The job is to exploit the song in any way possible, to earn as much money as you can.” That money is sent to IMRO and then paid out to the publisher and the writer. “Everywhere that has music - hairdressers, shops, bars, whatever - has to have a licence for public performance. To quote the book, “Songs wouldn’t argue with me, or turn up late for meetings, or piss me off.” “That’s how I started the search,” Lappin remembers today, “to find out what a music publisher did.”Ī good question that. “Essentially their job is to maximise the earnings from songs, for themselves and the songwriter,” Lappin smiles at an inquiry he must have heard countless times before. The idea of “managing songs” had more appeal to him than managing people. A light bulb materialised above Lappin’s head.

In fact, it’s in the back of a car on the way to the Macroom Festival in 1978, when a mate bemoans a lack of knowledge about music publishing. It’s at this point that the narrative in Lappin’s book really gets going. That's how I got in, but I found managing people a difficult thing to do.” I was looking for a way to put my business knowledge to use in music. “I’d go see Stepaside in The Merrion Inn around 1975, I loved their good time rock n’ roll sound. Setting sticks aside, the next rock n’ roll hat our hero tried on was management. I tried to be a drummer too but I had a bit of a problem in that I couldn't keep time.” We were supporting The Dubliners and Luke Kelly. “Blame The Beatles, I was twelve when ‘Love Me Do’ came out. I started off trying to be a singer. With 50 issues under its belt, CROSS RHYTHMS magazine took the opportunity to reflect where it had been and pondered where it may be going.A career in painting and decorating – “it bored the shite out of me” - isn’t for everyone and the music bug had bitten into young Johnny Lappin good and early. Southern Ireland has a new Christian music festival IN:FUSION. The voice of Clannad, MARIE BRENNAN talks us through the tracks on her new album In:Fusion: A new Irish music festival Marie Brennan: A song-by-song rundown of her 'Whisper To The Wild Water' album Who are the significant artists taking Irish contemporary Christian music into the next millennium? Mike Rimmer flew to Belfast to check out one of THE breeding grounds for gifted musicians. Ireland's Music Millennium: The Irish Christian music scene The husband and wife duo KEITH & KRISTYN GETTY, now based in Nashville, talk us through the songs on their critically acclaimed album Keith & Kristyn Getty: A song-by-song rundown of 'Hymns For The Christian Life' New live CD and tours lined up for Moya BrennanĬeltic music's Moya Brennan plays London on 13th November Irish veterans Clannad release live DVD and CD Grammy winning Celtic band Clannad record first album in 15 years Recording made in 1980 by Clannad sees light of dayĬlannad to tour UK and Ireland in October and NovemberĬeltic veterans Clannad release new studio album Martyn Joseph planning a tribute to Phil Ochs setĬlannad's Moya Brennan sings on Ian Wills' single Clannad call it a day with major tour and compilation albums

Clannad band video