A new fund to support Irish music creators has been set up by the Irish Music Rights Organisation (IMRO), the Irish Recorded Music Association (IRMA) and First Music Contact (FMC), who will administer the fund.
In addition to the financial contributions by IMRO and IRMA, Spotify is making a donation and is also matching donations made to the Irish Music Industry Covid-19 Emergency Relief Fund via its Spotify COVID-19 Music Relief page, dollar-for-dollar, up to a total Spotify contribution of $10 million for the collective verified organizations worldwide.
Successful applicants will receive a once-off emergency relief payment to the value of €750. Applications will be reviewed by a committee of music industry professionals from a wide spectrum of industry sectors and organisations.
The fund has been created to assist Irish music creators who are currently experiencing the most financial need. It is open to songwriters, composers, performers, session musicians and arrangers who are currently trying to navigate through this challenging time.
Eleanor McEvoy, chair of IMRO, said: “Many talented and beloved members of the Irish creative community are struggling financially due to the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic. We hope that this fund can help to ease some of their worries and fears. We are also appealing to anyone who is passionate about Irish music to donate to the fund to ensure we can help as many people as possible. It is essential that the Irish music industry survives this crisis, not just for the benefit of music creators, but for the benefit of our country. Music unites us and is fundamental to who we are. Losing it would be detrimental to our society and culture.”
Tom Connaughton, UK and Ireland Managing Director of Spotify said: “Since the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic, Spotify has engaged partners across the industry to discuss how we can support artists and the creative community who have been deeply impacted by the effects of the virus. Though streaming continues to play a key role in connecting creators with their fans, numerous other sources of revenue have been interrupted or stopped altogether by this crisis. That is why we’re supporting the Irish Music Industry Covid-19 Emergency Relief Fund as part of our wider Spotify COVID-19 Music Relief project, which recommends verified organizations that offer financial relief to those in the music community most in need around the world.”
Application requirements:
a) Applicants must be a Songwriter, Composer, Performer, Session Musician or Arranger.
b) Applicants must demonstrate either:
i) that they have earned in excess of €500 but less than €50,000 in royalties from IMRO in the last two years;
OR,
ii) that they have had performances to a minimum value of €500 cancelled for the three-month period following the 13th of March, 2020.
c) Applicants must be resident in Ireland and/or an Irish national.
d) Applicants must be able to demonstrate financial hardship as a direct result of the Covid-19 pandemic.
e) Applicants must not be in receipt of payment from any similar music industry relief fund in another jurisdiction.
Application Process
Applications will be reviewed by a 12 person committee of music industry professionals appointed by FMC from a wide spectrum of industry sectors and organisations (“the Review Committee”).
- Applicants will need to complete an online application form.
- Each application will be reviewed by 3 members of the Review Committee.
- On review of the application, the Review Committee then will make a recommendation to FMC as to whether the application meets the Qualifying Criteria.
- If the Review Committee recommends to FMC that the Qualifying Criteria are met, FMC will issue the grant payment to the applicant.
- If the Applicant is unsuccessful or does not meet the Qualifying Criteria, then this will be communicated to them as soon as feasible by FMC.
Grant Payments
Successful Applicant will be paid by way of bank transfer only (no cheques will be issued). Successful Applicants will be contacted to provide their bank details to FMC.