Jun 12, 2025 · 1 hr 31 min
In March 2025, IMRO hosted an in-person panel discussion moderated by music journalist Zara Hedderman – featuring Bekah Molony (Celaviedmai, Negro Impacto), Conor Cusack (Morgana, Saint Sister), and Gavin Elsted (Silverbacks).
In an ever-changing industry, artist managers continue to provide a vital role in developing emerging artists and helping them sustain their career. This talk shed light on the relationship between artists and management, uncovering how the two work together. What do managers look for in an emerging artist? How do they build a career strategy for the artists they represent? How do they protect the best interest of their artists? This talk presented vital information for artists considering working with a manager and how to develop their career in the music industry.
Bekah Molony is the head of D07 Artists, a Dublin based artist management, bookings and live event agency that represents and works with some of Ireland’s most exciting talent. She is also the founder of Mo Cultivation, a community that focuses on ‘creating, connecting and celebrating’ urban culture and Irish artists through events, content and community initiatives. With an undergrad in Event Management, a Masters in Emerging Media and as a Keychange alumni, Bekah’s successful music industry career also includes programming exciting projects for brands and sharing knowledge as an industry speaker as she continues to create opportunities for the current and future creatives of Ireland.
With over 15 years of experience working in the music industry, Conor Cusack has held a variety of roles across the independent sectors in Dublin, Berlin, and London. He brings his experience in music retail, recorded music, live, event production, product management, charity, and arts consultancy to his long standing career as an artist manager. Conor has managed artists professionally for over 10 years, both independently and as part of London based management firm ie:music.
In 2023, he set up his own business, No Bother, a boutique Artist Management & Music Consultancy business. No Bother was set up to oversee the careers of a small number of highly progressive, and forward-thinking artists (Morgana, Saint Sister) and work closely with a small number of consultancy clients to help them achieve their creative and commercial goals. In his spare time he makes techno and plays in an Indie band called DIVIL.
Gavin Elsted is an artist manager, label owner and DJ from Newbridge. He manages Choice Prize-nominated Silverbacks and oversees day to day operations at their Central Tones record label. He is a member of Dublin clubbing institution Lumo Club and is a partner in Kildare-based electronic label 045 Recordings.
