RTÉ’s outsourcing to UK firm for new Radio 1 jingles ‘cost Irish artists income of up to €100,000 a year’

RTÉ Radio 1’s new jingles have denied income to Irish artists, representative groups have said. The Screen Composers Guild of ­Ireland (SCGI) and the Association of Independent Music (Aim) Ireland ­issued a joint statement expressing disappointment with the national broadcaster’s new “audio identity”. A suite of new intro music was unveiled across RTÉ Radio 1’s daily ­schedule on April 13, along with new music for news bulletins. The SCGI and Aim Ireland have said they are disappointed with the decision to outsource the work, with the new themes created by ­Wisebuddah, a UK-based production company. Much of the music used previously on RTÉ Radio 1 was composed and performed by Irish artists. Over the Moors by Irish band Stockton’s Wing was the long-time theme tune for Liveline , and Secret by Dublin-based alternative group Delorentos was used when Ryan Tubridy hosted his morning show. RTÉ has said UK-based Wisebuddah was chosen to create the jingles through “a public procurement process”. “Leading audio branding agency Wisebuddah was appointed to ­develop the new sound,” a spokesperson said. 'Over the Moor' by Stockton's Wing was the intro to 'Liveline' for many years “Directed by RTÉ’s creative audio imaging team, brand team and Radio 1 studio management, Wisebuddah has created a comprehensive, round-the-clock sound suite tailored to the station’s evolving identity.” The spokesperson said the cost of the new jingles to RTÉ “is considered ­commercially sensitive”. The SCGI and Aim Ireland said the decision to outsource the new music “represents a direct loss to the Irish music sector”, with a value of up to €100,000 a year in music rights and royalty income. “These revenues are vital to sustaining Ireland’s composer ecosystem – supporting writers, performers, studios and the wider creative industries, particularly in early-stage production. “To see it all go to one supplier not based in Ireland is difficult for composers and performers here.” Today's News in 90 Seconds, Tuesday April 21 The groups acknowledged that Wisebuddah was chosen following a public procurement process, but expressed concerns that the “structure and scale of such tenders may not be readily accessible to the majority of Irish-based composers and independent music creators”. Both organisations are currently engaged in discussions with RTÉ, with a view to ensuring future processes are transparent and supporting procurement processes that “meaningfully include domestic talent”.