AIM Ireland

This week, we bring you a Member Spotlight on StreamOnDistro - one of the chosen delegates for this year’s A2IM Indie Week Irish delegation. StreamOnDistro is an Irish owned business covering the areas of: - Independent Music Services (Music Distribution & Artist Support) - Artist Manager (managing the Irish artist Dreamer). StreamOnDistro provides support to new and emerging indie artists through music distribution as well as social media support, playlist support as well as radio airplay. StreamOnDistro work directly with artists and are “available to support their needs as far as possible to help them grow their audiences in a saturated digital market by providing a personal service.” Starting in Jan 2001, they now support over 500 artists globally and are continuing to grow. To find out more about StreamOnDistro follow this page @streamondistro

AIM Ireland members can avail of 50% off full Showcase & Conference tickets at Ireland Music Week 2024! @irelandmusicweek is a crucial event in the Irish music industry calendar. As well as showcasing the next crop of export-ready Irish musicians, Ireland Music Week welcomes a world-class array of international music industry professionals attending showcases, taking part in the conference and participating in networking events with Irish artists and industry alike. These top-class global industry professionals include bookers, labels, publishers, managers, agents and many more. To avail of 50% off, AIM Ireland members can simply use the promo code included in the most recent @aim.ireland newsletter. Ireland Music Week is run by @first_music_contact and is supported by @cultureireland & @artscouncilireland #supportirishmusic #irelandmusicweek

Wishing all of our members and friends a very happy and safe Pride month. 🌈 AIM Ireland is thrilled to unveil the lineup for the sophomore episode of ‘In The Round’ - AMPLIFYING LGBTQIA+ VOICES IN IRELAND’S INDEPENDENT MUSIC SECTOR A dynamic roundtable format, ‘In The Round’ aims to spotlight and amplify the voices of Irish music industry professionals with a dedicated focus on diversity and inclusion, in 2024. As Pride month has just kicked off, we are excited to announce our sophomore event, “Amplifying LGBTQIA+ voices in Ireland’s Independent Music Sector’’, scheduled for Monday, June 24th. This event will unite 8 remarkable LGBTQIA+ people to share their lived experiences of working independently in the Irish music industry. Each guest is a leader in their respective domains and will bring forward important conversations and topics. Once again we will come together in the vibrant ambiance of the Tara Building in Dublin 2, with each subsequent edition of ‘In The Round’ promising a captivating exploration of various discussion topics, enriched by the diverse perspectives of our esteemed guest speakers. The event takes place without an audience to encourage an open & conversational dialogue - with highlights shared with members following the event. Our panelists for the sophomore event are: Dwayne Woods (Butter Wouldn’t Melt // AIM Ireland -Events) Julie Hough (Veta) Sexy Tadgh & MGMT (Artists & SosArtists) Clare Martin (Amplify Agency) Namya (Guest Artist) Gui Morais (Symphonic//Producer) Ele Breslin (X-Collective) Emily Shaw (Music Consultant) Follow AIM Ireland for more details and stay tuned for further ‘In The Round’ news. You can watch highlights from the first edition of In the Round Via AIM Ireland’s YouTube or TikTok.

After what was a jam packed week in New York, A2IM Indie Week has wrapped! Created BY independents, FOR independents, A2IM Indie Week is a three-day conference uniquely tailored to the needs of the independent music community. This year AIM Ireland joined the largest Irish delegation to date to attend the conference, which itself is the largest gathering of the independent music community. Drawing labels, distributors, DSPs, agencies and more, participants enjoyed insightful discussions and fruitful networking. The time in NYC allowed the Irish delegation the opportunity to be hosted by Spotify at their NYC HQ, where delegates received an update from Global Head of Indies, Commercial Partnerships Jen Masset and Director of Business Affairs, Ireland’s Alan Galbraith. AIM Ireland also attend a key meeting with the WIN delegation with Spotify. Other key stakeholder meetings throughout the week focused on the issue of US Visa’s, and sustainability. WINHUB proved a huge success this year, offering the Irish delegation a chance to connect with key industry reps from the USA, Canada, Czech Republic, Australia, the UK, Taiwan and Japan. The Irish delegation were hosted by the Irish Arts Centre - and given an extensive tour of the new facility, including its centrepiece – a flexible theatre space. We encourage any members who are planning to travel to NYC to find out more about the facility and team here, and can help facilitate introductions. The time in NYC also allowed AIM Ireland to meet with US teams from our Friends of partnerships, and to continue to build new relationships with key partners in this area. Music From Ireland supported Irish delegate flights to attend the event, covering up to €600 per person with funding from Culture Ireland. A2IM has a registration cost of 500 dollars per person, which was covered by joint sponsorship from AIM Ireland and Music From Ireland with funding from Culture Ireland. Check out our highlight reel at the link in our Stories! 🇺🇸

