Popular YouTube channel launches initiative to pay Dublin buskers

Dublin City Today, a YouTube channel which platforms Dublin buskers, has launched a live streaming initiative that will pay the artists featured.

Dublin City Today was founded by Sean Leahy in 2018. It featured himself walking around Dublin with a camera filming buskers performing on the streets.

In two years, the channel has grown to nearly 600k subscribers with over 140 million views and is now being ran by a four-person team – called DCT Media Productions Ltd.

Yan McDermott, one of the new members said: “We decided to join forces with Sean and expanded the DCT team to pursue his vision of giving support to buskers and musicians and helping them develop, grow, and build their careers.

“We have a big vision for the future and exciting plans for this coming year and beyond.”

DCT has launched the project in partnership with Stream Pod Studios with the performances taking place on the DCT YouTube Channel.

DCT will also be launching bi-weekly live streamed gigs called DCT Live at the Sound House.

They will be streamed live from the Sound House on Eden Quay starting February 4 at 8pm

DCT says that “this new platform will give local musicians and buskers a chance to perform and get paid for gigs.

“Irish musicians have been hit hard as live music and busking has been banned for the next few months due to the lockdown.”

The group will also be launching a weekly podcast hosted by Armando Aguero, entitled Buskers and Buzz.

This video podcast will consist of live performances from artists as well as a fun Q&A chat to get to know the musician, the person behind the music, who they are and what they have planned.

Both the live stream gigs and podcast will be available to view for free on the ever-growing DCT Youtube Channel.

DCT are now actively looking for sponsors for the live shows, and have launched a Patreon page to help support the many projects they have planned.