FCE Interview 19

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Interviewer: My next guest is James Hyland, the young Irish entrepreneur, who has been behind all sorts of music projects. The latest is Bubble TV, a music channel without advertising breaks. James, welcome.

James: Hi.

Interviewer: You’re 23 now, but you launched yourself into the music world while you were still at school, didn’t you? You were a very young starter!

James: Yes. I was 12 when I started my own radio station in my house. I played music I liked. The station was called Happiness. Not a good name I know, but I was young. I would have been happy if it had been just the neighbours listening, but it soon became clear that I’d attracted a lot of fans and I was invited to play at events. I ploughed all the money I made from that back into the station. It got very big and I got noticed.

Interviewer: Weren’t people amazed when they found out you were 12?

James: Yes, but they were far more amazed when they discovered that I was organizing concerts by some of the biggest bands on the British music scene when I was just 16. This attracted a lot of jealousy. At 12 people are pleased for you, people are happy and encourage you, but when you’re just a little older and running a successful business, it can be more of a threat.

Interviewer: So how did your career in music progress as you got older?

James: When I was 16, I started working with a local radio station. I didn’t stay too long as I didn’t like having a boss. But I didn’t just complain and carry on going into work. I ditched the job and set up my own studio at my home in Cork, in southern Ireland, and began producing commercials from there. Along the way, I’d already started promoting well-known bands. I managed to bring in some fantastic acts to play at festivals and concerts in Ireland.

Interviewer: Now, not so long ago, you launched the Bubble TV channel, a 1-hour all-music channel with no advertising breaks, aimed at teenagers. James. you seem to be the sort of person who’s too busy to be the couch potato type, but the idea came from watching TV, didn’t it?

James: Yes, I was flicking through all the channels and noticed there were so many of them but only three dedicated to music. And there weren’t any exclusively British channels – most were from the US with British commercials. I had ad breaks. They interrupt whatever you’re watching and spoil the mood, so I decided not to have any. However, I should point out that Bubble TV has sponsored segments, so companies are involved. But the sponsorship doesn’t get in the way, you have to look for a change in the background logo during programmes to notice it.

Interviewer: Is it just music and nothing else?

James: Although it’s mainly music, we have three presenters, who do slots called Juice. They interview bands and go to gigs and festivals. And bands can’t just promote their new song or whatever, it’s got to be fun. They have to spill the juice – the gossip – in just three­ minute slots! It has to be entertaining.

Interviewer: Now, you’re constantly coming up with fresh ideas. Do you sleep with a notebook by the bed in case you dream up a best-selling idea in your sleep?

James: Absolutely. I text myself with my ideas as I have them. then each day I go through my texts to see what ideas I have sent myself.

Interviewer: So what’s next?

James: Aah, I have several ideas… but I’m not telling you!

Interviewer: OK, fair enough! Well, finally. have you got any tips for would-be entrepreneurs listening now?

James: Don’t give up at the first sign of hardship. I’ve had my fingers burnt and lost money through some of my schemes in the past, but I’ve never let it get me down. I’ve had setbacks – but you can’t dwell on them. You just move on.

Interviewer: James, thanks.

James: You’re welcome.

Interviewer: My next guest is James Hyland, the young Irish entrepreneur, who has been behind all sorts of music projects. The latest is Bubble TV, a music channel without advertising breaks. James, welcome.

James: Hi.

Interviewer: You’re 23 now, but you launched yourself into the music world while you were still at school, didn’t you? You were a very young starter!

James: Yes. I was 12 when I started my own radio station in my house. I played music I liked. The station was called Happiness. Not a good name I know, but I was young. I would have been happy if it had been just the neighbours listening, but it soon became clear that I’d attracted a lot of fans and I was invited to play at events. I ploughed all the money I made from that back into the station. It got very big and I got noticed.

Interviewer: Weren’t people amazed when they found out you were 12?

James: Yes, but they were far more amazed when they discovered that I was organizing concerts by some of the biggest bands on the British music scene when I was just 16. This attracted a lot of jealousy. At 12 people are pleased for you, people are happy and encourage you, but when you’re just a little older and running a successful business, it can be more of a threat.

Interviewer: So how did your career in music progress as you got older?

