Happening the day of the ceremony at the Choice Music Prize at Vicar Street, Conversations are a day-long series of discussion panels around hot topics in music.
Hosted by Jim Carroll, the five discussion panels take place in BIMM on Francis Street on Thursday March 5th. Admission is just €5 from the Choice site.
The day’s schedule features a panel on prime time music shows on television, a chart with Emmett Power, an LA-based Waterford man who has worked with the likes of Grimes YungBlud, ANYMA, Lewis Capaldi and Cian Ducrot, a panel about the label services company AWAL’s role in the CMAT story and an Irish music managers panel.
11.00
Registration at BIMM, Francis St
12.00 – 12.45
Panel 1 – Prime Time Music Shows – do they still matter and how to get booked!
In this age of instant viral hits and the eternal chase for streaming numbers can appearing on iconic music TV shows still be a career-changing opportunity for rising and developing artists? Producers & bookers from some of the world’s biggest music shows share their experience on why TV is still crucial to artist development.
Panellists: Jim Pitt, Music Producer, Jimmy Kimmel Live (ABC) / Caroline Cullen, Series Producer, Later with Jools Holland (BBC Studios)
13.00 – 13.45
Panel 2 – Making Deals & Breaking Rules – The Emmett Power Story, Part 2
Emmett Power – A&R for ANYMA (headlining Coachella 2026) & Grimes – Waterford’s maverick star-maker returns with the latest instalments and projects in his roller coaster journey in the US music industry.
Emmett started his career in music at the end of 2016 at a start up in London called “Locomotion” which covered the big 3 – Management, Publishing and Records. He worked there for 3 years across all 3 with artists like Yungblud, Lewis Capaldi, Producer/Writer Matt Schwartz, James Earp, and had releases with Halsey, Travis Barker, Marshmello, Machine Gun Kelly, and many more.
He left that role and moved to Los Angeles from New York to start Power Consulting at the end of 2019 because he saw a gap in the market for someone who could consult across all 3 aspects of the business in a plug in and play set up with Artists directly, Major Labels, Management Companies and Publishers. Since then he has accumulated 20 billion + streams with his releases with artists like Tate McRae, Kid Laroi, Iann Dior, One Republic, FKA Twigs, James Blake, RAYE, Kehlani, Cian Ducrot, had multiple number 1 albums, signed grammy winning producer/writers and is currently focused on ANYMA and his record breaking sold out shows at the Sphere in Las Vegas, Swedish House Mafia, Grimes and more to come.
14.00 – 14.45
Panel 3 – The Rise of AWAL and the CMAT Story
Will Hunt (AWAL’s Vice President of A&R) fills us in on the AWAL philosophy, the rise and rise of CMAT, and how he has helped grow the company into one of the most successful, Artist-centric, music companies for new and established talent.
15.00 – 15.45
Panel 4 – Prophets, Psychotherapists, Parents and Politicians
Irish music managers talk about the ever-changing world of the modern music industry and what it’s really like to be a manager in 2026.
Panellists: Willie Ryan: (Moncrief, Johnny McDaid) / Sarah O’ Sullivan (SexyTadhg) / Tara Richardson (Cliffords)
16.00 – 16.45 (Moderated by Aaron Casey, International Operations Manager, RAAP)
Panel 5 – You Won’t Get Paid If You Don’t Register!: CMOs & Your Money
The world of registrations, rights and royalties might look confusing and daunting, but that’s where a good chunk of your money is and you won’t see a cent of it if you don’t get involved! A panel of Collective Management Organisations, royalty specialists and music supervisors offer a simple 101 on how to get your hands on money you’re owed and discuss about how failure to register may impede other important opportunities in your music career.
Panellists: Keith Johnson (Director of Membership and Marketing, IMRO) / Luke Griffin (Distributions Manager, PPI) / Dina Coughlan (Music Supervisor, Planet of Sound & Music Publisher, Tremolo Music Publishing) / Dean Fagan (Head of Royalties, Sopher + Co & Production Library Composer)
Niall Byrne is the founder of the most-influential Irish music site Nialler9, where he has been writing about music since 2005. He is the co-host of the Nialler9 Podcast and has written for the Irish Times, Irish Independent, Sunday Times, Totally Dublin, Cara Magazine, Red Bull and more. Niall is a DJ, co-founder of Lumo Club, event curator, Indie Sleaze club promoter, and producer of gigs and monthly listening parties & events in Dublin.
