Johnny Lappin is a founding director of the Irish Music Rights Organisation (Imro) and serves as chairman of the Mechanical Copyright Society of Ireland. The audiobook of his 2019 memoir, In a Lifetime: From Hozier to U2, is now available on Audible.
Are you a saver or a spender?
A little bit of both, I guess. I don’t lead an extravagant lifestyle. At my age, I have so few vices left.
What was the first job you received money for, and how much were you paid?
I worked for my father as an apprentice painter. It was more than 55 years ago and, from memory, I think I earned around £3.50 a week. He was a tough taskmaster. He insisted that “I serve my time” and “forget about all that music shite” I liked. It was five years of my life that I never got back.
Do you shop around for better value?
Yes, I’m pretty prudent when it comes to shopping, and I will always look for a bargain – not necessarily the cheapest item, but I always look for good value.
What has been your most extravagant purchase, and how much did it cost?
I bought my current house in Co Wexford in 1998 at a great price (before the Celtic Tiger). It cost £66,000, and it’s worth a lot more now.
[ Johnny Lappin: ‘How I signed Hozier’s publishing deal’Opens in new window ]
What purchase have you made that you consider the best value for money?
I’ve invested my time and money in various songwriters and their catalogues. Some have paid off handsomely, some not, but I have no regrets about any of the investments I have made in music over the years.
Is there anything you regret spending money on?
Yes, cigarettes. I’ve been addicted to nicotine since I was 15, and it’s worse than heroin. I hate the habit and wish I had never started.
Do you haggle over prices?
Years ago, when I travelled to places like Thailand, I loved to haggle with the locals and enjoyed the banter. I used to always look for a good deal for both myself and the trader involved.
Do you invest in shares and/or cryptocurrency?
Like a lot of Irish people, I bought Telecom Éireann shares. I got badly burnt and swore I would never again invest in things I had no control over.
Do you have a retirement or pension plan?
Retirement for creative people is only a concept. I love what I do and will probably fall off my perch defending copyright on behalf of songwriters and publishers, especially in this new Gen AI age.
What was the last thing you bought and was it good value for money?
To bring myself into the 21st century, I recently bought a new phone. I love the new, up-to-date technology these days and, yes, I believe it’s value for money.
Have you ever successfully saved up for a relatively big purchase?
When I was 16, I wanted a motorbike. The old man refused. So I went to London, got work in a factory – I told them I was 18 – and worked my arse off doing very menial work for the whole summer. I saved hard, bought the bike, and pissed the old man off. Result!
Have you ever lost money?
Yep, I got scammed by a rogue so-called roofing contractor a couple of years ago. I foolishly paid him in cash before discovering the leaks he was supposed to fix were worse than ever.
Are you a gambler and, if so, have you ever had a big win?
I consider myself to be a controlled gambler in that I always weigh up the odds. I got married in Las Vegas and, when I found out you could drink in the casinos for free, providing you were gambling, I purchased $50 worth of coins for the slot machines and had a great day gambling and drinking my fair share of vodka and coke. Big win there! I love to beat the odds.
What is your best habit when it comes to money? And your worst?
The best thing is I always like to have enough money to live comfortably. The worst is when I start to worry that I haven’t got enough. If I live to be 100, I reckon I’m screwed.
How much money do you have on you now?
Who uses cash these days? Ask my phone!
In conversation with Tony Clayton-Lea
