Music industry boosted by new board

Ireland’s first music board has been set by the Minister for the Arts to help inject a new boost into the industry here.

Sile de Valera is setting up the music board to advise the Government on how best to develop Irish music.

Bord Ceol na hEireann has been set up as a joint project between the Government and the IBEC music industry group.

It will function as an ad hoc non-statutory body for three years and will be operated on a partnership basis by the music industry.

The nine members of the board include music producers and musicians and their first task is to draw up proposals to legislate for the setting up of this statutory body.

The focus will be on developing both traditional and contemporary music as well as encouraging investment, training and a look at issues such as copyrights.

With Ireland already firmly based in the global music scene the work of Bord Ceol na hEireann should not be a difficult task but their findings may bring some good news for some budding Irish stars.