AIM Ireland members! Are you starting your journey in the music business as an independently released artist or independent music entrepreneur? Have you started working at an independent music business? Are you looking to expand your knowledge and learn new skills so you can advance in your career? Join Future Independents, AIM’s FREE all-day online music business conference with expert panel discussions, digital platform workshops, keynote interviews, and networking with the best in the business on Wednesday, 10th July 2023, 10:00 – 19:00. Now in its fourth year, the event provides free knowledge for the next generation of independent music professionals to meet the challenges and opportunities of an ever-changing music ecosystem. Hear the latest from key experts from successful global independent music business, award winning independent artists and market-leading platforms, services and tools. With the barrier of entry to sharing your music now easier than ever, this conference will equip you with the tools and knowledge to cut through the noise and fast track you to build a professional music business or career. With over 16 hours of vital content, Future Independents provides essential knowledge to the growing independent sector. Register to attend at the link sent in today’s newsletter! In your Inbox now 📥- with thanks to the @aim_uk team 🤝

As we receive more and more queries on the topic of AI from members, AIM Ireland are committed to remaining engaged and vocal about the core principles for music and gen AI. We welcomed the opportunity to speak with Connected Magazine for the Sunday Business Post on the matter - giving us a chance to highlight some of the WIN For Music Principles for Generative AI. Some input from AIM Ireland which featured in the piece “AI’s Impact On Music”: ‘I think AI represents an opportunity for the most part . . . there is already law in place to protect artists. You can’t copy someone’s voice or make derivative copies of songs because there are core principles and laws that protect against that.’ - Willie Ryan, AIM Ireland board member ‘It’s important that we foster responsible & ethical use of AI as a tool.’ - Gill Dooley, AIM Ireland CEO

We were delighted to host AIM Ireland’s first AGM yesterday, with an in-person online hybrid format. The AGM saw some board changes with the stepping down of Dina Coughlan, and John Glennon - after more than 2.5 years of valued service. The current board of directors for AIM Ireland consist of: Willie Ryan Mags Blackburn Joe Clarke Angela Dorgan Cian Boylan Gugai McNamara Brian Scally Solomon Adesiyan Gill Dooley remains in the role of CEO, and Ciaran Conroy remains in the role of company secretary. Joe Clarke will fulfil the role of Interim Chair, as the reconfigured board review applications for the position. A highlight of the meeting was the enthusiastic participation and engagement of our members. The meeting was marked by excellent questions that fostered insightful discussions, allowing us to refine and enhance our future priorities. Members stepped up to volunteer in key development areas, demonstrating their commitment to our collective goals. Most importantly, the AGM provided a valuable opportunity for members to network and connect with one another, strengthening our community. We appreciate everyone who attended and contributed to making this event so worthwhile. For those of you who were unable to attend you can view the meeting at the link in today’s members newsletter - in your Inbox 📥 now

This week IMPALA announced the recipient of its Changemaker Award 2024: Black & Irish, an Irish not-for-profit organisation advocating for the black community in Ireland, fostering connections within Irish society and championing an anti-racist ethos. Black & Irish was founded almost four years ago by Leon Diop, Femi Bakole and Pierre Yimbog and works with strategic partners in the areas of advocacy, community engagement and education. Driven by their vision of a more equal society, they strive to make the voices and experiences of marginalised communities more heard. Leon Diop, co-founder of Black & Irish, commented: “Receiving the IMPALA Changemaker Award is a recognition of our commitment to create a more equitable and inclusive Ireland. It is a testament to the collective efforts of our team and the partnerships we have built. Our work is rooted in collaboration and community empowerment. Through initiatives like the Black & Irish Gala awards and our educational programs, we’re fostering dialogue, celebrating achievements, and driving positive change.” AIM Ireland’s increased involvement with IMPALA’s Equity, Diversity and Inclusion task force allowed for more Irish organisations to achieve recognition with this year’s award. In addition to Black & Irish, other Irish nominees included Minding Creative Minds, Safe To Create and We’ve Only Just Begun. You can read more about the campaign in this week’s newsletter 📨

