Music figures seeking radio licences

Music industry figures such as the manager of U2, Mr Paul McGuinness, and Boyzone's founder, Mr Louis Walsh, are among those involved in eight consortiums which have been short listed by the Independent Radio and Television Commission (IRTC) for two lucrative radio licences in Dublin.

The licences for a "youth-oriented service", concentrating on dance music, and for a "music-driven service", for the over-35s, are expected to be awarded after a public hearing before the commission on September 26th-27th, when four groups in each category will make an oral presentation.

The shortlisted groups for the youth licence are Storm FM; Pulse FM; Spin FM and Red 106 FM. The consortiums on the short-list for the over-35s market licence are Easy FM; Lite FM; Sunshine FM and Gold FM. Thirteen groups applied for the two licences.

Music, media and fashion industry figures are heavily involved in shortlisted groups. The Storm FM consortium includes U2's guitarist, The Edge; fashion designer John Rocha; a leading UK publishing and radio company, Emap, and Boyzone's manager, Mr Louis Walsh.

The independent Dublin radio station FM 104 and the national independent station, Today FM, are involved in the Red FM group. Those behind Pulse FM, a pirate station before July, include U2's manager and WLR FM in Waterford.

Mr David Hammond, a former station manager at Today FM whose group, @2K, failed to make the shortlist, said he was disappointed. Kiss FM, a group involving nightclub owner Mr Robbie Fox, and Fuse FM were the other two groups who failed.

Of the groups aiming for the over-35s licence, Easy FM involves Crimeline presenter David Harvey, while Lite FM includes a former managing director of A-wear, Ms Deirdre Kelly. Today FM directors Mr Brian Molloy and Mr Joe Moreau are involved in Gold FM. Sunshine FM is backed by AIB chairman Mr Lochlann Quinn.

A final decision will be taken at an IRTC board meeting on October 11th. It has yet to reveal the its decision on proposals for "special interest", "speech-driven" and Irish language licences.