Tag Archives: IMRO

imroawards

The IMRO Live Music Venue of the Year Awards happened at their HQ in Dublin last night. Who got the gongs, you ask?

The National Venue of the Year went to Wexford’s National Opera House.

The regional awards for outstanding venues went out thusly:

Dublin – Vicar Street
Rest of Leinster – Watergate Theatre, Kilkenny
Connacht – The Quays, Galway
Munster – Coughlan’s, Cork
Ulster – Voodoo, Letterkenny, Co Donegal

IMRO Music Festival of the Year: Sea Sessions, Bundoran
IMRO Small Live Music Festival 2016: Kilkenny Tradfest
IMRO Tech Crew of the Year: The Olympia

IMRO Outstanding Contribution to Live Music: Frank Murray (manager of Thin Lizzy/The Pogues)

Special commendations were also handed out to venues by Hot Press head Niall Stokes:

“It has been an outstanding year for live music in Ireland. That is, of course, true in relation to what is happening in the big venues, like The Olympia Theatre, which has just been refurbished with spectacular results, and at festivals – which are so important to the ongoing health of Irish music.

But from the point of view of working Irish musicians, it is really encouraging also to see the emergence of venues in smaller towns around the country, where they can go and gig – and both find an audience and earn their wages. Which is why I am so pleased to have presented awards tonight to Mike The Pies in Listowel and Boyle’s of Slane.

It is the hard work and dedication of the people who make things happen in venues and bars like these – and countless others around the country – that make all the difference. Long may they flourish.”

IMRO

Print

The IMRO Live Music Venue of the Year Award nominees were released yesterday, with the live award-ceremony happening on February 21st at the organisation’s Dublin headquarters. Musical guests: Overhead, the Albatross and Soulé, with more TBC.

One overall winner is totted up from votes from the national shortlists, while Hot Press readers/digital subs also get a shout in on the Hot Press Venue of the Year award via the mag’s Readers’ Poll.

Writes Liza Geddes:

More than 11,500 IMRO members considered hundreds of venues across the country for the shortlist. Venues were judged on their commitment to providing the core elements that make for a great live music venue – atmosphere, sound and lighting, staging, diversity of programming and importantly, the staff and management of each venue. IMRO members also voted on Ireland’s music festivals, delivering a shortlist of their top ten festivals.

Live music venues and festivals play a vital role in the music industry in Ireland, giving international and homegrown artists a platform to engage with fans and build new audiences. They also play a central role in urban and rural communities across the country, providing a social gathering space for varied audiences, and contributing hugely to the domestic economy.

See the shortlists, get to voting for your favourite local venue, and chuck votes in for half-remembered non-local gaffs at the voting page.

IMRO

musicmatters

A promo for the Irish music industry by the Irish Music Rights Organistation (IMRO)

They say:

Based on sectoral analysis, the survey [by the  Socio Economic Opportunities of Developing Ireland’s Music Industry] found that the Irish music industry contributes over €470 million to the economy and supports more than 11,510 jobs in Ireland – 9,030 direct, 2,480 indirect. In addition, while digital sales in Ireland have grown significantly, latest figures show that in the four years to 2012, recorded music sales fell by almost €40 million from €72 million to €33 million per annum….

But how many in digital sales anyone?

Via Big O Media.