|
||||||
The music industry in general is a largely profit driven business and it has to be to survive. This refers not only to the artistes but also to the many sectors behind the scenes, which include, producing, recording, manufacturing and publishing. There are many other areas too, which have no direct relation to the music, which include management, finance, retailing, merchandising and many other such related areas of the business. The glamour and fame lead to many misconceptions about this hard working industry, which has developed through work with the Irish Government and various boards and organisations to yield significant economic benefits in terms of employment and increased economic activity. |
||||||
 |
||||||
|
Employment in the Music Industry In economic terms, the Irish music industry is of great significance. According to the consultancy firm Simpson Xavier Howarth's report 'A Strategic Vision for the Irish Music Industry' published in 1994 they estimated employment in the Industry to be approximately 10,000 full-time employee's. Coopers and Lybrand also published a report in the same year estimating 9,000 full time employees and saying that the music industry was by far the most significant employer out of all the cultural industries. EMPLOYMENT IN THE IRISH MUSIC INDUSTRY Sector S.X.H. IFPI C&L No's FTE's FTE's FTE's composers 1000 500 1060 550 publishers 50 50 Live support 500 500 500 Recording studios 150 150 50 150 Live venues 2000 3000 2000 Record Co's 250 250 190 250 retail 1100 460 excluded Video prod. 100 20 excluded performers 11500 5500 1250 5500 Others 75 75 25 75 total 10225 6055 9025 (information collated by the IBEC music industry group) In addition to direct employment the Irish music industry helps promote other areas of the economy such as the tourist industry or the drink industry. In a Bord Failte report published in 1994 it was found that 2.9 million visitors to Ireland went to a pub with live music and half a million went to a disco or a club. Another report "The Economic Effect of Tourism in Ireland 1990-93" estimated that the tourist industry generated £40 million creating 2600 full-time jobs. Music is Ireland's second biggest export and a report on the Irish music industry by SKC estimated that the Irish music product was worth IR£245million annually and net artist's royalties being worth IR£58 million annually. In 1995 the value of the music industry, globally, was worth a 'cool' IR£24.68 billion. The Irish Music board, The Dept. of Arts, Culture and the Gaeltacht and IMRO all work hard to maximize gains from the industry but due to lack of an infrastructure in Ireland there is a loss of a lot of talent which is an enormous waste of a resource which would not be tolerated in any other wealth producing sector of the national economy. Taxation In Ireland artistes, producers and arrangers are exempt from tax to help increase the growth of the industry.(Section 2 Finance Act 1969). Manufacturing tax is only 10%.This is for any company with the activity of manufacturing with no job or geographic requirements. IMRO IMRO is the Irish Music Right's Organisation, who's function it is to collect the copyright on all music performed or broadcast in Ireland, technically IMRO tariffs governing charges for the public performance of copyright music in Ireland. In turn IMRO work in conjunction with and are governed by the Dept. of Enterprise Trade and Employment. IMRO's main function is to redistribute the royalties collected around the country from various venues, radio stations, television(RTE etc.) shops, pubs, restaurants etc. to the artist. The number of songs currently administered byIMRO is in exess of 14.25 million.The current existence of the internet is making it increasingly difficult for music rights organisations to monitor and charge for the use of material which can be downloaded off the internet. A considerable amount of revenue is being lost every day due to the lack of technology to monitor these 'downloads' which could seriously damage artistes earnings on royalities. |
||||||
|
|
||||||
|
|
||||||
|
|
||||||
|
|
||||||
|
||||||
|