James: When I was 16, I started working with a local radio station. I didn’t stay too long as I didn’t like having a boss. But I didn’t just complain and carry on going into work. I ditched the job and set up my own studio at my home in Cork, in southern Ireland, and began producing commercials from there. Along the way, I’d already started promoting well-known bands. I managed to bring in some fantastic acts to play at festivals and concerts in Ireland.

Interviewer: Now, not so long ago, you launched the Bubble TV channel, a 1-hour all-music channel with no advertising breaks, aimed at teenagers. James. you seem to be the sort of person who’s too busy to be the couch potato type, but the idea came from watching TV, didn’t it?

James: Yes, I was flicking through all the channels and noticed there were so many of them but only three dedicated to music. And there weren’t any exclusively British channels – most were from the US with British commercials. I had ad breaks. They interrupt whatever you’re watching and spoil the mood, so I decided not to have any. However, I should point out that Bubble TV has sponsored segments, so companies are involved. But the sponsorship doesn’t get in the way, you have to look for a change in the background logo during programmes to notice it.

Interviewer: Is it just music and nothing else?

James: Although it’s mainly music, we have three presenters, who do slots called Juice. They interview bands and go to gigs and festivals. And bands can’t just promote their new song or whatever, it’s got to be fun. They have to spill the juice – the gossip – in just three­ minute slots! It has to be entertaining.

Interviewer: Now, you’re constantly coming up with fresh ideas. Do you sleep with a notebook by the bed in case you dream up a best-selling idea in your sleep?

James: Absolutely. I text myself with my ideas as I have them. then each day I go through my texts to see what ideas I have sent myself.

Interviewer: So what’s next?

James: Aah, I have several ideas… but I’m not telling you!

Interviewer: OK, fair enough! Well, finally. have you got any tips for would-be entrepreneurs listening now?

James: Don’t give up at the first sign of hardship. I’ve had my fingers burnt and lost money through some of my schemes in the past, but I’ve never let it get me down. I’ve had setbacks – but you can’t dwell on them. You just move on.

Interviewer: James, thanks.

James: You’re welcome.

Interviewer: My next guest is James Hyland, the young Irish entrepreneur, who has been behind all sorts of music projects. The latest is Bubble TV, a music channel without advertising breaks. James, welcome.

James: Hi.

Interviewer: You’re 23 now, but you launched yourself into the music world while you were still at school, didn’t you? You were a very young starter!

James: Yes. I was 12 when I started my own radio station in my house. I played music I liked. The station was called Happiness. Not a good name I know, but I was young. I would have been happy if it had been just the neighbours listening, but it soon became clear that I’d attracted a lot of fans and I was invited to play at events. I ploughed all the money I made from that back into the station. It got very big and I got noticed.

Interviewer: Weren’t people amazed when they found out you were 12?

James: Yes, but they were far more amazed when they discovered that I was organizing concerts by some of the biggest bands on the British music scene when I was just 16. This attracted a lot of jealousy. At 12 people are pleased for you, people are happy and encourage you, but when you’re just a little older and running a successful business, it can be more of a threat.

Interviewer: So how did your career in music progress as you got older?

James: When I was 16, I started working with a local radio station. I didn’t stay too long as I didn’t like having a boss. But I didn’t just complain and carry on going into work. I ditched the job and set up my own studio at my home in Cork, in southern Ireland, and began producing commercials from there. Along the way, I’d already started promoting well-known bands. I managed to bring in some fantastic acts to play at festivals and concerts in Ireland.

Interviewer: Now, not so long ago, you launched the Bubble TV channel, a 1-hour all-music channel with no advertising breaks, aimed at teenagers. James. you seem to be the sort of person who’s too busy to be the couch potato type, but the idea came from watching TV, didn’t it?

James: Yes, I was flicking through all the channels and noticed there were so many of them but only three dedicated to music. And there weren’t any exclusively British channels – most were from the US with British commercials. I had ad breaks. They interrupt whatever you’re watching and spoil the mood, so I decided not to have any. However, I should point out that Bubble TV has sponsored segments, so companies are involved. But the sponsorship doesn’t get in the way, you have to look for a change in the background logo during programmes to notice it.

