Murphy leaves Beyond International, sets up Rockabill Media
September 5, 2023
Michael Murphy, executive director of specialist music producer/distributor BeyondTNC and former general manager at Beyond Distribution, is leaving his Dublin and London based roles at Beyond International after 19 years and launching Rockabill Media – a new business revitalising a previously used company name.
Under the new-look Rockabill banner, Murphy will build on current non-executive roles and use his extensive experience to work on international film and TV projects and provide consultancy in a range of areas, including content strategy, distribution, executive production and financing.
Rockabill Media opens for business this week, with three projects already underway.
· Executive producing the feature film Ismael, working with Norwegian producer Tomas Backström (Insomnia). Set in Ireland and based on the novel by Roy Jacobson, Ismael tells the story of a former MI5 operative who must activate old skills to protect his family.
· Executive producing Wir Sind Maschinen, a landmark, three-part Spring Films (Into the Inferno, The Act of Killing) music documentary exploring how German electronic music changed the world. Murphy previously led this project at BeyondTNC.
· Consulting on raising funds for a yet to be announced, new genre production company focused on adapting existing female-led IP.
In addition to his roles at Beyond, where most recently he executive produced Mutiny in Heaven, the feature documentary about Nick Cave’s band The Birthday Party, which premiered at the Melbourne International Festival last month, Murphy has held several senior posts across the film and TV sectors. These include pioneering on-demand services at Yes Television; director of programmes at TV3 Television in Ireland; director of digital television at eircon, where he developed digital and interactive services for TV and internet; founder of Ireland’s Channel 6 and CEO at Windmill Lane Entertainment.
Michael Murphy comments: “I am excited to bring the Rockabill Media name back to the international market and to do so now with a new focus and three brilliant projects leading the charge. I am especially delighted to continue working with the incredible Spring Films team on Wir Sind Maschinen as it is somewhat of a passion project. However, as I have worked as a broadcaster, producer and distributor, as well as in post production and VFX – and have built an enviable international network – I see Rockabill’s real value in advising on content strategy and then helping IP owners to follow the most relevant – and lucrative – creative and commercial paths.”
Rockabill Media will make its market debut at MIPCOM next month.