Ronan Keating says he wouldn’t like it if he was trying to forge a career in music now.
It has been 30 years since he first burst onto the scene as one fifth of boyband Boyzone as a teenager back in the 90s and went on to carve out a successful solo career in his own right.
Since then, the When You Say Nothing At All hit-maker says the music industry is a very different beast.
“I wouldn’t like it now to be honest with you,” the Irish singer-songwriter, 47, told the Standard. “It’s hard out there. It’s awash with so much great talent and because of social media the market is constantly flooded with brilliant talent.
“To compete with that is difficult and I admire these young people that are coming up through the ranks and are succeeding; it’s really phenomenal.”
He would not trade any of the experiences that he has had for a moment however, noting that there have been many “pinch me moments” over the past three decades.
“I have been very lucky to perform with some amazing people,” he mused. “I mean Elton [John] at Madison Square Garden for two nights there - that was ridiculous, very cool, back in the 90s or early 00s.
“Then for Boyzone to perform with [Luciano] Pavarotti... even to my peers it sets you aside from other people; it’s crazy - a real pinch me moment. It’s hard to believe that we got that opportunity as a band.
“We come from a generation that actually physically sold out albums. When you say something like 45million records, like, that’s just crazy; that’s madness and this generation, these younger kids that are coming through, they can’t fathom that kind of thing unless you’re Ed Sheeran, Adele, Taylor Swift or someone like that. Those kind of numbers are just unheard of so we were very lucky.”
Keating has proven to have an ear for spotting new talent. He recently quit as a judge on The Voice Germany and previously sat on the panels for The Voice Australia and The Voice Kids UK.
Asked what it is he looks for in aspiring artists, he replied without missing a beat: “You’re looking for originality, you’re looking for people that stand out and voices that sound unique and different.”
He singles out six-time BRIT Award winner Raye as an example.
“She is just incredible,” he enthused. “I’m a really big fan of what she’s doing, what she represents, how she handles herself and her performances. Her tone and voice is just fabulous, it’s unique and it’s special.”
Adding: “When you see it [unique talent], it’s very evident.”
As for himself, he is set to quit his role as co-host of Magic Breakfast after seven years in July, admitting he finds himself constantly “exhausted” by the early morning commitment and wants to make music his main focus again.
Keating will be headlining Kew the Music in London’s Kew Gardens on July 10 - his “only southern show” this year - with special guests Lucy Spraggan and Tom Speight.
He is also keen to put out new music, but says it’s unlikely to be a whole album.
“I don’t know if making an album anymore is worth while so perhaps just putting music out as you make it when you feel it’s good enough,” he mused. “That’s probably where things are going, I mean, things are changing just so dramatically.
“I’m just writing and maybe will release something soon. Not an album but maybe an EP perhaps so I’m just chipping away and waiting for something that [I feel] is worthy of a release.”
He says he is grateful to people like Taylor Swift however for helping to reignite peoples love of live music post the Covid-19 pandemic.
“The behemoth that is Taylor Swift, the juggernaut of the [Eras] tour that is happening at the moment, it’s just phenomenal and it’s great that live music is so successful at the moment,” he mused. “People are wanting to see live music and get out and gig. That’s really important for me and what I do so I’m delighted to see someone out there doing that and so many people wanting to see it happen”.
Ronan Keating will play Kew the Music 2024 on 10th July, as part of the annual week-long festival of picnic concerts, tickets are available at kewthemusic.org
