Today FM CEO addresses Oireachtas Joint Committee

Today FM CEO, Willie O’Reilly addressed the Oireachtas Joint Committee on Arts, Sport, Tourism, Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs this afternoon, on the subject of Contemporary Irish Music – Supporting the Industry and Nurturing New Emerging Talent.
The Committee has been concerned about the level of new Irish music being played on radio here, particularly at peak times, and O’Reilly suggested three initiatives that could help these emerging artists:
1. Market Ireland as a destination for international recording artists and highlight the world class recording facilities it can offer. If successful, this will encourage further investment in the sector, raising industry standards and increasing choice to home artists.
2. Encourage the international film industry availing of Ireland's favourable taxation laws to include Irish music and Irish artists within their soundtracks.
3. Consider licensing a traditional/folk radio station for the Dublin area.
“Irish people like Irish music and we will continue to support new artists,” O’Reilly added. “However, this support is contingent on the Irish music community continuing to supply us with talented, high production material that appeals to our audience.”
The Today FM man cited Damien Rice, BellX1, Lisa Hannigan, Mick Flannery, Declan O’Rourke and Imelda May as acts who’d all been championed in their infancy by the station, and also drew attention to the fact that Ian Dempsey, Ray D’Arcy, Ray Foley and Tony Fenton all feature live sessions with Irish artists.
Also present at today’s meeting were representatives from RTÉ.

Pictured: Ian Dempsey & Damien Rice