The latest report from Imro – the Irish Music Rights Organisation – shines a spotlight on just how much Ireland’s music scene contributes to the economy.
Ticking along at a cool €1 billion per year, it supports over 13,400 jobs, driven largely by fan spending and live events.
Digging deeper, the average adult in Ireland shelled out €757 on music events last year – that includes around €298 on big gigs and €194 at festivals. And it’s not only Dublin benefiting – nationwide ticket sales keep venues, crews, bars, hotels, and transport buzzing with business.
But not all that glitters is gold. Many musicians rely on day jobs to survive, with only about 43% employed full-time in music. The uneven split of streaming income and rising living costs mean artists are feeling the pinch. Two-thirds of us reckon ticket prices are getting too steep, and nearly half say accommodation costs make gig-going a struggle.
So what’s the fix? Imro is urging the Government to follow the lead of the film industry – introducing tax credits, bolstering marketing budgets, and making the “Basic Income for the Arts” pilot permanent. They’re also raising the alarm over AI’s impact, warning it could hurt creators if left unchecked.
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