The Broadcasting Authority of Ireland (BAI) has announced a funding round under its Sound & Vision 4 Scheme with funding of up to €5.5m is being made available in the current round of the scheme.
The BAI is also allowing for €1.4 million of funds specifically aimed towards “high-quality programmes relating to Irish culture, heritage and experience that may also help to address challenges being faced by the live music sector.”
The BAI is encouraging submissions from projects across all formats, genres and eligible broadcasters that can demonstrate they will assist in providing a platform for music industry professionals who would have predominately worked in the live music sector. This ringfenced funding is in response to a request by the Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media, Catherine Martin TD, whose Department provided the BAI with additional funding for this purpose.
“COVID-19 has had a particularly devastating impact on the live music sector,”chief executive of the BAI, Michael O’Keeffe said. “We hope that the additional €1.4m funding available for this type of programming will provide an opportunity for music industry professionals to connect with audiences through TV and radio.”
Guidelines and the application form for round 38 of the Sound & Vision 4 Scheme are now available here. The closing date for applications is noon on Thursday, 4th March 2021.

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, Cara Magazine, Sunday Times, Totally Dublin, Red Bull and more. Niall is a DJ, founder of Lumo Club, club promoter, event curator and producer of gigs, listening parties & events in Dublin.