The Irish Recorded Music Association (IRMA) is a non-profit association set up in 1999 to promote certain interests of the music industry in Ireland. It is particularly active in addressing copyright issues, and it compiles the official music charts for Ireland.

Membership

Only Irish companies can become members of the IRMA. All members pay a yearly fee based on company size. Currently, the IRMA has 51 member companies.

Board member companies

The recording companies and other music-related companies that are on the IRMA board are: * Warner Music Ireland * Universal Music Ireland * Sony Music Ireland (formerly Sony BMG Ireland) *IML Irish Music Licensing Ltd *Faction Records *

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Goals and activities

IRMA operates to promote and protect the welfare and interests of the Irish record industry. Specifically, IRMA is involved in lobbying to protect and enhance the interest of member companies and lobby to prevent illegal downloading of music content from local and international artists. IRMA also compiles and manages Ireland's official music charts. These include: Top 100 Albums, Top 100 Singles, Top 10 Classical Albums, Top 10 Dance Singles, Top 20 Multi-Artist Compilation Albums, Top 30 Videos, Top 20 DVDs and Top 10 Music DVDS. In the mid-1990s IRMA presented the IRMA Music Awards. These have been replaced by the annual music awards show Meteor Ireland Music Awards. In the past IRMA has organised "The IRMA Honours," an awards ceremony which honours the life work of Ireland's leading musicians and people who have influenced the Irish music industry. Past recipients include Bob Geldof,

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Copyright issues

On 12 April 2005, the association began to take legal action against "serial filesharers" in Ireland who illegally distribute music on the Internet. On 15 November 2005, the IRMA began "Phase II" of its plan to battle filesharing. On 12 June 2013, IRMA secured an Order of the High Court to block access to

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to all internet users in Ireland.

Filesharing controversy

IRMA and Eircom reached an agreement over file sharing which uses a third-party organisation to monitor Eircom users for downloading of infringing music.Specialists to police music downloads
John Collins,

The Irish Times ''The Irish Times'' is an Irish daily broadsheet newspaper and online digital publication. It launched on 29 March 1859. The editor is Ruadhán Mac Cormaic. It is published every day except Sundays. ''The Irish Times'' is considered a newspaper ...

, 6 February 2009. Retrieved 27 February 2009. The agreed system was reported to use a "three-strikes-and-you're-out" system. The agreement was criticised by

Digital Rights Ireland Digital Rights Ireland is a digital rights advocacy and lobbying group based in Ireland. The group works for civil liberties in a digital age. Telecommunications data retention In 2012, the group brought an action before the Irish High Court, w ...

and

IrelandOffline IrelandOffline (IOFFL) is an Irish consumer pressure group which was set up on 13 May 2001 to lobby for universal, affordable internet access in Ireland. In early May 2001, the internet service provider Esat discontinued provision to 2000 user ...

.Lobby group calls for stop to censorship plans
Marie Boran, Silicon Republic, 26 February 2009. Retrieved 27 February 2009. The association sent solicitors' letters to several organisations, including

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, whose MD, Michele Neylon, made the copy sent to his company publicly available on the company site."IRMA warning letter goes public"
, Ralph Averbuch, ENN.ie, 26 February 2009. Retrieved 27 February 2009. Although Blacknight Solutions is not an ISP they still received the letter, which stated ''in the event of a positive response to this letter it is proposed to make practical arrangements with Blacknight of a like nature to those made with Eircom''."Music industry pushing for internet filtering as well as 'three strikes' – what can you do about it?"
Protests against some actions of IRMA are being organised by Digital Rights Ireland, as well as Blackout Ireland.

The IRMA trust

In 1997 the IRMA set up a trust with

Phonographic Performance Ireland Phonographic Performance Ireland CLG (PPI) is a music licensing company which controls the public performance, broadcasting, reproduction of recording, and other rights of the recordings under its jurisdiction, which comprise the recordings of seve ...

, with the aim to enhance the opportunities for young people who want to pursue a career in music. The trust's main initiative is the Instrument Bank, which provides music instruments to young people, particularly to young people who live in disadvantaged communities throughout Ireland.

Awards

Since July, 2021 IRMA has awarded the number one selling album and single of the week with a specially commissioned award designed by NCAD design students Katie O’Brien and Kate McKenna. The trophy design – the number one and a musical note entwined – was made using brushed aluminium and black recycled acrylic. This award is different to the awards show presented by IRMA in the 1990s. The IRMA Music Awards were discontinued in the late 1990s replaced with the Meteor Ireland Music Awards and later the Choice Music Prize.

References

External links

*
IRMA Irish Charts Website
{{Music recording certification Music organisations based in the Republic of Ireland Music industry associations Trade associations based in the Republic of Ireland