Music Industry

Copyright and Royalties in Ireland

Music is intellectual property. Copyright begins the moment a piece is written down or recorded in tangible form.

• Automatic right: You do not need to register a song or pay a fee to secure copyright.
• Duration: A composition's copyright normally lasts 70 years after its creator's death. The work then enters the public domain.
• Covers and samples: Before releasing a cover or sampled recording of protected music, obtain permission or the appropriate licence.
• Royalties: Payments to rights holders for licensed uses of their music.
• IMRO: The Irish Music Rights Organisation collects and pays royalties to songwriters, composers, and publishers.
• RAAP and PPI: RAAP handles royalties for performers, while PPI represents record labels.

Broadcasting and Irish Airtime

Airtime is the amount of broadcasting time radio and television stations give to an artist's tracks, interviews, or performances.

• Income: Radio broadcasts can generate royalties for songwriters represented by IMRO.
• Audience growth: Airplay builds familiarity and can encourage streaming or ticket purchases.
• Regulation: Irish broadcasting is supervised by Coimisiún na Meán (formerly the BAI).
• Prizes: Prize nominations can attract national coverage and encourage more airplay.

To write an exam airtime report on two Irish artists you studied, name both performers, describe their musical styles, list the media stations tracked, and state the broadcast minutes found.

Advertising Music and Audio Effects

A jingle is a brief, catchy tune or slogan written to promote a product in an advert. Choose a product and audience; compose an original jingle, perform it and record it to suit the advertisement.

Producers use processing effects in the studio to alter the recorded audio signal:

• Reverb: Simulates room reflections and echoes. It gives a voice or instrument acoustic space and depth so it does not sound dry.
• Distortion: Alters the audio waveform to create a gritty, rough timbre, most often used on electric guitars.
• Panning: Panning positions sound towards the left, centre or right between stereo speakers.

Digital Access and Global Sharing

Technology has changed how music is published and how audiences discover new tracks.

• Streaming platforms: Sites like Spotify, Apple Music, and SoundCloud allow musicians to release tracks worldwide without physical CDs.
• Social media: Apps like TikTok and YouTube give independent artists direct ways to promote their songs.
• Creative control: Musicians can record at home and publish their catalogue independently.
• Revenue balance: Streaming offers worldwide access, but artists may earn little from individual streams and face competition for listeners.

Key terms

Copyright

The legal right that automatically protects original musical work once it is written down or recorded.

Royalty

Payments to rights holders for licensed uses of their music.

IMRO

Irish Music Rights Organisation; collects and distributes royalties for composers, songwriters, and publishers in Ireland.

Public Domain

Music free from copyright protection, though a particular recording may remain protected.

Jingle

A short, memorable tune or musical slogan composed to advertise a product.

Reverb

A processing effect that mimics room acoustics and echoes to add depth and space to a sound.

Distortion

An effect that alters an audio waveform to produce a gritty, clipped timbre on instruments.

Panning

Panning positions sound towards the left, centre or right between stereo speakers.