Hello all, firstly, here’s to a Happy fun filled safe and pleasant Seasons greetings to you all. May you eat too much turkey and mince pies and reside nested by the warmth of a glowing fire over the Christmas of 2009.

But before all of that, let us take a look at this years highlights…

We always have the pleasure of working with such amazing acts here in the GS HQ, from The American Songstress ‘Nell Bryden’ who under our wing, got Playlisted across National & Regional Irish radio, enjoyed over 6 Today Fm live sessions, RTE Radio sessions and full regional radio tours around all the stations- played at some great Summer festivals and got a Top 40 Irish Charted single for her song ‘Second Time Around’. Not to forget singing for Pat Kenny before his final days on the Late Late TV Show on RTE with Pete Doherty on the same night.  Nell went on to sign a publishing deal and a record deal with Cooking Vinyl in the UK and went onwards to become the only independent artist (at the time) to get BBC Radio 2 Album of the week and A playlisted in the UK. ‘Eleanor McEvoy‘ released ‘Singled OUT’ her compilation album of all her Independently released singles. And that was received with much acclaim, not that we would expect anything less from Eleanor. She popped in to Ian Dempsey in Today FM to play some tracks from the album and also in to Pat Kenny in RTE Radio 1 and up to the lovely folk in BBC, Downtown Radio, U105 and regional radio around Ireland. A huge thanks to all in press who supported Eleanor’s album by offering their reviews and features.

Other great music releases of note where by ‘HITMAN LORD’ who’s musical offerings are a sign of great things to come in the new year,  ’Emmet Scanlan & What The Good Thought’, ‘Eoghan Colgan’, FIACH (RTE Playlisted on his debut single YOU DEAR and with follow up album ‘SO I’ scheduled for release in 2010- the sky is the limit), COLM LYNCH (RTE Playlisted and album TICKETY Boo scheduled for re-release next year), and ‘The River Valley Band’,whose debut single Kimberly soared the charts in at no. 21 in its first week- they went on to perform for 20,000 spectators at the interval of the Leinster rugby match. That was EPIC. ‘Carosel’ released their single Easy As It Flows for free download exclusively from their website and received over 1000 downloads in the first week. They were then invited into RTE Studios by Pat Kenny to perform it live. They then headed back into studio to record their ep STAR which will be released next year. They are currently in France touring.

‘HOGAN’ – the rock/pop Blink 182-ish fantastically stunning- illuminated Band (no really they are illuminated) SIGNED an ENDORSEMENT DEAL WITH LAKEWOOD GUITARS. Then got playlisted on FM104, iRadio and more stations and across radio in Ireland. Played to over 800 people in their hometown on the release of their single PS YOU’RE Crazy and where offered a Publishing Deal. They mellowed out the year by being nominated for an IMTV Best Newcomer Video Award too and settled back into the studio with Manic Street preacher and Supergrass producer Greg Haver to record and finish their debut studio album, set for release next year. MUGGER DAVE were hailed as One of Ireland’s most promising Act’s! by THE IRISH TIMES. The band, while preparing for the release of their debut album, where heard by a scout at a gig in Dublin and later signed a licensing agreement with the US licensing company The Music Playground (partners to THE LODGE who are teamed up with Chrysalis Music Group to Create New Arrangements of Top Catalog Songs for Advertising, Film and TV). Mugger Dave are delighted to be amongst their stable of artists including Blondie, GenerationX & Willie Nelson.

CLIVE BARNES also released The Ghost Country to massive critical acclaim from the Irish media. As well as having his music feature in Hollywood film GOSPEL HILL starring Samuel L Jackson, Julia Stiles and Ben Glover. IAN WHITTY AND THE EXCHANGE were awarded the FEEL GOOD ALBUM of THE AUTUMN” by The Daily Star. Today FM also granted them The Daily Download on Tony Fenton’s hit afternoon show. Their album Lucky Caller No.9 also was hailed as one of the ‘Top five Irish albums of this year’ in the 96FM listener poll. WAYNE BRENNAN released his album In My Hands and performed his music across almost every radio station in this country and received playlisting across the spectrum of Irish radio far and wide. He was also Interviewed on TV3’s Ireland AM, was awarded RTE1 playlisting on his single MAKE YOU SMILE and The Irish Times wrote- “ Unquestionably, Brennan is a first- timer with an original voice – and something to say”. He finished up the year singing a Licensing deal in the US.

There are so many more acts that we have had the sincere pleasure of working with. This is why we love our job.

And thank you to all our friends and colleagues in Radio, Press, TV and not to forget the Blogging & Online community who have nurtured and supported our acts throughout the year.

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We are now taking bookings:

If you’re in a band or a part of a label and are looking for PR; drop by for a cuppa! Feel free to drop me an email or a call to the office and we can talk business! We have a nice nespresso machine, but sorry folks George Clooney didn’t come with it…

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Lastly, you have yourself a ‘Very Merry Christmas’.

Until 2010, be safe and be happy.

Linda, Aoife and all the gang at Good Seed PR & Marketing

xxxxx