Irish Music Rights Organisation
 | |
| Founded | 1988 |
|---|---|
| Headquarters | |
Key people | Eleanor McEvoy (chairperson since 2017)[1] |
| Website | https://www.imro.ie/ |
The Irish Music Rights Organisation (IMRO) is a national performance rights organisation based in Ireland. It administers the performing right in copyright music on behalf of its members (who are Irish 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. As of December 2022, IMRO had over 17,000 members.[2]
History
[edit]IMRO was founded in 1988,[3] initially as a subsidiary of the Performing Right Society (PRS) in the UK.[4][5] It became independent of PRS in 1996.[6]
During 1996, IMRO was described as described as being engaged in a "dogged pursuit of performance royalties in relation to primary schools".[citation needed] IMRO stated that the use of copyrighted music in public schools for events like plays, concerts, or dances meant that each school should pay a licensing fee. Following the controversy, a compromise was reached with reduced fees to be paid.[7]
IMRO is also involved in the promotion of music in Ireland, and it sponsors a number of song contests, music festivals, performances, seminars, workshops, research projects and awards.[8] The IMRO Radio Awards, for example, have taken place every year since 2000.[9]
As of January 2016, IMRO handled the collection and distribution of royalties covered by the repertoire of PPI (Phonographic Performance Ireland) through a joint licensing scheme.[10][11][failed verification]
A 2019 article in Hot Press stated that in "advocating and campaigning for Irish music creators, IMRO plays an essential role not just in the domestic music industry, but in Irish culture as a whole".[12]
Operation
[edit]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.[13] 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.[citation needed] IMRO itself is a not-for-profit organisation.[14]
References
[edit]- ^ "Eleanor McEvoy Appointed New Chairperson of IMRO". IMRO (Press release). 1 June 2017. Retrieved 19 November 2024.
- ^ Smyth, Ronan (10 August 2023). "IMRO pays out over €35m in royalties to artists in 2022". Irish Examiner. Retrieved 18 November 2024.
As of the end of December 2022, the IMRO had 17,815 members
- ^ Stokes, Niall (2 April 2001). "Independence Day Is Near". Hot Press. Retrieved 19 November 2024.
initial pressure to respect Ireland's independent status resulted in the establishment in 1988 of the Irish Music Rights Organisation, or IMRO
- ^ "History- PRS for Music". prsformusic.com. Retrieved 19 November 2024.
The Irish Musical Rights Organisation (IMRO) forms as a subsidiary of PRS
- ^ Fay, Liam (5 April 2001). "Undercover Blues". Hot Press. Retrieved 19 November 2024.
IMRO was established in 1988 as the Irish licensing and collecting arm of the British-based PRS (Performing Rights Society)
- ^ "About - MPAI". Music Publishers Association of Ireland. Retrieved 19 November 2024.
IMRO was incorporated in 1988 as a subsidiary company of PRS and became fully independent in 1996
- ^ McCann, Anthony (2012-12-01). "Opportunities of Resistance: Irish Traditional Music and the Irish Music Rights Organisation 1995–2000". Popular Music and Society. 35 (5): 651–681. doi:10.1080/03007766.2012.709665. ISSN 0300-7766. S2CID 144932224.
- ^ "About The Irish Music Rights Organisation". IMRO. Retrieved 2015-10-30.
- ^ Martin, Roy (2021-05-25). "Entries now open for the 21st IMRO Radio Awards". RadioToday. Retrieved 2021-07-01.
- ^ "Dual Music Licence". IMRO. Retrieved 2017-05-11.
- ^ "Dual Music Licence Tariffs". IMRO. Retrieved 2017-05-11.
- ^ Hayden, Jackie (2019-06-24). "IMRO Feature: How the organisation puts music first". Hot Press.
- ^ "IMRO CEO appointed to board of GESAC – the representative body for songwriters and composers in Europe" (Press release). 15 May 2018. Retrieved 19 November 2024 – via irishmusicmagazine.com.
- ^ Deegan, Gordon (10 November 2015). "Irish music rights body IMRO shares out €23.2m". Irish Examiner. Retrieved 19 November 2024.
IMRO [is] a not-for-profit organisation