The IMPALA EDI taskforce is delighted to invite all AIM Ireland members to the IMPALA online webinar on “Harmonising Diversity: Empowering Equity and Inclusion in the Music Industry” on Tuesday 28th May from 3-4:30pm CET/ 2-3:30pm GMT. Join the webinar chaired by AIM Ireland’s Gill Dooley, where EDI experts will discuss the empowerment of equity and inclusion in the independent music industry. Here’s a sneak peek of what to expect: Inclusive collaboration practices: Discover successful cross-industry collaboration models that promote diversity and inclusion. Explore real-life initiatives that create positive change through diverse perspectives. Hélène Larrouturou, MEWEM France Parenting and caregiving in music: Learn about the challenges faced by parents and carers in the music industry, from balancing work and family life to accessing supportive resources. Marit Posch, Parenthood in Music EDI journeys and actionable Steps: Hear inspiring stories from individuals and organisations on their EDI journey. Learn practical strategies to initiate and sustain meaningful change. Ben Wynter, AIM / Power Up Diversity in the independent music landscape: Let’s delve into the complexity of diversity in the independent music landscape and gain valuable insights into the challenges and opportunities facing artists, professionals and communities. Eva Karman Reinhold, IMPALA / SOM. Gain valuable insights and actionable steps to drive positive change in your organisation. Register at nprevost@impalamusic.org - link in this week’s members newsletter and in our Stories 👀

ICYMI: Our AGM will take place in person and online on May 30th. For those attending in person the event will commence at 11am, and finish no later than 1pm and will take place at: The Glasshouses GH2, 92 George’s St Lower, Dublin, A96 V266. This is AIM Ireland’s current business address. We will be sharing a link to join online closer to the time. Please RSVP to members@aimireland.ie to confirm your attendance. Not only is this a valuable opportunity to have your voices heard, but it’s a chance to meet with fellow members of the AIM Ireland community!

AIM Ireland wants to - once more - congratulate record and management company- AIM Ireland members- Rubyworks! Just last week, Hozier’s smash hit “Too Sweet” secured the number one position in Ireland. This week, it has ascended from number two to claim the coveted top spot on the US Billboard Singles chart. Hozier joins an extremely elite group of just three other Irish Artists to hit #1 in the US Billboard Hot 100 Singles Chart – Gilbert O’Sullivan (1972), U2 (1987) and Sinéad O’Connor (1990). In a message posted on his Instagram this week, Hozier says “I’m taken massively surprised by it. I just want to thank you so so much for your support. I’m so thrilled that you’re enjoying ‘Too Sweet’ and it means the world to me.” Congrats to all the team involved! @niallmuckian @rubyworks @henry_caroline @caroline_downey1 @duchessiredale @thelegalowl @hozier

IMPF represent the interests of the independent music publishing community worldwide, and their General Assemblies and Conference is taking place in Dublin this year on April 25 and 26. AIM Ireland have been invited to take part in a panel focusing on ‘Games and Music’ alongside Luisa Rösner from ROBA Music Publishing, David Sweeney, and video game composer Helen Lynch. This panel is due to take place at 11:15am on April 26. We will be welcoming fellow IMPALA Management Committee members Mark Kitcatt (Everlasting Records), Michel Lambot (PIAS) and Francesca Trainini (Oyezi) to Dublin – and look forward to their 4:30pm panel on April 25. The IMPF “Assemblies” will start on April 25 with an opening and welcome reception at 1300 followed by panel discussions until 1700. There will be a social gathering that evening. On April 26 the day will start at 1000 with the formalities of the General Assembly followed by a series of discussions on pertinent topics with inbuilt timeouts for networking and business meetings. During the Assemblies IMPF will launch the 2024 Global Market Report of Independent Music Publishing sponsored by Musixmatch. The events will close on April 26 at 1400 following a lunch reception. Per Strömback will be the MC for the Assemblies.