The Irish Music Industry Podcast is a must listen for both people who want to break into the industry and seasoned professionals keen to learn more
A podcast originally started to supplement topics covered by WIT music students was one of the most listened to podcasts in Ireland in early April, beating off competition from RTE, BBC and WNYC.
Series 2 of The Irish Music Industry Podcast has launched providing a vital insight into the music industry. Produced by ‘Mark G’ of King Kong Company who is a lecturer on the BA (Hons) Music course in WIT, The Irish Music Industry Podcast is a must listen for both people who want to break into the industry and seasoned professionals who want to learn more about other areas of the music sector.
Not the first time at No 1
The first series of the podcast was hugely successful, occasionally hitting the top spot on the Irish Podcast Charts. Series two has built on that, seeking out professionals from a multitude of disciplines to offer some advice and discuss how they carve out their own space within the sector.
Each episode of The Irish Music Industry Podcast sees Mark G interviewing some of Ireland’s top music industry professionals, as they pick apart the mechanism of the Irish music sector in an effort to understand what makes it tick. From well-worn road warriors to eager newbies, all stories, advice, wisdom and occasional tales of woe come straight from the horse’s mouth.
The first handful of episodes are available now and feature top music professionals John Spillane (singer songwriter), Leo Abrahams (musician/producer for Brian Eno, Paul Simon and David Byrne) Alex Gough (songwriter/performer), Eleanor McEvoy (singer/songwriter and Chair of IMRO), Avril Stanley (Director of Body&Soul), Tara Thomas (gig photographer) and Jim Fielder (bass player with Blood Sweat and Tears/Frank Zappa/Jefferson Airplane. Jim played at Woodstock).
A shocking success
Speaking about the podcast Mark G said: “The success that series one enjoyed was more shocking to me than anyone else. I thought there would a very niche audience among students and music industry professionals for this. Already, just a short way into series two, we’ve been topping the Irish podcast charts. It seems that there are more people than I imagined interested in sussing out what goes on behind and around music in Ireland today, and the guests I’m talking to are really getting’ stuck in to it”.
The spark that lit the touchpaper on this podcast came from Mark’s experience within third level education and from working within the music sector itself.
“There was a slow burning realisation that many students and prospective music industry professionals aren’t privy to a full and frank picture of what to expect from their chosen career”. Given where the industry stands right now, having a resource where professionals can share information, advice and proactive pointers is invaluable. In one recent episode The Mary Wallopers shared how they successfully streamed a Paddy’s Day gig to thousands of people, raising some much needed funds for themselves. Drummer Johnny Daly talked about signing on for the first time to avail of the Covid-19 emergency payment. John Spillane and Síomha discussed successful crowd funding campaigns that saw them raising thousands of euros to fund their next albums. All of those positive and proactive solutions were in just one episode. Imagine what’s in a whole series?
Tune in
The first episodes of series two of The Irish Music Industry Podcasts are available now on iTunes, Android and the usual digital sources or you can visit timi.ie to download/stream the podcasts. The Irish Music Industry Podcast is supported by IMRO.
Mark G is a lecturer in the Department of Creative and Performing Arts at Waterford Institute of Technology by day, drummer, vocalist and trombonist with King Kong Company by night. Mark has previously worked for Today FM and RTE Radio. His first book, A Year of Festivals in Ireland, documented his quest to attend three Irish festivals per week for an entire year. He ended up attending three Irish festivals per week for three years, while writing his Festival Fit column for The Irish Times. A Year of Festivals in Ireland won Travel Book of the Year at the Travel Writers Awards 2015. The associated Year of Festivals blog won Best Popular Culture Blog at the Irish Blog Awards.
SETU Waterford, Cork Road, Waterford City, 
