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Maurice Kiely is suing U2 Ltd - a company linked to the band - alleging the song 'A Man and A Woman' was written by him in 1998 (file image)

Man who says he wrote U2 song intends to appeal ruling

A Dublin man who claims he wrote one of the songs on one of U2's albums has said he intends to "appeal to the Supreme Court" a High Court ruling that the band's bassist Adam Clayton should not have to answer certain pre-trial questions.

Courts • 19 Apr 23

Van Morrison was knighted in 2016 for his musical achievements and services to tourism and charitable causes in Northern Ireland

Profits at Van Morrison's music firm rise to €8.85m

Belfast music legend Van Morrison reaped a dividend from the re-opening of the live music industry last year as accumulated profits at his music firm increased by £572,316 (€647,577).

Business • 01 Feb 23

Tory Lanez, real name Daystar Peterson, pictured at the 2017 Grammy awards (file image)

Tory Lanez found guilty of shooting Megan Thee Stallion

Daystar Peterson, the Canadian rapper known as Tory Lanez, has been found guilty by a Los Angeles jury of shooting fellow artist Megan Thee Stallion in both of her feet after an argument in 2020, prosecutors said.

Music • 24 Dec 22

Mariah Carey has built a business around her Christmas hit - which on its own earns millions of dollars in royalties each year

Sleigh Bells Sing: The business of Christmas music

Despite only being in demand for a few weeks of the year, the Christmas music industry is worth hundreds of millions of euro – making it a lucrative business for the lucky few who've penned a classic, writes Adam Maguire.

Business • 10 Dec 22

Death of Pop Idol star Darius Danesh ruled an accident

Former Pop Idol star Darius Campbell Danesh died from "inhalation of chloroethane", the Southern Minnesota Regional Medical Examiner's Office in the United States has confirmed.

Entertainment • 10 Sep 22

Lady Gaga with one of her French bulldogs

Second man jailed over robbery of Lady Gaga's dogs

A second man charged with stealing Lady Gaga's dogs in an episode during which her dog-walker was shot was jailed today after admitting to his part in the robbery.

US • 11 Aug 22

Aerial view of Smithfield Square (RollingNews.ie)

Dublin's Smithfield to host new music festival

The first "Smithfield Fleadh" will be held on the weekend of June 18 and 19, with events taking place between 12pm and 6pm on each day of the event.

Regional • 28 Apr 22

Jimi Hendrix and band members Mitch Mitchell and Noel Redding gave their signatures

Jimi Hendrix lyrics pieced together 55 years later

Two halves of a rare signed manuscript of lyrics by legendary guitarist Jimi Hendrix have been pieced together 55 years later.

News Lens • 22 Feb 22

Spotify's total monthly active users rose 18% to a record 406 million, but forecast current quarter paid subscribers of 183 million, below expectations of 184 million

Spotify stock sinks on Q1 subscriber numbers

Spotify has forecast current quarter subscribers lower than Wall Street expectations, but executives sought to reassure investors that growth had not cratered even as it deals with the fallout from the controversy around The Joe Rogan Experience podcast.

Business • 03 Feb 22

Tony MacMahon was described as a 'giant' of traditional music

Musician and broadcaster Tony MacMahon dies

President Michael D Higgins has led tributes to musician and broadcaster Tony MacMahon, who has died aged 82.

Ireland • 09 Oct 21

Daniel O'Donnell was forced to cancel a string of live shows last year but is currently preparing to return to the stage

Accumulated profit at O'Donnell's firm hit €4.33m

Accumulated profits at the entertainment firm owned by Donegal crooner Daniel O'Donnell jumped by almost €690,000 to €4.33m last year.

Business • 24 Aug 21

Spotify's paying customers grew ahead of expectations, but its total active monthly userbase did not

Spotify's quarterly loss narrows but users fall short

Swedish music streaming service Spotify has posted a narrowed quarterly loss as the number of paying subscribers grew, while reporting a disappointing overall user growth.

Business • 28 Jul 21

Dr Enda O'Connor formed Serial Sevens during the first wave of the pandemic

Front line to bass line for Dublin doctors in a band

Two doctors from Dublin who formed a band while they were both recovering from Covid-19 during the first wave of the pandemic are hoping to record an album.

Coronavirus • 09 Jun 21

Bob Dylan has been dubbed the 'voice of a generation'

Forever Young - Bob Dylan at 80

As Bob Dylan turns 80, his music, words and artistry permeate our world and remain culturally relevant.

Music • 21 May 21

Taylor Swift was among the top five best-selling musicians in 2020, new figures show

Music soothes Covid blues as 2020 sales hit high note

Turn on, tune in and stay at home - that is what millions of music fans did in 2020, with a rise in subscription streaming leading global recorded music revenue growth of 7.4%.

Business • 23 Mar 21

Music fans continue to look for more elaborate, deluxe versions of their favourite releases.

Music fans looking for deluxe versions of releases

Hundreds of thousands, if not millions of people here now get their music from streaming services - and yet this year "physical" music is set to be as popular a Christmas gift as it has been in years.

Business • 22 Dec 20

Patricia Treacy and Joe Biden during his visit to Ireland

Irish violinist to play at Joe Biden's inauguration

One of Ireland's top concert violinists will play at the inauguration of US President Elect Joe Biden. Patricia Treacy is from Blackrock in Co Louth.

US Election 2020 • 19 Nov 20

The decision is a rare piece of good news for German nightclubs

Techno is music, German court declares

Fans never doubted it, but now a top German court has confirmed it: techno is music and clubs should benefit from the same reduced sales tax rate as concert halls.

News Lens • 11 Nov 20

Revenues at Ed Sheeran Ltd last year increased by 47% to €53m

Ed Sheeran clocked up weekly revenues of €1m last year

Ed Sheeran's main entertainment firm clocked up weekly revenues of €1m last year, according to new accounts for the singer songwriter with strong Irish links.

Business • 01 Oct 20

Liz Doherty, who has taught in the field for 30 years, has now launched 'I Teach Trad'

'Revolutionary' system for traditional music teaching

A new specialised system, described as revolutionary, has been devised by a prominent Irish fiddler and academic to support teachers of traditional music.

Ireland • 14 Sep 20

Kanye West cries at first presidential rally

Rapper Kanye West got emotional and broke down in tears at his first presidential rally on Sunday in South Carolina as he discussed abortion.

Music • 20 Jul 20

Spotify has reported a 22% rise in revenue in the first quarter of 2020

Spotify's paid music subscribers rise to 130 million

Spotify Technology has reported a better-than-expected 31% jump in paid music subscribers to 130 million and a 22% rise in revenue in the first quarter.

Business • 29 Apr 20

Burgess says the Listening Party is providing a connection for people around the world

'Listening Party' gains broad appeal during lockdown

As isolation continues, artists have been finding new ways to connect with audiences online. The musician Tim Burgess of British band The Charlatans is behind 'Tim's Twitter Listening Party', where musicians and fans listen to an album at the same time and share their thoughts on the music.

Coronavirus • 22 Apr 20

The bursaries include up to €8000 for theatre makers

Covid-19: theatre to offer bursaries worth €20,000

Five bursaries worth in excess of €20,000 are being offered by the Axis Theatre in Ballymun in Dublin to help artists during the Covid-19 pandemic.

Music • 31 Mar 20

Fiann, five, came up with a musical tribute to frontline workers

5-year-old boy conducts frontline worker salute

Meath 5-year-old Fiann Palmer has composed a piece of music entitled 'March for the Heroes' with his parents as a tribute to Ireland's frontline workers.

Coronavirus • 31 Mar 20