Music Creators FAQs

There is no formal system in Ireland for “registering” copyright in a creative work. Copyright automatically exists from the moment an original work is created and fixed in a tangible form — for example, on a tape, CD, digital file, or manuscript.

However, if a dispute arises over ownership, it’s important to be able to prove you owned the work on a particular date. One commonly used method for establishing this proof is as follows:

1. Place your tape, CD, sheet music, or song lyrics in a sealed envelope.
2. Clearly write the title of the work on the outside.
3. Address the envelope to yourself and send it by registered post.
4. When you receive it, do not open the envelope. Ensure the postmark with the date is visible and the envelope remains completely sealed.
5. Store the envelope in a safe place, such as with your solicitor or in a bank deposit box.

This process can help provide evidence of the date of creation in the event of an ownership dispute.

IMRO is one of the most efficient performing rights organisations in the world, providing frequent royalty distributions to members and affiliated societies worldwide — with no additional administration fees on royalties earned from international public performances of your works.

Royalty statements are issued whenever a distribution takes place. The frequency depends on how and where your works are performed, but members can expect:

Monthly statements for royalties from:

• Online performances and streaming services
• Major Live Events
• Live Classical performances and recitals
• Overseas performances of your works

Four major domestic distributions each year for other performance types in Ireland.

Each statement provides a detailed breakdown, including the total amount earned, individual work titles, performance sources, your share in each work, and the amount earned.

Because analysing performance data and allocating royalties is a complex process, there is always a time-lag between IMRO receiving revenues and issuing distributions. However, our monthly and quarterly schedules ensure you receive royalties as quickly as possible.

A royalty is a payment made to the copyright owner of a musical work when it is publicly performed or used.

IMRO collects licence fees from broadcasters, online music providers, venues, pubs, hotels, and many other businesses that use music. Once this revenue is collected and analysed, it is distributed as Public Performance Royalties to the copyright owners of the works that were played or performed.

In other words, royalties are your earnings when your music is used — whether on the radio, streamed online, performed live, or played in public spaces.

To ensure you receive royalties promptly and accurately for music used in films, follow these steps:

Register your works with IMRO

• Register each cue under its individual cue name.
• Also register the full movie title.

This ensures the efficient and timely payment of royalties from public performances of the film.

Ensure cue sheets are submitted

• The film’s producer should send cue sheets to IMRO.
• Check that each cue sheet lists the correct cue names, durations, and other details.

Send documentation to IMRO

• Send a copy of the cue sheet directly to IMRO yourself.
• Include a completed works registration form for any new works.

For more details on registering music for film or works registration in general, please email distributions@imro.ie

If you are in a band, only those members who contribute to the songwriting or composing process — and who meet IMRO’s membership requirements (outlined here) — are eligible to join.

Band members who do not write or compose music do not need to become IMRO members.

No. Copyright law does not apply to names.

However, you have two main options to help protect your band’s name:

Register the name as a business name

• This can be done with the relevant business registration authority in your country.
• It helps prevent others from registering the same name for official use.

Register the name as a trade mark or service mark

• This can be done through your national or regional intellectual property office (e.g., the European Union Intellectual Property Office, the United States Patent and Trademark Office, etc.).
• A registered trade mark can prevent others from trading under the same or a confusingly similar name in the regions where it is registered.
• If you want protection worldwide, you’ll need to register in each territory where you intend to operate, or use systems such as the Madrid Protocol for multi-country trade mark protection.

For comprehensive information, including costs and application processes, contact the relevant intellectual property and business registration offices in the countries or regions where you operate.

It is strongly recommended that you seek independent legal advice before proceeding.

Yes. Your place of residence does not affect your ability to become an IMRO member.

As long as you meet IMRO’s membership requirements — outlined in the Become a Member of IMRO section of this website— you can join, regardless of whether you live in Ireland or elsewhere in the world.

No. IMRO does not generally administer what are known as Grand Rights — these usually cover the performance of dramatico-musical works (such as operas, operettas, musicals, revues, or pantomimes written specifically as such) and ballets (choreographic works with a story, plot, or abstract idea, performed through dance or mime).

However, IMRO does administer these rights in certain cases, including:

• When dramatico-musical works or ballets are performed via films made primarily for cinema release, including TV broadcasts of such films.
• When such works are performed in public by means of radio or TV sets (e.g., in hotels, pubs, or public venues).
• TV broadcasts of short ballets (up to five minutes) written for television, or excerpts from existing ballets.

