New podcast will unveil the secrets of music platform BalconyTV

A new podcast promising to unearth the truth behind the phenomenon of BalconyTV is set for release on February 1st 2023.

The platform which once brokered million dollar deals, has played host to Ed Sheeran, Mumford and Sons, Kaiser Chiefs, Jessie J, The Script and Paris Hilton in the early days of their careers. The idea was dreamt up by a couple of students and a jazzer on the balcony of their Dublin apartment. Having been syndicated to 100 cities around the world, amassing hundreds of millions of international viewers, the platform was gobbled up by music giant Sony.

'The Untold Story of BalconyTV' is a three-part documentary podcast presented by The Irish Music Industry Podcast. Founders, producers, performers, presenters and patrons of BalconyTV from around the world feature on the upcoming podcast, sharing stories and insights into what made the platform work, what made it fun, relevant, and enjoyable, how a major music label eventually engulfed it and consequently, what lessons can be learned from its rise and fall.

The upcoming podcast is the final instalment in The Irish Music Industry Podcast- an essential series for music professionals and lovers alike over its four year run. “It feels like this is a good way to end the series”, says producer and presenter Mark Graham. “The podcast was created to address topics that I wasn’t able to cover in depth with BA Music students that I teach at SETU, and it grew from there to hit the number one spot on the Irish podcast charts at least once during every season. It’s meant to be an educational thing that hopefully doesn’t always take itself too seriously, and it feels like a lot of the relevant stuff we’ve been discussing over the last four years is wrapped up neatly in this one entertaining and informative story.”

All three episodes of 'The Untold Story of BalconyTV' will be available from Wednesday, February 1st on all usual podcast platforms. Special guests Stephen James Smith (poet and BalconyTV performer), Joanne Collins (producer & presenter BalconyTV Cork), and Stephen O’Regan (founder and former CEO of BalconyTV) will feature at the documentary’s preview and launch, located at the multidisciplinary arts festival - Hedge School Doolin on Saturday January 28th. Further information can be found on Doolin Arts’ website.

The trailer for the upcoming podcast can be listened to here.