Musical aficionados around the world were celebrating this week with the news that the American X factor is coming to an end. But what effect will this have on the industry? Music critic with the Irish Independent John Meagher brought his musical tips for the week

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TALKING POINT

 Are we seeing the end of reality TV/talent shows such as The X Factor, American Idol, The Voice? Fox has cancelled the next series of the US version of The X Factor and with the UK version not nearly as all-encompassing as it once once, it looks like the Simon Cowell-effect is (finally) coming to an end. Among the damage caused by these tired TV formats, is abolition of excitement surrounding a Christmas number one .

ALBUM OF THE WEEK

Damien Dempsey's best of album, It's All Good. The man from the northside of Dublin has been ploughing his own furrow for 15 years and over the course of six albums and this compilation collects his very best songs, including illuminating covers like The Pogues' A Rainy Night in Soho. We spoke about the late Luke Kelly a few weeks ago and Dempsey is a man in the same vein - not for him a mid-Atlantic twang. He sings loud and proud in his Dublin accent.

GIG OF THE WEEK

The aforemenioned Damien Dempsey plays the Button Factory tonight - and he'll be doing a free show in HMV Henry, Street Dublin, on Saturday.

Jack L at Vicar Street tomorrow night - it's being billed as a Valentine's Night Spectacular and the man from Athy, Co Kildare, can croon with the best of them.

TIP OF THE WEEK

Lanterns on the Lake - a wonderful chamber rock band from Newcastle who I've mentioned on the show before - play Dublin's Workman's Club on April 9 and Cork's Pavillion on April 12. Tickets go on sale this morning and are priced from €10. They released a superb second album, Until the Colours Run, some months back and it was one of 2013's hidden gem