Excerpts from dramatico-musical works:

• Dramatic excerpts are generally controlled by the copyright owner (unless IMRO is authorised to license certain broadcasts).
• Non-dramatic excerpts are controlled by IMRO if they meet specific limits:
  • Public performances: up to 25 minutes, not a complete act or condensed version.
  • Television: up to 20 minutes.
  • Radio: up to 25 minutes or 25% of the full work, whichever is less.

Other exclusions:

• Public performances (but not broadcasts) of music for son-et-lumière productions or dramatic theatre productions when used in conjunction with the production.
• In some cases, words written specifically for commercial advertisements.

Note:

• Non-dramatic excerpts exceeding these limits must be licensed directly by the copyright owner.
• Ballet music (complete or excerpt) is controlled by IMRO when not accompanied by a visual ballet performance.
• If a specially written dramatico-musical work begins as a film, broadcast, or recording and is later adapted to the stage, IMRO does not control the stage performance.

IMRO treats music for advertising in exactly the same way as any other music you create — whether it’s a full composition, signature tune, background score, or jingle. You will receive payment for the use of this music when it is broadcast on radio or TV.

For advertising jingles specifically:

Make sure the advertising agency you work with submits the correct music details to radio and TV.

These details usually include:

• Product name
• Music title used
• Composer’s name
• Duration of the music in the advert

Always confirm with the agency that you have been credited correctly before the campaign goes live.

This ensures IMRO can accurately track and pay royalties for your work.

Yes. IMRO needs details of both residencies and festival performances to ensure you receive the correct royalties for your live performances.

For residencies (e.g., regular gigs in a bar, hotel, or venue):

• Provide the start and end dates of your residency.
• Specify the day(s) of the week you perform.
• Include a set list of the works you perform.

For festival performances:

• Submit the festival name, date(s), and a set list for your performance.

Providing this information allows IMRO to track your performances accurately and process your royalty payments efficiently.

IMRO does not generally administer Grand Rights (such as for dramatico-musical works and ballets).

To receive royalties from a Grand Right performance, you must negotiate directly with the user of your copyright works — for example, a theatre company, production house, or event organiser.

If you have a publishing deal, your music publisher will normally handle these negotiations and royalty collections on your behalf.

A Grand Right generally refers to the performance of:

• Dramatico-musical works – for example, an opera, operetta, musical play, revue, or pantomime, where the words and music were written specifically for that production.
• Ballets – choreographic works with a story, plot, or abstract idea, created for interpretation through dance and/or mime. This does not include country or folk dancing, tap dancing, or precision dance sequences.

Grand Rights typically apply when these works are performed in their full dramatic form, such as in a staged production.

IMRO collects performance data from a variety of sources to ensure accurate royalty distribution.

Broadcasts

• Broadcasters licensed by IMRO provide programme logs of all music used.
• IMRO also monitors radio and TV output on a random sample basis to verify accuracy.

Online music platforms

• IMRO receives usage data from licensed online music providers (such as streaming services, digital radio, and on-demand platforms).
• This data includes detailed logs of music played, ensuring digital performances are tracked and royalties allocated properly.

Live performances

• For classical concerts, revenue is distributed based on actual concert programmes.
• For other genres, revenue is distributed based on set lists provided to IMRO.
• Tours and residencies use representative set lists where available.
• Members can submit set lists and tour/residency details quarterly for the previous three months.
• Remaining live performance royalties are allocated using independent venue surveys.

Recorded music in public places

Royalties for performances via recorded means (e.g., jukeboxes, background music, radio/TV in public spaces) are distributed using industry data such as record sales charts, streaming data and broadcast transmission details.

By combining direct reports, surveys, monitoring, and industry data, IMRO ensures royalties are distributed as fairly and accurately as possible.

To ensure you receive the correct royalties, IMRO needs you to provide:

• All programme returns for performances involving your works.
• Dates and venues of concerts and recitals where your music is performed, both in Ireland and internationally.

IMRO licenses and collects royalties for classical and contemporary performances, calculating payments for each separate event. The more detailed and accurate the information you provide—such as full programmes and performance details—the better IMRO can ensure you are properly credited and paid.

