Michael Murphy leaves Beyond International and launches Rockabill Media

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 revitalizing 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, which will make its market debut at Mipcom next month, opens for business this week with three projects already underway. In detail, the company is executive producing the feature film “Ismael” and the music documentary “Wir Sind Maschinen”; and 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, 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.

“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,”  Michael Murphy commented.