Behind the Scenes – in association with AIM Ireland
AIM Ireland chat to some of the independent music professionals behind some of this year’s RTÉ Choice Music Prize nominated artists.
Gino (Manager, SELLÓ)
Joe Clarke (Manager, Thumper)
Ismay Bourke (Fia Moon, Dashoda artist management, PR)
Moderated by Gill Dooley.
GILL DOOLEY – CEO AIM Ireland
A proven senior leader in music, Gill Dooley is an independent artist manager, music consultant, mentor and the CEO of AIM Ireland, Ireland’s national association for independent music. Bringing more than 20 years experience with her, Gill’s solution driven approach has seen AIM Ireland grow into a leading advocacy organisation since she took the helm in 2021. Gill began her career with EMI, and spent time working with Irish indie RMG Chart, New Zealand’s TWL and Hot Press before joining Universal Music in 2007. She spent 11 years as Director of Digital & Business Development before branching out on her own in 2018 to focus on an Enterprise Ireland funded consultancy, and launch her career as an artist manager to rising pop star Aimée. Gill is a mentor for Keychange and Minding Creative Minds, and also sits on the IMPALA board.
JOE CLARKE (Manager, Thumper
Joe Clarke is the managing partner at CWB who operate across record labels, festival curation, event delivery and music management from offices in Dublin and Tipperary.
CWB manage Choice nominees THUMPER alongside a carefully curated roster of musicians, podcasters, authors and poets with authenticity and innovation their common denominator.
Current CWB projects include the Creative Europe Revelland Project which aims to make live music events more accessible to all, cutting edge live shows with Jenny Keane and The 2 Johnnies and a new summer festival.
He is currently the Chairperson of the Association of Independent Music Ireland.
ISMAY BOURKE (Fia Moon, Dashoda artist management, PR)
Ismay Bourke is an Artist Manager. In 2018 she launched Ismay Bourke Mgmt & PR, a Dublin based, boutique Artist Management, PR & radio plugging company whose roster includes artists Fia Moon, Dashoda and has executed successful PR campaigns for artists such as Jafaris, FLYNN, Soulé, Elaine Mai, Chasing Abbey, Josh Gray and Rushes as well as Armada Music with Lost Frequencies and LAB Records with SIIGHTS. She has also recently worked for Universal Music Ireland as a Senior Artist & Media Relations Manager from Nov 22 – Feb 23. A graduate of Griffith University, Dublin with a degree in Law, Ismay began her career in the music industry over 15 years ago in London under Richard Baskind and David Glick. Later she graduated with a Masters from The University of Westminster, London in Music Business Management and went on to develop London artist, Bluey Robinson who signed to Sony RCA UK, joined Justin Bieber on his My World European Tour and Tinie Tempah’s on his UK tour. Ismay also brings to the table experience in marketing and business development and worked on the launch of hot spot ‘Tape London’.