While this may feel like self-management, keeping your live performances well documented and submitting all required registration forms correctly is in your best interest.

You can submit all necessary information easily through the Members Only section of this website by clicking the Members Login link at the top of the page.

In addition to the gig information you provide about your own performances, IMRO also surveys venues across Ireland and monitors national press and major music publications to track live performances by established artists.

What you can do:

• Ask the performing artist to send their complete set list to IMRO.
• Alternatively, ask them to give the set list to you so you can pass it on to IMRO.
  • The set list should include all songs performed, not just your works.
• If obtaining the set list is difficult, provide IMRO with the contact details of the artist’s management or agent so we can follow up directly.

This information helps IMRO accurately track performances of your works and ensure you receive the royalties you are entitled to.

Registering a song with IMRO does not provide full copyright protection, but it does offer supporting evidence in the event of a copyright dispute. Copyright protection automatically exists as soon as an original piece of music is fixed in material form (e.g., a recording or manuscript).

IMRO registration helps establish ownership and usage history, which can strengthen your case if infringement occurs.

For more on how copyright works, see the FAQ: “How do I copyright a piece of music?”

Copyright duration varies from country to country, but in many places — including the European Union, the UK, the USA, Canada, Australia, and others — the general rule for literary, dramatic, musical, and artistic works is:

70 years after the death of the author (often called life plus 70), regardless of when the work was first made available to the public.

Examples of variations:

USA: Generally life of the author + 70 years for works created after 1977, but different rules apply to works made for hire, anonymous works, or older works.

Canada, New Zealand, Japan: Life of the author + 70 years (recently updated in some countries; previously life + 50).

Some countries (such as many in Africa, Asia, and the Caribbean) may still use life + 50 years unless updated by national law.

Always check the laws of the country where you want to enforce your rights, as copyright terms and rules for special cases (e.g., joint authorship, sound recordings, films) can differ.

Yes. Each year, IMRO sponsors a wide range of music-related initiatives, including:

• Song contests
• Music festivals
• Seminars and workshops
• Research projects
• Showcase performances

Through the IMRO Sponsorship Programme, we aim to foster and develop creativity across all music styles and genres, with a strong focus on supporting emerging talent.

If you have a project you would like considered for funding, please complete our online application form here:

🔗 Apply for IMRO Sponsorship

If a work appears on your royalty statement and you do not hold a songwriting or publishing interest in it, contact IMRO’s Distribution Department immediately to raise a query.

Quick action ensures any errors can be investigated and corrected promptly.

Email: distributions@imro.ie

Royalties are generated when your music is publicly performed, broadcast, streamed online, or used in licensed venues such as pubs, clubs, shops, hotels, or festivals. IMRO collects licence fees from these music users and distributes the revenue to members based on detailed performance data.

• The amount you receive depends on several factors, including:
• Where and how your music was used (e.g., live, broadcast, online)
• The duration and frequency of the performance
• Your ownership share in the work
• The availability and accuracy of performance reports (e.g., set lists, cue sheets, usage logs)

For a complete and comprehensive guide to how royalties are calculated, please refer to the Royalties Section of this website.

If you’re performing live outside your country of residence, it’s important to notify IMRO about these performances to help ensure you receive the royalties you’re entitled to from international performances.

Please provide:

• Dates of your concerts or gigs
• Venue names and locations
• A set list of the music you plan to perform

IMRO will then inform the relevant performing rights organisation (PRO) in that territory so they can identify your performances and forward any collected royalties to IMRO for distribution to you.

If you’ve already performed internationally and haven’t received royalties, you should still send this information to IMRO as soon as possible.

You can submit performance details through the Members Only section of the website by clicking the Members Login link at the top of the page.

Mechanical Copyright Protection Society Ireland Limited (MCPSI) is an organisation that represents thousands of composers and publishers of music. It licenses the mechanical rights in musical works — that is, the right to reproduce music in physical formats (CDs, DVDs, vinyl), online, or as part of audiovisual content.

Through an agency agreement with MCPS UK and reciprocal arrangements with other societies worldwide, MCPSI also represents the interests of global music copyright owners.

MCPSI provides licensing services for:

• Record companies and producers
• Independent filmmakers and TV companies
• Online music services and digital distributors
• Importers of recordings from outside the EU
• Anyone wishing to use music in recorded formats

It collects and distributes royalties on behalf of music creators whenever their work is used in these ways.

