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Big Score: The business of TV & film soundtracks

Having a stand-out song on your soundtrack has long been desirable for film producers, but getting your song featured in a film has become more important to artists too, writes Adam Maguire.

Business • 12 Oct

Kneecap band member Liam Óg Ó hAnnaidh arrives at Westminster Magistrates' Court

Kneecap to 'fight again' as prosecutors to appeal ruling

The Crown Prosecution Service in the UK is to appeal a recent decision to throw out the terror case against Kneecap band member Liam Óg Ó hAnnaidh.

UK • 07 Oct

Sean 'Diddy' Combs has been behind bars at a Brooklyn jail since his 16 September, 2024

Sean 'Diddy' Combs sentenced to over four years in prison

Sean "Diddy" Combs has been sentenced on to more than four years in prison over his 2 July conviction on prostitution-related charges.

US • 03 Oct

WASHINGTON, DC - OCTOBER 20: Sean "Diddy" Combs attends Sean "Diddy" Combs Fulfills $1 Million Pledge To Howard University At Howard Homecoming – Yardfest at Howard University on October 20, 2023 in Washington, DC. (Photo by Shareif Ziyadat/Getty Images f

Sean 'Diddy' Combs loses bid to overturn conviction

A US judge has rejected a bid by Sean "Diddy" Combs to overturn his criminal conviction on felony prostitution-related charges, after prosecutors said the hip-hop mogul should spend more than 11 years in prison.

Music • 01 Oct

Kneecap's Liam Og O hAnnaidh (centre)with his lawyer Darragh Mackin (left) arriving at Woolwich Crown Court, London, where he is charged with a terrorism offence. 27-year-old Liam Og O hAnnaidh, who performs under the stage name Mo Chara, has been charged

Terrorism case against Ó hAnnaidh dropped by London court

The terrorism case against Kneecap rapper Liam Óg Ó hAnnaidh has been thrown out following a technical error in the way the charge against him was brought.

Courts • 26 Sep

Golden Rule: Netflix & Sony caught off-guard by KPop hit

KPop Demon Hunters has become a global smash hit – in spite of the low expectations of the companies behind it, writes Adam Maguire.

Business • 08 Sep

Business Journalist Adam Maguire talks with Katie and David on Behind the Story

Podcast: The booming live music scene and David has news

As thousands of music fans descend on Stradbally for Electric Picnic, Behind the Story takes a deep dive into the booming business of Ireland's live music scene.

Behind the Story • 29 Aug

Suspended term for boy involved in Taylor Swift gig plot

A German court has handed down a suspended sentence to a 16-year-old boy who helped prepare a foiled attack on a Taylor Swift concert in Austria last year.

Europe • 26 Aug

Judge adjourns Ó hAnnaidh case until late September

Liam Óg Ó hAnnaidh, of the Irish rap trio Kneecap, has appeared before Westminster Magistrates' Court in London charged with a terrorism offence.

UK • 21 Aug

image shows three Oasis fans outside the pop-up shop in Dublin - two men and one woman

Watch: Oasis fans stock up on merch at Dublin pop-up

Oasis fans have been snapping up official band merchandise in time for the upcoming, much anticipated gigs in Dublin in ten days time.

Dublin • 07 Aug

CARDIFF, WALES - JULY 04: (EDITORS NOTE: EDITORIAL USE ONLY. IMAGES MAY ONLY BE USED IN RELATION TO THE EVENT. NO COMMERCIAL USE. NO USE IN PUBLICATIONS SOLELY DEDICATED TO THE ARTIST. NO USE AFTER JULY 03, 2026.) Oasis perform on stage during the opening

Live, Forever: Why bands are reuniting early and often

Reunion tours used to be confined to retired rockers looking to pad out their pensions, but the changing economics of the music industry has prompted groups to reunite at a much younger age, writes Adam Maguire.

Business • 03 Aug

GLASTONBURY, ENGLAND - JUNE 27: CMAT performing on the Pyramid Stage during day three of Glastonbury festival 2025 at Worthy Farm, Pilton on June 27, 2025 in Glastonbury, England. Established by Michael Eavis in 1970, Glastonbury has grown into the UK's l

Big Ticket: Why music festivals are so expensive

The Irish summer is laden down with music and arts festivals and going along can cost quite a lot of money - but the idea that greedy promoters are ripping gig-goers off is generally wide of the mark, writes Adam Maguire.

