Irish Music Rights Organisation

{{Short description|Irish copyright collection and performing rights society}} {{Infobox company | name = Irish Music Rights Organisation | logo = IMRO logo as of May 2017.png | founded = 1988 | key_people = [[Eleanor McEvoy]] ([[chairperson]] since 2017)<ref>{{cite press release | work = IMRO | url = https://imro.ie/news/eleanor-mcevoy-appointed-new-chairperson-imro/ | title = Eleanor McEvoy Appointed New Chairperson of IMRO | date = 1 June 2017 | accessdate = 19 November 2024 }}</ref> | hq_location_country = [[Republic of Ireland|Ireland]] | website = https://www.imro.ie/ }} The '''Irish Music Rights Organisation''' ('''IMRO''') is a national [[performance rights organisation]] based in Ireland. It administers the [[Performing rights|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.<ref>{{cite web|url = https://www.irishexaminer.com/business/companies/arid-41202313.html | work = Irish Examiner | title = IMRO pays out over €35m in royalties to artists in 2022 | first = Ronan | last = Smyth | date = 10 August 2023 |accessdate = 18 November 2024 | quote = As of the end of December 2022, the IMRO had 17,815 members }}</ref>

==History== IMRO was founded in 1988,<ref>{{cite web|url = https://www.hotpress.com/culture/independence-day-is-near-460683 | work = [[Hot Press]] | title = Independence Day Is Near | date = 2 April 2001 | accessdate = 19 November 2024 | first = Niall | last = Stokes | quote = initial pressure to respect Ireland’s independent status resulted in the establishment in 1988 of the Irish Music Rights Organisation, or IMRO }}</ref> initially as a subsidiary of the [[PRS for Music|Performing Right Society]] (PRS) in the UK.<ref>{{cite web|url = https://www.prsformusic.com/about-us/history | website = prsformusic.com | title = History- PRS for Music | accessdate = 19 November 2024 | quote = The Irish Musical Rights Organisation (IMRO) forms as a subsidiary of PRS }}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url = https://www.hotpress.com/music/undercover-blues-470058 | work = [[Hot Press]] | title = Undercover Blues | first = Liam | last = Fay | date = 5 April 2001 | accessdate = 19 November 2024 | quote = IMRO was established in 1988 as the Irish licensing and collecting arm of the British-based PRS (Performing Rights Society) }}</ref> It became independent of PRS in 1996.<ref>{{cite web|url = https://www.mpaireland.ie/ | work = Music Publishers Association of Ireland | title = About - MPAI | accessdate = 19 November 2024 | quote = IMRO was incorporated in 1988 as a subsidiary company of PRS and became fully independent in 1996 }}</ref>

During 1996, IMRO was described as described as being engaged in a "dogged pursuit of performance royalties in relation to primary schools".{{fact|date=November 2024}} 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.<ref>{{Cite journal|last=McCann|first=Anthony|date=2012-12-01|title=Opportunities of Resistance: Irish Traditional Music and the Irish Music Rights Organisation 1995–2000|url=https://doi.org/10.1080/03007766.2012.709665|journal=Popular Music and Society|volume=35|issue=5|pages=651–681|doi=10.1080/03007766.2012.709665|s2cid=144932224|issn=0300-7766|url-access=subscription}}</ref>

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.<ref>{{Cite web|title = About The Irish Music Rights Organisation|url = http://www.imro.ie/about-imro/|website = IMRO|access-date = 2015-10-30|language = en}}</ref> The IMRO Radio Awards, for example, have taken place every year since 2000.<ref>{{Cite web|date=2021-05-25|title=Entries now open for the 21st IMRO Radio Awards|url=https://radiotoday.ie/2021/05/entries-now-open-for-the-21st-imro-radio-awards/|access-date=2021-07-01|website=RadioToday | first = Roy | last = Martin |language=en-IE}}</ref>

As of January 2016, IMRO handled the collection and distribution of royalties covered by the repertoire of [[Phonographic Performance Ireland|PPI]] (Phonographic Performance Ireland) through a joint licensing scheme.<ref>{{Cite web|title = Dual Music Licence|url = https://www.imro.ie/duallicence/index.php|website = IMRO|access-date = 2017-05-11|language = en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|title = Dual Music Licence Tariffs|url = https://www.imro.ie/duallicence/tariffs.php|website = IMRO|access-date = 2017-05-11|language = en}}</ref>{{fv|reason=If these webpages previously supported this text (including the January 2016 date), they do not appear to now... |date=November 2024}}

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".<ref>{{cite web|work=[[Hot Press]]|title=IMRO Feature: How the organisation puts music first|first=Jackie |last = Hayden|date=2019-06-24|url=https://www.hotpress.com/music/imro-feature-organisation-puts-music-first-22778085}}</ref>

In January 2026, IMRO partnered with [[The Ivors Academy]] to establish an Irish branch of the Academy with former Arts Minister [[Catherine Martin (politician)|Catherine Martin]] as its Head of Policy.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.rte.ie/news/ireland/2026/0204/1556675-ivors-academy-ireland/|title=Martin to lead policy at Ivors Academy in Ireland|first=Evelyn|last=O'Rourke|date=February 4, 2026|via=www.rte.ie}}</ref>

==Operation== 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.<ref>{{cite press release | url = https://www.irishmusicmagazine.com/2018/05/15/imro-ceo-appointed-to-board-of-gesac-%E2%80%93-the-representative-body-for-songwriters-and-composers-in-europe/ | via = irishmusicmagazine.com | title = IMRO CEO appointed to board of GESAC – the representative body for songwriters and composers in Europe | accessdate = 19 November 2024 | date = 15 May 2018 }}</ref> 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|date=May 2021}} IMRO itself is a not-for-profit organisation.<ref>{{cite web|url =https://www.irishexaminer.com/business/arid-20364086.html | work = Irish Examiner | first = Gordon | last = Deegan | title = Irish music rights body IMRO shares out €23.2m | date = 10 November 2015 | accessdate = 19 November 2024 | quote = IMRO [is] a not-for-profit organisation }}</ref>

==References== {{Reflist}}

==External links== * {{official|http://www.imro.ie/}}

[[Category:Music organisations based in the Republic of Ireland]] [[Category:Music licensing organizations]] [[Category:1980s in Irish music]] [[Category:1990s in Irish music]] [[Category:2000s in Irish music]] [[Category:2010s in Irish music]] [[Category:2020s in Irish music]]