With five topical music industry discussion panels taking place between 12:00pm – 4:45pm (registration from 11am), Conversations brings together artists and music industry professionals to discuss and explore some of the key issues affecting both performers and the wider industry at the present time.
Venue: BIMM, Dublin 8.
Date & Time: Thursday March 6th, 11:00am-4:45pm
Keynote Interview with Caroline Elleray – Sony Music Publishing / Second Songs.
From signing Coldplay, Keane, Mumford & Sons & Little Simz to countless more platinum artists Caroline is regarded as being one of the greatest A&R talents in UK music history.
On this talk Caroline will be joined by Mark Gale, her husband, who co-runs Second Songs Publishing and management.
Caroline Elleray & Mark Gale have between them previously signed artists including Coldplay, The XX, Keane, Chvrches, Rex Orange County, Mumford & Sons, Soak, Friendly Fires, Wretch 32, Laura Mvula, Feist, Little Simz and Bastille amongst many others.
Caroline Elleray and Mark Gale set up Second Songs publishing and management 3 years ago signing artists and writers including 2 time Ivor Novello winner Victoria Canal, Porij, Matt Hales (Olivia Dean, Lianne La Havas) and Dan Green (Coldplay).
They manage producers Steph Marziano (Hayley Williams, Bartees Strange) and Hugo White (Matt Maltese, Jamie T).
Caroline was the first ever individual recipient and the first ever publisher to win the Music Week A&R Award. In 2017 she won the prestigious MBW Sir George Martin Award, which recognises excellence in A&R.
More recently Caroline has taken on a role at Sony Music Publishing as VP Creative Songwriter Services alongside running Second Songs.
The story of Emmett Power
From Waterford to Los Angeles – How did Emmett Power from Waterford reach the dizzying heights of the very top of 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.
The Artists Panel – Issues, Fixes and Rants
Serious (and not so serious) chats on the burning questions, major hurdles and petty frustrations in 2025 from the people who know best.
Kieran McGuinness – Delorentos / 2012 RTÉ Choice Music Prize Irish Album of the Year Winner
Stephen Darcy – Thumper / 2022 RTÉ Choice Music Prize Irish Album of the Year Nominee
Elaine Mai – 2021 RTÉ Choice Music Prize Irish Album of the Year Nominee
Kieran McGuinness
Kieran McGuinness is a music obsessive who has been part of the Irish Music Scene for over 20 years – releasing music, running shows, touring the world, teaching songwriting and broadcasting. With his bands (Delorentos and Driven Snow) Kieran has released 7 acclaimed albums, independently and on major labels, and won Irish and international awards. For his Radio Nova show, “All Irish Hour” Kieran has won Irish Specialist Broadcaster Of The Year for the last two years in a row. During the day he is a Music Development Officer at CDETB & Music Generation.
Stephen Darcy
Stevie is one of the two drummers in alternative/noise/rock outfit THUMPER and has toured across Ireland, Europe and the UK. THUMPER are preparing for the release of their second album, the follow up to their Choice Prize Nominated debut ‘Delusions of Grandeur’.
Elaine Mai
Dublin-based Elaine Mai is an acclaimed electronic producer. Her debut album Home earned Choice Music Prize nominations for both album and song of the year. Known for her collaborations, remixes, and standout live performances, Mai continues to shape Ireland’s electronic dance music scene.
Traditional radio is fighting back! How can it continue to provide an essential service in a streaming era?
Beta Da Silva – RTÉ 2FM
Deb Grant – BBC Radio 6 Music
Charlie Ashcroft – Amazing Radio UK
Beta Da Silva
Beta Da Silva is a Radio Broadcaster & Voiceover Artist on RTE 2FM. Beta worked up through the ranks in the RTE beginning in the digital radio station RTE Pulse in 2016 where he presented a Hip-Hop & RnB music show. From 2021 he moved on to 2FM where he took over as the presenter for Weekend Breakfast.
As of 2023, Beta has been in the hot seat as the official presenter for “The New Music Show” where he shares the most recent fresh singles from around the world, dives into full length album breakdowns, news on upcoming projects & gigs as well as Takeover shows with your favourite Irish and international acts.
You can check out “The New Music Show with Beta Da Silva” Mondays – Thursdays from 7pm & Sunday nights from 8pm on RTE 2FM.
Deb Grant
Deb Grant is a Dublin-born DJ, broadcaster and writer who now lives and works in Manchester. She has spent over 20 years hunting for records around the world and is known for her eclectic live sets, her monthly music column for the Big Issue and her daily radio show on BBC Radio 6 Music with Tom Ravenscroft, New Music Fix Daily, which spotlights the best in new underground music of every genre.
Charlie Ashcroft
Charlie is a radio presenter and music journalist based in London. He hosts a show on Amazing Radio, championing new music and unsigned talent, broadcasting every week since he joined the station back in 2010. Charlie also writes a monthly column about new vinyl releases for Record Collector Magazine and is one of the Emerging Talent panel judges for Glastonbury Festival.