Business • 31 Jul

Irish banks including U2 last year shared a royalty bonanza payout of €46m from the Irish Music Rights Organisation (IMRO)

IMRO pays out €46m royalties to artists as revenues rise

The likes of CMAT, U2 and Hozier along with a host of other artists last year shared a royalty bonanza payout of €46m from the Irish Music Rights Organisation (IMRO) despite the looming threat of Artificial Intelligence (AI) to the sector.

Business • 29 Jul

Image of woman in white shirt standing in front of image of musician CMAT

Watch: CMAT housing song strikes chord with young people

In the week when the Government made housing the focus of its revised National Development Plan, CMAT's newest single struck a chord with young people at the sharp end of the housing crisis.

Ireland • 27 Jul

a building under construction with trees and a cloudy sky

Tomorrowland festival goes ahead after main stage fire

Shocked, sad but determined to dance, tens of thousands of electronic music enthusiasts have started to arrive at Tomorrowland in Belgium, a day after the festival's main stage went up in flames.

Europe • 17 Jul

a building on fire with smoke coming out of it

Fire destroys stage at Belgium's Tomorrowland festival

The main stage of the Tomorrowland music festival near Antwerp has been totally destroyed by fire, a day before thousands of electronic dance music lovers were due to descend on the Belgian event.

Europe • 16 Jul

Bob Geldof during the launch of "Just For One Day: The Live Aid Musical" at Wembley Stadium

Live Aid showed 'individual was not powerless' - Geldof

Irish musician Bob Geldof said that 40 years on from Live Aid the concerts inspired people to feel that "the individual was not powerless" and that they could change the world

World • 13 Jul

image features a man and two women with text on the image “remembering live aid 40 years on”

Watch: Remembering Live Aid 40 years on

On this day in 1985, around 1.9 billion people tuned in across the world to watch Live Aid.

Live Aid • 13 Jul

The research states that concerts in high-capacity venues account for the largest share at €298 million

Music industry contributes €1bn to Irish economy - IMRO

The Irish music industry contributes €1 billion annually to the Irish economy, according to a new report published today by IMRO.

Ireland • 08 Jul

Mickey MacConnell was from Co Fermanagh but had been living in Kerry (Credit: TG4 production)

Acclaimed songwriter Mickey MacConnell dies

The death of Mickey MacConnell, writer of the popular song 'Only Our Rivers Run Free', has been confirmed by his family in Cork.

Regional • 04 Jul

Sean Combs puts his head on a chair after learning that he won't be released on bail

Sean 'Diddy' Combs to remain in jail for now

A judge has ruled that Sean 'Diddy' Combs will remain in jail for now, after the music mogul was cleared of sex trafficking and racketeering charges that could have put him behind bars for life, but was found guilty of lesser prostitution-related offences.

US • 03 Jul

Sean 'Diddy' Combs reacts as the courtroom deputy reads the verdicts this afternoon

Combs denied bail after prostitution offences conviction

Sean 'Diddy' Combs has been found guilty of prostitution-related offences but cleared of more serious charges, in a blow to prosecutors who had urged a jury to find him guilty of racketeering conspiracy and sex trafficking.

US • 03 Jul

David Howell Evans, known as The Edge, said he 'couldn't be more proud of my country for all that it represents and all that it is doing'

Pride for U2's The Edge as he becomes Irish citizen

It was a beautiful day for U2 guitarist David Howell Evans, known as The Edge, who was one of thousands of people to become Irish citizens at a ceremony in Co Kerry this morning.

Ireland • 23 Jun

Rap Battle: How Gilbert O'Sullivan changed hip hop

Gilbert O'Sullivan has been a respected hit-maker since the 1970s – but less well-known is how his music forever reshaped the genre of hip hop, writes Adam Maguire.

Business • 21 Jun

Liam Óg Ó hAnnaidh of Kneecap arriving at Westminster Magistrates' Court this morning

Kneecap's Mo Chara granted unconditional bail

Kneecap band member Liam Óg Ó hAnnaidh - known by his stage name Mo Chara - who has been charged with a terrorism offence, has been granted unconditional bail until his next hearing on 20 August.

Courts • 18 Jun