Interviewer: Is it just music and nothing else?

James: Although it’s mainly music, we have three presenters, who do slots called Juice. They interview bands and go to gigs and festivals. And bands can’t just promote their new song or whatever, it’s got to be fun. They have to spill the juice – the gossip – in just three­ minute slots! It has to be entertaining.

Interviewer: Now, you’re constantly coming up with fresh ideas. Do you sleep with a notebook by the bed in case you dream up a best-selling idea in your sleep?

James: Absolutely. I text myself with my ideas as I have them. then each day I go through my texts to see what ideas I have sent myself.

Interviewer: So what’s next?

James: Aah, I have several ideas… but I’m not telling you!

Interviewer: OK, fair enough! Well, finally. have you got any tips for would-be entrepreneurs listening now?

James: Don’t give up at the first sign of hardship. I’ve had my fingers burnt and lost money through some of my schemes in the past, but I’ve never let it get me down. I’ve had setbacks – but you can’t dwell on them. You just move on.

Interviewer: James, thanks.

James: You’re welcome.

Interviewer: My next guest is James Hyland, the young Irish entrepreneur, who has been behind all sorts of music projects. The latest is Bubble TV, a music channel without advertising breaks. James, welcome.

James: Hi.

Interviewer: You’re 23 now, but you launched yourself into the music world while you were still at school, didn’t you? You were a very young starter!

James: Yes. I was 12 when I started my own radio station in my house. I played music I liked. The station was called Happiness. Not a good name I know, but I was young. I would have been happy if it had been just the neighbours listening, but it soon became clear that I’d attracted a lot of fans and I was invited to play at events. I ploughed all the money I made from that back into the station. It got very big and I got noticed.

Interviewer: Weren’t people amazed when they found out you were 12?

James: Yes, but they were far more amazed when they discovered that I was organizing concerts by some of the biggest bands on the British music scene when I was just 16. This attracted a lot of jealousy. At 12 people are pleased for you, people are happy and encourage you, but when you’re just a little older and running a successful business, it can be more of a threat.

Interviewer: So how did your career in music progress as you got older?

James: When I was 16, I started working with a local radio station. I didn’t stay too long as I didn’t like having a boss. But I didn’t just complain and carry on going into work. I ditched the job and set up my own studio at my home in Cork, in southern Ireland, and began producing commercials from there. Along the way, I’d already started promoting well-known bands. I managed to bring in some fantastic acts to play at festivals and concerts in Ireland.

Interviewer: Now, not so long ago, you launched the Bubble TV channel, a 1-hour all-music channel with no advertising breaks, aimed at teenagers. James. you seem to be the sort of person who’s too busy to be the couch potato type, but the idea came from watching TV, didn’t it?

James: Yes, I was flicking through all the channels and noticed there were so many of them but only three dedicated to music. And there weren’t any exclusively British channels – most were from the US with British commercials. I had ad breaks. They interrupt whatever you’re watching and spoil the mood, so I decided not to have any. However, I should point out that Bubble TV has sponsored segments, so companies are involved. But the sponsorship doesn’t get in the way, you have to look for a change in the background logo during programmes to notice it.

Interviewer: Is it just music and nothing else?

James: Although it’s mainly music, we have three presenters, who do slots called Juice. They interview bands and go to gigs and festivals. And bands can’t just promote their new song or whatever, it’s got to be fun. They have to spill the juice – the gossip – in just three­ minute slots! It has to be entertaining.

Interviewer: Now, you’re constantly coming up with fresh ideas. Do you sleep with a notebook by the bed in case you dream up a best-selling idea in your sleep?

James: Absolutely. I text myself with my ideas as I have them. then each day I go through my texts to see what ideas I have sent myself.

Interviewer: So what’s next?

James: Aah, I have several ideas… but I’m not telling you!

Interviewer: OK, fair enough! Well, finally. have you got any tips for would-be entrepreneurs listening now?

James: Don’t give up at the first sign of hardship. I’ve had my fingers burnt and lost money through some of my schemes in the past, but I’ve never let it get me down. I’ve had setbacks – but you can’t dwell on them. You just move on.

Interviewer: James, thanks.

James: You’re welcome.