Ireland Music Week - Artist Applications 2025


Ireland Music Week is delighted to announce that the festival will return to Dublin venues in October. The international-facing showcase and conference, now in its twenty-third year, will take place from October 1st - 3rd.

Applications will be open 12th of February - 25th of March, 5pm.

 
 

Information Zoom Feb 10th, 5pm

On February 10th at 5pm, ahead of applications opening, IMW will be holding an information zoom webinar.

This information Webinar is open to all artists and their teams, where we’ll be sharing helpful tips on the application process. You’ll also have the chance to ask any questions regarding IMW Applications to the team. 

Artists and their teams must pre register to attend the zoom webinar at the link below.
https://us02web.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_VK0gMcyQT0GhDVfn2W0BSQ

 
 

Applications will open for 6 weeks: from 12th February to 26th March, 5pm. 50 Irish acts will have the chance to showcase in October, with the line-up being announced in June.

Around 90 international delegates will once again attend, with buyers and bookers from the likes of ESNS, The Great Escape, Primavera Pro, Pop Kultur, ATC, CAA and many more.

For artists of all levels, the conference at the festival will give them a chance to learn and develop their craft and create new opportunities with agents, labels, bookers, music supervisors and services from all over the world.


We ask all applicants to read this important information before applying:

  • You will need to apply for Ireland Music Week through Breaking Tunes. You will need to create a profile on Breaking Tunes (if you don't already have one). You will then find the application form in the 'Opportunities' section on your Dashboard.

  • Please make sure your most recent and most relevant tracks are on your Breaking Tunes profile (you can remove any unreleased tracks once the judging process is complete).

  • Please include all your social media links on your Breaking Tunes profile description (e.g. Spotify, Soundcloud, Bandcamp, YouTube, Facebook, TikTok, Twitter, Instagram). If there is no music on your Breaking Tunes link, your judge will not be able to score you and you may be eliminated from selection.

  • We only accept applications from artists living in Ireland or Irish artists living overseas. We do not accept applications from international artists.

  • Applications will close on Wednesday March 26th 2025 at 5pm (P.S. Take your time with the application - there is no benefit in submitting it early).

  • All applicants, successful or otherwise, will be notified by email in late May 2025.

  • If you are selected to showcase, we will be in touch with you about your performance and preparation for showcasing at the festival. Ireland Music Week 2025 will pay showcasing artists expenses of €500 but we cannot offer payment for travel and accommodation for Irish artists who are living overseas.


How do the artists get selected to showcase? 

A panel of national and international industry assess the applications. The panel includes festival bookers, labels, managers, music journalists, publishers, booking agents, and many more from across the global industry. The highest rated artists go forward to make up the final line-up.


How are the applications judged?

The judging criteria is split into 5 categories:

  • Songwriting, Arrangement & Lyrical Ability 

  • Quality of Recorded Material

  • Live Profile

  • Export-Readiness

  • Gut Feeling


Any advice on applying?

It may sound obvious, but put your best foot forward to give yourself the best possible chance. Please make sure your Breaking Tunes profile is completely up to date, your biography is short, to the point and interesting, your photos are of the highest possible quality/resolution and all your social media and streaming links are working properly. As well as looking at and reviewing the bio and plans on your application form,the assessment panel will be reviewing Breaking Tunes profiles so it is important that you present your Breaking Tunes profile to them at its very best. It is also vital to demonstrate how a slot at Ireland Music Week fits into your plan for 2025/2026 and beyond.

If I’ve showcased at Ireland Music Week already, can I apply again?

Of course! In some cases, artists have been selected to showcase more than once at Ireland Music Week. Please note, however, that if you are planning to apply to Ireland Music Week having showcased at the festival already, you will need to clearly demonstrate in your plan how playing again at the festival will advantage your career. Generally speaking, it is not the norm for artists to play two years in a row.