Oireachtas Joint and Select Committees
Wednesday, 22 November 2023
Joint Committee on Tourism, Culture, Arts, Sport And Media
Importance of Airplay in Promoting Irish Music: Music and Entertainment Association of Ireland
Mr. Aidan Butler:
Yes. It comes down to the definition of “pop music”. In the sixties, “pop music” meant that, if you lasted six months, you were doing well. Radio stations will say that tastes move on. They are constantly looking for the next new Beatles, U2 or whoever, especially music stations. Unfortunately, many of these stations say that they want their age demographics to only go as high as 35-year-olds, with a maximum of 40. They are looking for a younger generation and the producers and others working for them are of that younger generation. It is unfortunate, but there is that narrow viewpoint. This is about trying to encourage them to broaden their horizons. I used to tell presenters and whoever to go to concerts and try to find new music. I was open to new music coming in. The situation is what it is. All we can do is encourage people.
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