Irish Music Rights Organisation
 | |
| Founded | 1988 |
|---|---|
| Headquarters | Republic of Ireland  |
Key people | Eleanor McEvoy(Chairperson) |
| Website | https://www.imro.ie/ |
The Irish Music Rights Organisation (IMRO) is a national organisation that administers the performing right in copyright music in Ireland on behalf of its members (who are songwriters, composers and music publishers) and on behalf of the songwriters, composers and music publishers of the international overseas societies that are affiliated to it. At present IMRO has approximately 11,000 songwriter, composer and music publisher members.
Role in Irish Culture
In advocating and campaigning for Irish music creators, IMRO plays an essential role in the Irish music industry as well as for the exportation of Irish culture globally.[1]
That is one point of view. another is that, since its being granted a monopoly for collection of royalties in Ireland in rather suspicious circumstances in the late 90's, IMRO has been central to the destruction of the Irish music industry, currently about 10% of the size it was before this monopoly took effect. In particular, a US federal court case taken in 2009 by a member who had resigned out of protest revealed that IMRO's chairman at that time was involved in copyright violation on an industrial scale [2].
From 1999 to 2001 the copyright section of the Irish Gardai had investigated the case, believing that the plethora of fake song titles on IMRO's books were being used for financial fraud on a massive scale [3]. The Irish DPP (equivalent of attorney general) declared copyright violation was not a criminal offence in Ireland, leading logically if disgracefully to the dissolution of the Gardai copyright section. Audited sales records by Nielsen[4] indicate that at least 3 million tracks from over 40 Irish artists had been sold, with the money going to the chair of IMRO and his associated and the independent musicians not receiving a cent.
History
A public performance of copyright music takes place when that music is used anywhere outside of the domestic environment.
IMRO´s function is to collect and distribute royalties arising from the public performance of copyright works. IMRO is a not-for-profit organisation.
Music users such as broadcasters, venues and businesses must pay for their use of copyright music by way of a blanket licence fee. IMRO collects these monies and distributes them to the songwriters, composers and music publishers who created the songs. The monies earned by copyright owners in this way are known as public performance royalties.
IMRO is also prominently involved in the sponsorship and promotion of music in Ireland. Every year it sponsors a large number of song contests, music festivals, seminars, workshops, research projects and showcase performances. Indeed, IMRO is now synonymous with helping to showcase emerging talent in Ireland.[5]
As of 1 January 2016, IMRO handled the collection and distribution of royalties covered by the repertoire of PPI through a joint licensing scheme[6] on a select range of tariffs.[7]
References
- ^ Jackie Hayden (2019-06-24). "IMRO Feature: How the organisation puts music first". Hot Press.
- ^ [1]
- ^ [2]
- ^ [3]
- ^ "About The Irish Music Rights Organisation". IMRO. Retrieved 2015-10-30.
- ^ "Dual Music Licence". IMRO. Retrieved 2017-05-11.
- ^ "Dual Music Licence Tariffs". IMRO. Retrieved 2017-05-11.
External links
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