The experts are here! First wave of lecturers for Music Industry Xplained 2026 announced

Singer and songwriter RuthAnne, lawyer Willie Ryan – who has worked with some of the biggest names in the business – and legendary music agent Paul Charles, author of the acclaimed music industry memoir Adventures in Wonderland, are among the names announced as lecturers in this years MIX 2026 course, set to start on April 21. The course, which has given a start to many of Ireland's most successful industry practitioners, now takes place via Zoom, so it is open to people anywhere in Ireland or indeed across the world.

"At Hot Press, we know how competitive the music and entertainment industry is internationally," Mark Hogan of M.I.X said. "That's why we have developed the Music Industry Xplained (M.I.X) course: to equip artists – and Irish artists, managers, events organisers and so on in particular – to compete collectively at the highest level across the world. So we're delighted to announce the first wave of top specialists from the Irish and international music industries, who'll be providing their phenomenal expertise and insights over the duration of the course."

These include legendary music agent and manager Paul Charles, who has worked closely with The Kinks, Tom Waits, Christy Moore, Van Morrison, Crosby Stills and Nash, The Waterboys and many more leading lights of contemporary music; one of the country’s most influential and musically astute radio presenters and programmers, Clare Beck; and Hot Press' own Deputy Editor Stuart Clark, who, across decades in broadcast, print, online and via social media has managed to get 'good quote' from the likes of David Bowie, Amy Winehouse and Bruce Springsteen to Katie Taylor, Nile Rodgers and President Michael D. Higgins, as well as offering rare insights into the whole workings of the music industry. Stuart will be joined by Jackie Hayden, who was centrally involved in signing U2 to their first record contract with CBS Records (now Sony Music) in Ireland, and who was a key figure at Hot Press for many years.

Also lined up are qualified barrister and music lawyer for Hozier, Johnny McDaid from Snow Patrol, and Noel Hogan from the Cranberries, Willie Ryan; and the highly acclaimed RuthAnne, songwriter for Niall Horan, One Direction, and Britney Spears, and the author of a hugely compelling guide to navigating the music industry, It’s Not Just A Song.

Also among this year's list of lecturers are musician, songwriter and music publisher Steve Lindsay, founder of Elevate Music Publishing, which represents Westlife, Cathy Davey, HamsandwicH and more; and Tom Travis, a senior figure at the fabled Rough Trade Records – the renowned London-based label and home to The Strokes, Jarvis Cocker, SOAK, Black Midi, Lankum and many more legendary figures in modern music. Watch this space for more major industry names to be announced...

You can enrol for the acclaimed course now directly – so if you’re a musician, manager, promoter, booker, publicist, publisher, marketer, event manager, tech professional, tour manager, or social media manager – or are aspiring to be any of the above – the time to build your capabilities and knowledge is now. The M.I.X will provide the career pathway to progress in, and the networking opportunities to succeed in, the music industry.

M.I.X is a 12-week course (one evening each week) kicking off on April 21. The lectures take place on Tuesdays at 7.30pm via Zoom.​​​

Advance your music business or entertainment industry career with crucially informative expert-led modules, vital real-world insights, and powerful networking opportunities. Click here to sign up for this year's M.I.X course.

Topics covered include:

Releasing Music Independently
Selling Your Music Online
Dealing with Record Companies
Distributing your Music Effectively
Developing your Act as a Brand
Working with the Media
Making & Managing Your Artist's Money
Live Music & Touring
Promoting Gigs
Finance & Legal Issues
Working with Producers
Music Management
Generating Income from Songwriting
Getting Played on Radio
Publicity & New Approaches to Social Media