Pod Concerts

Pod Concerts is a music promoter operating in Ireland. It co-operates with Aiken Promotions in organising Electric Picnic. It has been behind numerous events and festivals on the island, including Lovebox, Garden Party and Midlands Music Festival. In 2008, Pod have been behind the Soundtrack '08 event in their Pod Complex on Dublin's Harcourt Street [cite web|url=http://www.phantom.ie/content/view/1464/104/|title="Irish weather so rubbish new Summer festival is indoors…"|date=2008-04-02|accessdate=2008-04-04|publisher=Phantom FM] [cite web|url=http://www.state.ie/blog/soundtrack-08-a-series-of-pod-gigs/#more-447|title="Soundtrack 08 - A series of Pod gigs…"|date=2008-04-03|accessdate=2008-04-04|publisher="State"] , as well as promoting a number of concerts involving Leonard Cohen, [cite web|url=http://www.phantom.ie/content/view/1406/104/|title="Leonard Cohen to confirm two Dublin shows…"|date=2008-03-11|accessdate=2008-03-16|publisher=Phantom FM] [cite web|url=http://www.hotpress.com/news/4514520.html|title="Cohen announces third Dublin date…"|date=2008-03-20|accessdate=2008-03-20|publisher="Hot Press"] [cite web|url=http://www.phantom.ie/content/view/1432/104/|title="Three Dublin dates for Leonard Cohen…"|date=2008-03-20|accessdate=2008-03-20|publisher=Phantom FM] Iggy & The Stooges [cite web|url=http://www.independent.ie/entertainment/music/lsquoi-get-most-kicks-from-sleeping-with-my-irish-girlfriendrsquo-1375760.html|title="‘I get most kicks from sleeping with my Irish girlfriend’…"|date=2008-05-15|accessdate=2008-05-24|publisher="Irish Independent"] and Morrissey [cite web|url=http://www.hotpress.com/news/4588467.html|title="Morrissey confirms Dublin date"|date=2008-05-29|accessdate=2008-05-30|publisher="Hot Press"] [cite web|url=http://www.phantom.ie/content/view/1585/104/|title="Morrissey confirms Dublin show…"|date=2008-05-29|accessdate=2008-05-30|publisher=Phantom FM] at the Royal Hospital, Kilmainham in June.

2008 IMRO legal proceedings

A disagreement between the Irish Music Rights Organisation and POD Concerts reached the High Court on June 16 2008. [cite web|url=http://www.hotpress.com/news/4592844.html|title="IMRO and POD Concerts in Court Row"|date=2008-06-17|accessdate=2008-06-18|publisher="Hot Press"] IMRO began proceedings against POD Concerts seeking €432,000 in fees, which are alleged to be outstanding on a series of music festivals, including Electric Picnic, Lovebox and Garden Party. [cite web|url=http://www.phantom.ie/content/view/1620/104/|title="Electric Picnic organisers in court"|date=2008-06-18|accessdate=2008-06-18|publisher=Phantom FM] POD concerts intend to dispute the basis on which the tariffs are calculated and how they are distributed.

On Friday June 13, IMRO issued a statement confirming that it had issued proceedings against POD Concerts Ltd. The proceedings were "in relation to a dispute in respect of the Electric Picnic music element". "IMRO will be in court on Monday 16th June, 2008 seeking entry into the Commercial List," the statement added, before clarifying the background to the organisation's decision to go to court. "It is IMRO's policy to rigorously pursue all outstanding royalties due to the songwriters, composers and music publishers that it represents from the commercial exploitation of their music."

Following the June 17th hearing, in which lawyers on behalf of IMRO made their opening statement, POD Concerts responded to media coverage of the dispute, setting out their version of events in robust terms – and directly answering what POD dismisses as totally misleading statements about Electric Picnic. The statement, issued on June 18 and signed by POD MD, John Reynolds, asserted the following: [cite web|url=http://www.phantom.ie/content/view/1621/104/|title="Electric Picnic UPDATE"|date=2008-06-18|accessdate=2008-06-18|publisher=Phantom FM]

"The Electric Picnic 2008 is not in doubt or in jeopardy contrary to press and media reports over the last number of days. POD Concerts is in dispute with IMRO over certain issues relating to the high fees charged by IMRO to it for 'public performance' of music which are in addition to the fees paid to the artists to perform. IMRO is seeking to charge POD Concerts for performances from non-music artists involved in the Electric Picnic."

The case may have to go to a full hearing in early July when it is due in the High Court again.

References

External links

* [http://www.pod.ie/ www.pod.ie]