📍 Contact MCPSI

Address:

Mechanical Copyright Protection Society (Ireland) Ltd (MCPSI)
Pembroke Row
Lower Baggot Street
Dublin 2,
Ireland

📞 Tel: +353 1 676 6940

📧 Email:

• For CD/DVD clearance & membership: mechanicals@imro.ie
• For general, online & sync licensing: mcps.licensing@imro.ie

If you discover that your music has been copied, recorded, or used in a sound recording without your permission, you should take action immediately.

For issues involving unauthorised recordings (also known as mechanical rights infringements), you should contact:

MCPSI (Mechanical Copyright Protection Society Ireland Ltd)

MCPSI represents thousands of composers and publishers of music, and through reciprocal agreements with global societies, also protects the rights of international music copyright holders. It licenses companies and individuals who record music and collects and distributes royalties from those recordings.

If someone has recorded your work without permission:

• Contact MCPSI with full details of the infringement.
• Include evidence of where and how the work was used.
• MCPSI can advise you on the next steps, including how to pursue missing royalties or stop unauthorised use.

📍 Contact MCPSI

Address:

Mechanical Copyright Protection Society (Ireland) Ltd (MCPSI)
Pembroke Row
Lower Baggot Street
Dublin 2, Ireland

📞 Phone: +353 1 676 6940
📠 Fax: +353 1 661 1316
📧 Email: mcps.licensing@imro.ie

Mechanical royalties are payments made to songwriters, composers, and music publishers when a musical work is reproduced or distributed in physical or digital form. This includes:

• CDs, vinyl records, and cassette tapes
• Digital downloads (e.g., iTunes purchases)
• Streaming services (such as Spotify, Apple Music – for both downloads and interactive streams)
• Ringtones and mobile music uses
• Synchronised audio in visual media (in some cases, e.g. DVDs)
• Imported recordings (from outside the EU)

These royalties are called “mechanical” because they stem from the mechanical reproduction of music — originally referring to piano rolls and now applying to modern formats.

Who collects mechanical royalties?

In Ireland, mechanical royalties are collected and distributed by:

MCPSI

(Mechanical Copyright Protection Society Ireland Ltd)

They license the right to reproduce musical works and ensure that the rightful copyright owners are paid when their music is recorded or distributed.

Through reciprocal agreements with other global societies, MCPSI also helps ensure mechanical royalties from international uses of your music are collected and returned to you.

📧 Contact MCPSI

• CDs/DVDs and Membership Enquiries: mechanicals@imro.ie
• General and Online Licensing, Synchronisation: mcps.licensing@imro.ie
• Phone: +353 1 676 6940
• Address: Pembroke Row, Lower Baggot Street, Dublin 2, Ireland

Yes. If you are aware of any broadcasts of your music—especially outside of your home territory—it’s important to notify IMRO. While IMRO receives broadcast data directly from local broadcasters, including full reports from all major stations, informing us of known broadcasts helps ensure your royalties are properly tracked and collected.

For international broadcasts, IMRO can alert the relevant collection society abroad to help facilitate payment to you.

You can submit broadcast details through the Members Only section of the website or contact our Distribution Department at:

📧 distribution@imro.ie

Be sure to include:

• Date(s) of the broadcast
• Station name
• Country of broadcast
• Title(s) of the work performed

This helps improve the accuracy and speed of your royalty payments.

No. Membership of MCPS (Mechanical Copyright Protection Society) is separate from IMRO and is not automatic.

If you wish to earn mechanical royalties—which are generated from the reproduction of your works (e.g., on CDs, downloads, streaming platforms, etc.)—you will need to apply for membership with MCPS separately.

For more information or to apply, you can contact:

📧 mechanicals@imro.ie – for CD/DVD clearance and membership

📧 mcps.licensing@imro.ie – for general licensing and online uses

Yes. If you arrange traditional works, it is essential that you register them with IMRO.

You must register every song, tune, or melody that you are:

• Writing
• Co-writing
• Or arranging, even if it’s based on a traditional (public domain) work

This ensures IMRO can properly identify your contribution and pay you the royalties you’re entitled to.

Arrangements of traditional works are treated the same as original compositions in terms of royalty distribution—so it’s in your best interest to register them, especially if:

• You’re performing them live
• They’re being broadcast on radio or television

If they’re not registered, IMRO will be unable to allocate any royalties to you for their use.

