Ms Rebecca Cappuccini:

It is a privilege and pleasure to be invited to speak today. I am an Irish artist. I recently released a track in the Irish music industry and underwent the PR process trying to highlight it on Irish radio. Out of 150 emails I sent, I received three replies and three Irish plays. As an artist, it is so disappointing and difficult. We spend so much love, money and time to create our songs only to be met with a wall of disappointment and no replies.

There should be more focus on homegrown artists on the radio. There is such a variety of artists and so much beautiful talent here in Ireland, I find it hard to understand why we do not feature this magnificence better. I am here today to appeal that we work together and help support homegrown artists better. It seems counterproductive to me that we have grants in place to support the industry but no platform to help propel their art to the masses. Radio is such a vital part of people's connection to music. I would like to use this to the best of its potential to shine a light on Irish artists.

I thank the committee for its time and consideration on this matter.