Just 24 hours before their standout performance at IMRO’s showcase at Belfast’s premier music industry conference, Output, 20 year old rising stars :Panic :Over signed their first major deal with W Songs, Warner Music Group’s boutique sync licensing and publishing arm. Specialists in working with upcoming songwriters, W Songs focus on placements across Film, TV, gaming, and advertising with clients like Love Island, TK Maxx and PlayStation. This is a major boost to :Panic :Over’s unstoppable rise, franked by UEFA, The BBC and ITV’s usage of their music during live coverage of the Euros and 6 Nations this year, reaching over 20 million viewers.
The buzz around :Panic :Over reached fever pitch at Belfast’s Ulster Sports Club last Tuesday (12th November), where their IMRO showcase absolutely packed the venue’s downstairs bar. Security had to close the doors, leaving a queue of disappointed fans snaking around the block. Among the captivated crowd was Mark Davyd, CEO of the Music Venue Trust, who hailed the performance as proof of the vibrancy of grassroots live music. Responding to the claim that “young people don’t like live music anymore,” Mark clapped back:
“Grow up, grandad. I’m in the downstairs bar of the Ulster Sports Club watching :Panic :Over. It’s rammed, and the average age is about 20. They know all the words to every song, and there’s not a sodding phone in sight.”
Davyd’s words come on the heels of The Music Venues Trust’s successful lobbying of UK Parliament, to secure financial contributions from every arena and stadium ticket sold to support grassroots music venues, promoters, and artists like :Panic :Over. It is a monumental win for the live music ecosystem and the bands driving its post-pandemic resurgence.
Carly Reid, Director of Sync, W Songs added “We love working with new bands, so we’re incredibly happy to be working with :Panic :Over – the only Irish band signed to W Songs. Sync plays a vital role when introducing audiences to new music, so we’re excited to get to work and enhance the band’s success in this space with our contacts and resources.”
Keith Johnson, Director of Marketing & Membership at IMRO, praised :Panic :Over’s achievements and their impact on showcasing Irish talent: “It’s incredibly rewarding to see artists like :Panic :Over flourish on such a significant stage. Their showcase at Output and recent deal with W Songs underscore the immense talent emerging from Ireland’s vibrant music scene. IMRO is proud to support opportunities like these, which not only highlight the exceptional talent of Irish artists but also pave the way for their success on an international level.”
Speaking about their whirlwind week, :Panic :Over said: “Signing with Warner Music Group is a dream come true. Having a major championing new artists like us in such a high-profile way shows just how much they believe in what we’re doing. It’s also thanks to people like IMRO, and Mark Davyd & the Music Venues Trust, who work tirelessly to protect grassroots music venues, that bands like ours have the chance to develop and grow. The reaction at Belfast’s Output IMRO Showcase was unreal—seeing the support from fans and industry alike reminds us why we do this, and we’re so excited to see where this partnership takes us next.”
:Panic :Over’s debut album ‘False Alarm’ is out now on all streaming platforms: :Panic :Over – [False Alarm]
Christmas single Head for Home is out now on Spotify
Live Photo Credit – Jonah Gardner