Learn about the transformative power of music and how it can build resilience, heal trauma, promote social connection, reduce anxiety, boost immunity and build/strengthen neural connections and pathways.
Both the physiological and psychological benefits of music will be explored, and the discussion will also lean into the science behind music therapy and other creative arts therapies.
Supports provided by Minding Creative Minds will be explained to help empower you while working in the creative arts.
Curated by Ann Marie Shields – Director Minding Creative Minds/Creative Futures Manager at BIMM Institute Dublin
Professor Rebecca O’Connor – NRH/Minding Creative Minds
Shane Cassidy – Neurolinks
Zoé Piater – Music and Mental Health Festival
Ann Marie Shields
Ann Marie Shields is board member and a director of Minding Creative Minds (MCM), a 24/7 mental health and well being service in Ireland. She is lead on the Creative Arts Therapy Service launched in 2024, and chairs MCM’s monthly Meet & Greets. Ann Marie is on the college management team at BIMM Institute Dublin, manager of the careers department. She was also Head of Careers, Industry, and Events for a decade and was module leader on BA4 Professional Development and BA3 Music Publishing.
Ann Marie was also on the founding committee and interim board that launched AIM Ireland.
During Ann Marie’s earlier career she managed the production of My Bloody Valentine’s classic album ‘loveless’ (MOJO award winner). She tour-managed the band’s international tours and was instrumental in the surprise D2C release of their 2013 album ‘m b v’ (Uncut’s No 1 album of the year).
Ann Marie managed Mercury Award winning producer Rob Ellis (PJ Harvey/Marianne Faithful), bands Rollerskate Skinny, Laika, and Charlotte Hatherley (ASH/Bat for Lashes) with whom she set up and managed international label Little Sister Records, and she coordinated recording sessions for Marianne Faithful’s ‘Beyond the Poison’.
Shields also tour-managed Dinosaur Jr, Martina Topley-Bird (Tricky), The Telescopes and Laika, and did European PR for Mercury Rev’s album ‘Boces’. Her long career includes a 6 year stint as A&R manager for Reprise Records where she managed her own label imprint, Morpheus Records, funded by WEA. She launched a new label in Ireland called AMS Records in 2018 and currently manages the phenomenal Vernon Jane.
She is a film music supervisor, and credits include Joe Meek biopic ‘Telstar’, Raindance winner ‘Mr. In-Between’, Savannah winner ‘The Kid’, Sean Bean thriller ‘Cleanskin’, and ‘Blue Iguana’ featuring Oscar winner Sam Rockwell. She is currently coproducing a short film called ‘Our Last Summer’ written and directed by her daughter Alannah Wilson.
Professor Rebecca O’Connor
Rebecca qualified as a nurse before training as a Music Therapist and has 35 years Music Therapy experience in health and education. She established the Music Therapy service and the Creative Arts Therapies service at the National Rehabilitation Hospital, Dublin working with children and adults who have had an acquired brain injury, limb loss or spinal cord injury. Rebecca is an Associate Professor at the University of Limerick and has been involved in training Creative Arts Therapists for the past 30 years. She has a special interest in research, has a Masters in research methodologies and is a qualified Neurologic Music Therapist, publishing and presenting regularly on her work.
Shane Cassidy
Dr. Shane Cassidy is the founder and director of Neurolinks, a Dublin-based music therapy service specialising in supporting individuals with neurological conditions, their families and carers, across Dublin and surrounding counties. A senior music therapist with extensive experience in both healthcare and education, Shane and his team provide one-to-one and group sessions at their dedicated clinic in Sandyford, as well as outreach services in hospitals, long-term care units, day services, and schools.
Shane is a member of the International Academy for Neurologic Music Therapy, with clinical expertise primarily in neurological conditions and mental health. He earned his PhD from the University of Limerick in 2020, where he investigated the impact of music therapy techniques on physical rehabilitation and mood outcomes for individuals living with acquired brain injuries. Prior to this, he completed a first-class honours Master’s in Music Therapy at the University of Limerick.
Beyond neurological rehabilitation, Shane has four years of experience in mental health and homelessness through his work at the First Fortnight Centre for Creative Therapies in Dublin.
A qualified primary school teacher, Shane has worked in both mainstream and special educational settings. He also holds a degree in Music from Trinity College Dublin and is an accomplished clarinettist and pianist, integrating his musical skills into therapy to support individuals in achieving their personal goals.
Zoé Piater
With a strong background in media management and sports journalism, Zoé is currently immersing herself in Dublin’s vibrant music scene. Growing up across five countries, her passion for music inspired her to add a sixth – by pursuing an MA at BIMM Dublin in 2022, marking the start of her transition into the music industry. She founded the Music & Mental Health Festival (MMHF) to raise awareness and support mental health initiatives within the music community, with past and current performers including Tolü Makay, modernlove, Pio Hartnett, Emileo, and anna leah. Zoé’s music career has led her from Ex Oh Promotions and SheSaidSo Dublin to the Developing Artist Management Network, and she now works in Marketing & Memberships at the Irish Music Rights Organisation (IMRO).
