The Event Industry Association of Ireland held a positive and constructive meeting with the Irish Music Rights Organisation (IMRO) this week to discuss clearer music licensing guidance, more accessible reporting processes, and stronger engagement with Event Management education.
The meeting followed EIAI’s August submission, Event Music Licensing Clarity, Administration and Accessibility. Each aspect of the submission was discussed, providing an opportunity to share organisers’ practical experiences and better understand IMRO’s approach. IMRO acknowledged that several concerns and proposals raised by EIAI aligned with its own thinking, with some improvements already forming part of its development priorities. The discussion identified practical next steps alongside broader areas for development over the coming year.
Helping organisers budget with greater confidence
A central concern raised by EIAI was the importance of understanding likely licensing costs before an event takes place. Organisers need this information when preparing budgets, applying for funding, setting ticket prices and committing to suppliers. EIAI’s submission proposed clearer event-specific guidance, realistic worked examples and an online assessment or calculator to help organisers understand which tariffs may apply and how indicative costs are calculated.
IMRO outlined plans to provide practical examples on its website showing how tariffs apply to different event types in the near future. These would help organisers understand the likely basis of a charge and obtain an approximate indication of costs for a comparable event. Clearer routes to the appropriate IMRO contacts were also discussed, so organisers can seek advice where their circumstances require further clarification. These examples would be a useful step towards greater transparency, while individual events may still require assessment based on their particular circumstances.
Understanding how charges are calculated and applied
IMRO agreed to work with EIAI by providing a current charging matrix explaining how applicable tariffs are calculated. This will allow EIAI to develop a more detailed understanding of the charging framework, including the relevant IMRO and PPI tariffs. That understanding is necessary both to help explain the system to organisers and to assess questions of applicability, fairness and consistency across different event types and sectors.
EIAI’s priority is to establish clearly what is being charged, why it is being charged, and which event characteristics determine the calculation. Access to this information will help identify where clearer explanations or practical tools could support advance budgeting and reduce uncertainty.
Making reporting more straightforward
The submission also highlighted the work involved in gathering ticketing, attendance, financial and performance information from the many parties involved in delivering an event. EIAI proposed standardised event, box-office and setlist returns, alongside opportunities to import existing ticketing information rather than reproduce it manually. A single digital event record could connect initial assessment, licensing, post-event reporting and the final calculation. The meeting explored simpler reporting and more streamlined ways of submitting information. IMRO indicated that these issues, including the potential for stored and repeatable digital event records, and better handling of complex events, form part of its future development considerations.
For organisers, clearer reporting processes would make it easier to collect the right information from the outset. More consistent information would also support licensing administration and the accurate distribution of royalties.
Clarifying responsibilities at venues and public events
Events often involve several parties, including venue operators, promoters, production companies, local authorities and individual exhibitors. Organisers need to understand who is responsible for obtaining a licence and whether an existing arrangement covers the proposed music use. EIAI and IMRO discussed these responsibilities and the possibility of using specific venues as practical test cases. Exploring how licensing operates in real situations could help identify where further guidance is needed. EIAI also raised the position of local-authority events and events in public spaces. We intend to bring these questions into future discussions with LGMA and CCMA when the opportunity for engagement arises.
Building understanding through Event Management education
The discussion extended beyond the submission to consider how future event professionals learn about music licensing. IMRO already engages with music-related third-level programmes. EIAI highlighted the opportunity to strengthen equivalent engagement with Event Management programmes, helping students understand IMRO’s role, the purpose of tariffs, how they apply and the information organisers need to submit.
IMRO indicated that it will pursue further engagement with third-level institutions, with a view to providing teaching resources and potentially delivering presentations directly to students. Educational engagement was identified as a nearer-term priority. Following the meeting, EIAI contacted Event Management Educators Ireland to help facilitate these connections.
Continuing constructive engagement
In the meantime, EIAI encourages organisers to contact IMRO directly during the early stages of event planning to clarify which tariffs apply and establish the potential licensing costs associated with their event. Discussing the event’s programme, music use and venue arrangements in advance will help organisers budget appropriately and understand what information they will need to provide before and after the event. Find out more here: https://imro.ie/music-users/music-licences-by-business/
EIAI recognises the importance of appropriate remuneration for the use of copyright music. Clear guidance and accessible processes can help organisers meet their responsibilities while providing licensing bodies with better information. The meeting provided a constructive basis for continued work, with practical tariff examples, clearer contact routes and educational engagement among the nearer-term priorities. Wider improvements to reporting and digital processes will require further development.
EIAI thanks the IMRO team for its openness, constructive engagement and willingness to work through the submission in detail. We look forward to contributing organisers’ practical experience as this work progresses.
EIAI’s submission, “Event Music Licensing Clarity, Administration and Accessibility”, was submitted on 18 August 2026: EIAI_IMRO_Submission_18082026