Don’t miss out—register your traditional arrangements as soon as possible.

To be eligible to apply for MCPS writer membership, you must meet both of the following criteria:

1. You own or control the copyright in at least one piece of music (i.e. you are unpublished),
   and
2. At least one of your unpublished works has been:

• • Released for retail purposes by a record company (other than one you own), or
  • Used in a radio, TV, audio-visual, multimedia production, or download.

If you meet these requirements, you should consider applying for membership.

How to apply:

• Complete the MCPS Membership Form
• Review the MCPS Membership Agreement
• Return the completed form to:

Mechanical Copyright Protection Society (Ireland) Ltd (MCPSI)
Pembroke Row
Lower Baggot Street
Dublin 2
Ireland

For any queries about MCPS membership, email: mechanicals@imro.ie

There’s no single “right” way to get your songs to performers, but here are some helpful steps to consider:

Identify the right artist or performer:

Focus on artists who are likely to record or perform the style of music you’ve written. It’s best to avoid contacting performers who don’t align with your music’s genre or style.

Contact the right person:

Once you’ve identified suitable artists, send a demo of your material to their manager, publisher, or record company. Be aware that many companies do not accept unsolicited material, so research carefully to find the appropriate contact and preferred submission format.

If you don’t have a specific artist in mind:

Consider targeting music publishers who specialise in your genre. Sending demos to publishers who focus on your style increases your chances of success. For example, avoid sending heavy rock demos to publishers who focus on traditional music.

Doing your research and targeting your efforts will improve your chances of getting your songs into the hands of performers.

Including accurate writer and publisher credits on your recordings is essential because these credits:

• Ensure you receive proper royalty payments: Royalties from broadcasts, performances, and sales are distributed based on these credits.
• Help identify your work: Accurate credits allow collection societies like IMRO and MCPSI to track and manage the use of your music.
• Protect your rights: Properly credited works make it easier to resolve disputes or unauthorised uses.
• Increase professional recognition: Credits help build your reputation and connect your work to your name in the industry.

Without correct credits, you risk losing out on royalties and recognition for your creative work.

Traditional or folk music often exists in the public domain—meaning its copyright term has expired and it is free for anyone to use. However, new arrangements or adaptations of traditional works can attract copyright protection if they meet certain legal criteria.

Key Points:

Traditional works are usually no longer under copyright because the original composer is unknown or has been deceased for more than 70 years. These works can be freely used, shared, or adapted by anyone.

Arrangements of traditional music—such as harmonisations, orchestrations, or structural reinterpretations—may be protected by copyright if they involve original creative input and are fixed in a tangible form (e.g., a written score, recording, or digital file).

Ornamentation or variation in live performance alone does not constitute a new copyright. It must be captured in a fixed form to qualify.

Multiple arrangements of the same traditional work may exist, each protected separately under copyright law.

International Context:

The Berne Convention, an international copyright treaty, explicitly allows for new copyright protection in arrangements of public domain works. This supports creativity worldwide while still maintaining public access to the original source material.

Why it matters:

If you create a new arrangement of a traditional song—especially if you plan to publish, record, or license it—it’s important to register it with IMRO to ensure you’re recognised as the rights holder for your version.

Capital Acquisitions Tax (CAT) is a tax charged on the value of gifts and inheritances received. When transferring assets—such as copyrights—either during your lifetime or upon death, several tax considerations may apply:

If the transfer is made during your lifetime (a gift):

• Capital Gains Tax (CGT) may apply to the person giving the asset.
• CAT may apply to the person receiving the asset.
• Stamp Duty may also be payable by the recipient depending on the type of asset.

If the transfer happens on death (an inheritance):

• Only CAT applies.
• CGT does not apply on death.
• Stamp Duty is not charged on inherited property.

This also applies to copyrights and intellectual property. The Irish tax system treats the transfer of such rights similarly to other assets under the above tax heads.

For a more detailed overview of the Irish tax implications related to gifts and inheritances of copyrights, you can refer to the following memo:

🔗 Capital Acquisitions Tax Memo (PDF) 

🛑 Please note: This material is for informational purposes only and does not constitute legal, tax, or accounting advice. Always consult your own professional advisors before making decisions or transactions involving tax or inheritance matters.