Do you listen to music on Spotify or Deezer? If so, you're part of a rapidly growing number of people who are getting their music digitally.
The latest figures from the Irish Music Rights Organisation show there's been a massive rise in numbers using online streaming services.
IMRO's statistics show illegal downloading is still costing the music industry millions in Ireland each year, but the popularity of streaming services is boosting revenues by encouraging more people to pay for music.
The music industry is worth €470M to the Irish economy each year, and IMRO says it keeps more than 11,500 people in a job.
Music is a huge part of our culture and our economy #IrishMusicMatters http://t.co/a1wxdeDsXq pic.twitter.com/jWIghqa4lM
— IMRO (@IMROireland) February 18, 2015
Vice President of IMRO Victor Finn is calling for sites like Spotify to share more of their profits with the artists who make the music, saying "they're the marketing people in this, we would say that creators should get a fair share of the revenues."
Singer and former Eurovision contestant Brian Kennedy admits he's one of the artists who's seen income drop over the past few years.
"It's been very tough because... if ordinary people have been hit hard by the recession get to the end of the month and decide what can we not afford, they skip going to gigs."
"Gigs were canceled, but somehow we've got through it and we're getting through it", he added.
New report outlines the socio-economic contribution of music to the Irish economy http://t.co/b1rGRJejS7
— IMRO (@IMROireland) February 18, 2015
After publishing its report, IMRO called for a new music industry task-force to be created, which it believes could boost music's contribution to tourism and jobs.
