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Music body folds over differences | Music body folds over differences |
(about 5 hours later) | |
A Northern Ireland music body which helped launch the careers of musicians such as The Answer and Duke Special is to be closed down. | |
The NI Music Industry Commission was set up in 2001 to showcase local talent and develop musicians' business skills. | The NI Music Industry Commission was set up in 2001 to showcase local talent and develop musicians' business skills. |
However, it has announced that because of irreconcilable differences among board members its work is ending. | |
Invest NI said the body had entered a voluntary winding-up arrangement. | Invest NI said the body had entered a voluntary winding-up arrangement. |
"Due to irreconcilable issues within NIMIC's board, Invest NI and other potential partners were unable to consider any further funding," it said. | "Due to irreconcilable issues within NIMIC's board, Invest NI and other potential partners were unable to consider any further funding," it said. |
"NIMIC has made a significant contribution to the development of the music industry in Northern Ireland since 2001 through the support provided by Invest NI and the Arts Council." | "NIMIC has made a significant contribution to the development of the music industry in Northern Ireland since 2001 through the support provided by Invest NI and the Arts Council." |
The commission showcased local artists at high-profile events such as the annual South by Southwest conference in Austin, Texas. | The commission showcased local artists at high-profile events such as the annual South by Southwest conference in Austin, Texas. |
Eamon Keyes, who sat on NIMIC's board for almost five years, said up-and-coming musicians in Northern Ireland would now find it even harder to make it in a very competitive industry. | |
"There are bands who are now on on their way to the top, artists like Duke Special and the Answer who are just back off a world tour with AC/DC, who all benefitted from NIMIC," he said. | |
"NIMIC was set up as a sectoral lead body and it didn't get its place. It should have been supported to a greater extent and it should have been funded more. | |
"We are in a backwater musically, NIMIC was able to give people information they needed to succeed without going across to London. | |
"The government has said they aren't going to give funding for another body, it is such a shame it got this far without something being done." |