We had the good fortune of connecting with Ben Magee and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Ben, can you walk us through the thought-process of starting your business?
I wanted to provide some structure and care to the world class artists I saw around me every day. Ireland, and Belfast in particular, is teeming with untapped artistic potential and I always wanted to work with it.

My previous mentor, Lyndon Stephens, was instrumental in crafting my world view for the business – he always believed that just because you came from a smaller region, it didn’t give you the excuse to be mediocre and his artists and business reflected that. This has been something I’ve emulated over the past 3 years.

Alright, so for those in our community who might not be familiar with your business, can you tell us more?
New Champion Management is an artist management, services, PR and consultation firm.

I founded the company in late 2019 and operate out of Ireland, with partners and clients on a global scale.

Working and thriving in a region that typically views the arts as a hobby rather than an industry has certainly had its challenges, but they are trials that I bounce out of bed every day to face.

Combatting the advent of the Covid-19 pandemic and the death of my mentor less than two months after starting the business was extremely challenging, but through hard work, support from the community and the grace of working with the best creatives and songwriters in the world, I have managed to not only survive but thrive.

Since our inception, we have taken independent artists and producers to a platform of over 80 million digital streams, performances in 15+ countries and parters across three continents. All of this from a small office in Belfast City Centre and the second hand laptop I bought in university.

2023 has proven to be the strongest year for New Champion so far, with us smashing our previous financial and personal goals in the first quarter alone. And with bigger things on the horizon, it’s shaping up to be the start of the busiest period of the business’s lifetime so far.

The goal and ethos of New Champion has always been one of independence and community. We want people, both at home and the world over, to see that with the right people, hard work and love for your craft, that you don’t need to be a major label or live in a London/Los Angeles/Tokyo to have a successful career in music. You can have what your heart what’s, wherever and whoever you are.

Let’s say your best friend was visiting the area and you wanted to show them the best time ever. Where would you take them? Give us a little itinerary – say it was a week long trip, where would you eat, drink, visit, hang out, etc.
For its’ size, my hometown punches far above its weight when it comes to food and drink. It’s a small enough town to walk an 8-venue pub crawl and eat world class food while you’re at it.

First stop would absolutely be The American Bar and The Sunflower Public House. Both are a little outside of the city centre, in Sailorstown and the Queer Quarter respectively. But between affordable menus, local brews, music every night if the week and incredible decor and murals from local artists, they’re respected hidden/off-the-beaten path gems.

If you’re grabbing a quick bite to eat, the look no further than Pablos. A small tavern and burger restaurant, it’s southern American inspired menu will meet all your craving needs. For a sit down, The Ginger Bistro is my favourite restaurant in the world. With a menu that varies dependant in the market in the morning, it’s vintage style and high quality service is the best in the city – along with a killer menu.

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
I want to shout out my home town, Belfast. Despite its troubled social and political history, it’s always been a city where people with weird, alternative and left-field ideas could create their own unique worlds. The positive and negatives of Belfast have given me all the strength and tools that I use on a day-to-day basis working with my artists, who continues to create the best music in the world in spite of the challenges of their surroundings.

Addison Paterson, the creative brains behind Table It Promotions. Addison operates out of the best venues in the city and is constantly looking to platform the coolest acts in the country. Her vision and support for underappreciated acts and genres has been instrumental in supporting and developing the creative sector in Belfast.
Saul Duffin, the head honcho behind Yeo Magazine. Saul came home to a city and indentifed a gap that needed to be fufilled. With his natural gift as a designer and ear for greta music, he’s carved out a space for himself and his artists in the live sector and online that has allowed new and established artists to thrive. His magazine has become a cultural cornerstone in the city and the first port of call for anything worth your while.
Dylan Murphy, aritst manager and journalist with District Magazine. On top of heading up the contnet divison of the most improtant cultural publciation in the country, Dylan also looks after one of the most talented producers in the country. He’s a tireless champion of the alternative creators that make our scene so vibrant, and has his ear to the ground or hand in the pot of anything excellent happening around the island.

Website: Www.newchampion.net

Instagram: https://instagram.com/newchampionmanagement?igshid=YmMyMTA2M2Y=

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/company/new-champion-music/

Twitter: https://twitter.com/newchampmanage?s=21&t=E-9n029QogbVLgpIpLs5IA

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