We Only Want the Earth wins Silver Tower in the Climate Change and Sustainability category at the 2025 New York Festivals Radio Awards
We Only Want the Earth follows presenter Jonathan Grimes on a journey across Ireland, exploring how composers are responding to the climate and biodiversity crisis through their work. The two-part radio documentary features music and conversations with artists Sebastian Adams, Natalia Beylis, Éna Brennan, Robert Coleman, Gráinne Mulvey, Karen Power, Judith Ring, Nick Roth, Jennifer Walshe and Ian Wilson, and contributions from climate scientist Hannah Daly and musicologist Stephen Graham.
Video: We Only Want the Earth Series Preview
We Only Want the Earth was one of just six Irish-made radio productions to win a Silver Tower at this year’s NYF Radio Awards. This the third award received for the programme, following the overall winner award in the sustainability category at the 2024 Association of International Broadcasters (AIB) Awards, and a bronze award in the sustainability category at the 2024 Irish Music Rights Organisation (IMRO) Radio Awards.
Reflecting on the series producer/presenter Jonathan Grimes said:
At its heart, this project gave composers space to speak about the climate crisis and how it informs or shapes their work. The conversations were honest, moving, and thought-provoking — and I'm so grateful to have had the chance to document and thread them together along with their wonderful music to make the series [...] I'm very proud of the series and so thankful to all the composers who gave their time so generously and shared their insights and music.
We Only Want the Earth was first broadcast in March 2024 and is now available to listen on The Lyric Feature podcast, or at cmc.ie/wowte.
We Only Want The Earth was produced by the Contemporary Music Centre for RTÉ lyric fm's The Lyric Feature, co-funded by Coimisiún na Meán, Sound & Vision Scheme and RTÉ Independent Radio Productions. Presented and produced by Jonathan Grimes and co-produced with Helen Shaw, Athena Media.