Music Ireland latest: Steve Wall confirmed

One of the most successful locally-based Irish songwriters of the past decade and a half, Wall has recently launched an appeal for a greater level of support for Irish music on Irish radio.

Wall was highly critical of the Irish stations in an email circulated to Irish industry figures recently. "These days it's all down to market-share and advertising revenue," he said. "Little do they care that Irish artists have often spent thousands on Irish studios, engineers, pressing plants, printers and publicists just to get that CD into the radio station to support a tour or album." Too often, Wall argues, the response from radio is negative – the knock-on effect of which is to put jobs in the industry here at risk.

Wall recorded hit albums with The Stunning (including two number ones) and The Walls. The latter's 'To The Bright And Shining Sun' featured in an AIB advertising campaign and was one of the most played tracks on Irish radio in 2002. The band’s New Dawn Breaking album, released in 2005, reached number five in the Irish album charts.

Steve Wall will participate in a special panel at Music Ireland 07. Entitled 'Who Writes The Playlists – And Are Irish Artists Getting A Fair Deal?', it will take place on Sunday, October 7. Other panelists confirmed include Louis Walsh and Kieran McGeary (MD of Cork’s 96FM), with more names to be added.