Opinion
22 Nov 19

Leading Irish Music Publisher Michael O’Riordan Has Died

Michael O'Riordan was one of the best known Irish music publishers and a recent recipient of the MIDEM Gold Pioneer Medal.

Hot Press is sad to announce news of the death of the leading Irish music publisher, Michael O’Riordan.

O’Riordan was one of the longest-serving and best known figures in Irish music publishing. He was the current President of the Music Publishers Association of Ireland.

"It is with the deepest regret that I must inform you that our President Michael O Riordan passed away suddenly at 8am this morning,” MPAI secretary Johnny Lappin said, in a note to members of the association. "Michael was a giant of the Irish music industry and a great friend and mentor to me, for all my decades in the industry. He will be greatly missed.”

Michael O’Riordan came to prominence during the late 1960s and the 1970s, when he worked with Rosette Records and handled music publishing for the Release Records group of companies. There was a period when Release were the real local music kingpins, handling innumerable showband hits at home – and plenty outside Ireland too. O’Riordan was involved at the outset with the Irish Music Rights Organisation (IMRO), which broke away during the 1980s from the London-based PRS, forming the first Irish music rights organisation.

Michael O’Riordan went on to become a director and committee member, at different times, with both IMRO and the MCPS. Along the way, Michael served on the Music Board of Ireland. He was a regular at MIDEM, the annual music industry shindig in Cannes.

In 2017, he was awarded the Midem Gold Pioneer Medal for his extensive contribution to the Music Business. He is the only Irish person ever to receive the award. The medal was presented to O’Riordan, by IMRO CEO Victor Finn and then-Chair of IMRO, Keith Donald.

“For some people this really will feel like the end of an era,” Hot Press editor Niall Stokes said. “Michael O’Riordan achieved a fantastic level of success over the years, but ultimately most people will remember him as a hugely good humoured and positive person, who loved being involved in music – and who loved in particular the fact that it is a people business, where fun and conversation are an intrinsic part of what we do. Our condolences to his family and close friends. He will be greatly missed.”

Keep an eye on hotpress.com for further details.