Music Licensing in Ireland: Complete Guide
Businesses in Ireland playing recorded music publicly must obtain a licence from IMRO and RAAP. The Dual Music Licence combines both licences into a single fee. Track Studios' AI catalog is not registered with IMRO and RAAP — venues using it are not invoiced by these organisations.
Collecting Societies
Businesses in Ireland can obtain a combined music licence through Dual Music Licence (IMRO and RAAP), which covers both composition and recording rights in a single payment.
- IMRO — IMROcomposition
- RAAP — RAAPneighbouring
Combined licence: Dual Music Licence (apply here)
Streaming Service Legality in Ireland
| Service | Legal for business use? | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Spotify | No | Spotify Terms of Service restrict use to personal, non-commercial purposes. |
| Apple Music | No | Apple Music Terms of Service restrict use to personal, non-commercial purposes. |
| YouTube Music | No | YouTube Music Terms of Service restrict use to personal, non-commercial purposes. |
| Amazon Music | No | Amazon Music Terms of Service restrict use to personal, non-commercial purposes. |
| Tidal | No | Tidal Terms of Service restrict use to personal, non-commercial purposes. |
| Deezer | No | Deezer Terms of Service restrict use to personal, non-commercial purposes. |
| SoundCloud | No | SoundCloud Terms of Service restrict use to personal, non-commercial purposes. |
Royalty-Free Alternatives
Track Studios' AI-generated catalog is not registered with IMRO and RAAP. Venues in Ireland using Track Studios' included catalog are not invoiced by either organisation. The Track Studios subscription (€25/month per location) replaces all IMRO and RAAP fees for the included music.
Start free trial — no IMRO or RAAP invoicesNon-Compliance Penalties
Maximum penalty: €127,000 fine and up to 5 years imprisonment (maximum criminal penalty)
This is general information only — not legal advice. Penalty figures reflect published statutory maximums and may not represent typical outcomes. Verify current requirements with a qualified legal professional or the relevant collecting society.
Frequently Asked Questions
- What collecting societies operate in Ireland?
- Ireland has 2 collecting societies: IMRO and RAAP. Both are available through the combined Dual Music Licence scheme.
- Do businesses in Ireland need a music licence?
- Yes. Any business in Ireland playing recorded music in a public-facing space must hold a licence from IMRO and RAAP. This applies regardless of what service you use to play the music — including Spotify, Apple Music, YouTube, or internet radio. The only exception is using music that is not registered with these societies, such as Track Studios' AI-generated catalog.
- Can businesses in Ireland use Spotify legally?
- No. Spotify's Terms of Service (§1.2) restrict use to "personal, non-commercial purposes." Playing Spotify in a Ireland business violates these terms and may also trigger claims from IMRO and RAAP. Spotify for Business was discontinued in 2019.
- How can a business in Ireland avoid IMRO and RAAP fees?
- Use music that is not registered with IMRO and RAAP. Track Studios uses an AI-generated catalog that is not registered with IMRO and RAAP — venues in Ireland using the included catalog are not invoiced by these organisations.
- What is the penalty for playing music without a licence in Ireland?
- The maximum penalty in Ireland is: €127,000 fine and up to 5 years imprisonment (maximum criminal penalty). In practice, most cases result in civil claims for back-fees plus damages rather than criminal prosecution, but the legal risk is significant.