Ivors will return to the Grosvenor House in London on Thursday 21 May, to celebrate, honour and reward excellence in songwriting and composing, recognising exceptional talent in British and Irish music writing. Songwriters and screen composers are invited to submit eligible works across the following categories:

Best Song Musically and Lyrically
Best Contemporary Song
Best Album
Best Original Film Score
Best Television Soundtrack
Best Original Video Game Score

Anyone can enter a work, including the songwriter or composer. To be eligible, works must have a British or Irish writing contribution of at least 33.3% and have been commercially released in the UK during the calendar year ending 31 December 2019.The deadline to enter is 23:59 on 6 February 2020. Visit here for full details and The Ivors Rules and Guidelines.