tremendous... that pleases me

Speaking of Hot Press, did anyone else notice their glowing review given to a recent HMV playlist compliation CD. Very bizarre.such a crap magazine.

Respect to Whelans! I can only presume Stokes & co are trying to get Hotpress FM..or something.. off the ground - anyone know anything more?

It's ZedFM backed by Niall Stokes, Bob Geldof and a former FM 104 chief executive. http://www.siglamag.com/blog/index.php Another investor in Phantom is MCD’s Dennis Desmond, the country’s biggest gig promoter....MCD has significantly reduced the number of ads it’s placing with Hot Press. With the likes of the Event Guide, In Dublin and Total Dublin out there, along with the Irish Times’ supplement The Ticket and the Irish Independent’s supplement City Life, MCD clearly doesn’t have to rely on Hot Press’ ever-diminishing readership in order to promote its gigs. With a double-page colour spread in Hot Press costing the thick end of €7k, there are clearly considerable savings available to MCD if they take their advertising elsewhere. And with Zed hitting Phantom hard in the pocket, it seems only appropriate that Desmond should lash-back and hit Hot Press where it hurts most by giving Stokes a taste of his own medicine.

surprised this has not been covered here before now. Basically Zed FM (which is FM104 founder Dermot Hanrahan with Niall Stokes, Bob Geldof, Jim Aiken etc) have instigated proceedings against the BCI (which is the government body who decides on licence applications), Their case is based on the fact that they think the licence process was flawed and that licence was always going to be awarded to Phantom (which is the original Phantom, boys and girls with Denis Desmond from MCD, Paul mcGuinness of Principle Management, Frank Gleeson from the Village/Whelans and a few others). Zed FM are NOT suing Phantom but Phantom have decided not to go on air while this court case is proceeding. Given the fact that legal eagles take as lengthy summer breaks as TDs, the case will not now be heard until the autumn term. Because there are judges and the like involved, it's anyone's guess what will happen Its a real cry-baby buzz from Zed - they lost because their bid was just not as good as Phantom. While I have plenty quibbles about Phantom as was, they did have the stronger bid - I think the bids are still online at www.bci.ie - and their presentation to the BCI was slick, professional and knowledgable. The timing of the Zed thing was particularly nasty - Phantom had just started a recruitment drive. Whelans/MCD pulling ads from HP was inevitable. Theres no love lost between Stokes and Denis Desmond - there were legal skirmishes before about HQ/HP Hall of Shame/Spirit - but this one could be really nasty. What we now need is for McGuinnes to tell Stokes to cease and desist with his awful u2 books and homage covers - that would really screw them! HP need MCD/Village/Whelans an awful lot more than they need HP. I think it serves HP right but I could be biased because i think its an awful rag. Good news for the other music-related mags round town though

I dislike that magazine and it's editor in equal measures. Not only does it give every crap Irish band/artist rave reviews but it also has a nasty pro-IRA/anti-American political slant.

I don't know why the f**k Hotpress have to have all those stupid 'opinion' pages, a sex column, sport stories, a 'social' page sponsored by Ronseal or something. Music magazine my ass. And the way it panders to advertisers and record companies is just dishonest for something that passes itself off as a non-listings magazine. Essentially, it's just a catalogue for whoever shoves a few quid under Stokes' door every fortnight.