The Irish Music Right Organisation is hosting two music industry seminars this July on music licensing and songwriting.

‘Music Licensing in Today’s World: Making Money as a Songwriter and Music Publisher’ on Monday 9 July at 7pm will discuss what licensing deal structures look like, how they are being negotiated and how much money can be made. Todd Brabec, former ASCAP Executive Vice President, entertainment law attorney and co-author of Music, Money and Success: the Insider’s Guide to Making Money in the Music Business, will give the seminar.

Areas covered will include music on television, film, radio and streaming services; music in apps, video games and advertising commercials; physical and download record sales; lyric sites and the use of lyrics on consumer merchandise, digital and analog jukeboxes.

The event is free but booking is essential. Email events [at] imro.ie.

Songwriter clinic with Ralph Murphy
On Tuesday 10 and Thursday 12 July at 10am–1pm, IMRO is hosting a songwriter drop–in advice clinic with Ralph Murphy.

Ralph Murphy had his first UK number one in 1965 with ‘Call My Name,’ recorded by James Royal. Other hits followed with Vanity Fair and The Brotherhood of Man. He has also had songs recorded by Crystal Gayle, Shania Twain, Annihilator, Randy Travis and more.

In 2006 Murphy had success in the UK with ‘21st Century Christmas’ (co-written by Paul Brady), a No. 2 for Cliff Richard and again in 2011 in the Canadian Indie Charts with a No. 1 song ‘Working at Christmas’, performed by Paul Brady and Terri Clark and written by Keith Donald, Ralph Murphy and Paul Brady. Murphy is also an instructor for the Nashville Songwriters Association International Song Camps.

With Roger Cook, he formed the Picalic Group and Pic-A-Lic Music Publishing and was publisher for Song of The Year, ‘Talking In Your Sleep’ by Crystal Gayle. Pic-A-Lic became a successful independent publisher in Nashville and was sold to EMI.

Songwriters wishing to reserve a 30 minute consultation with Ralph Murphy on either of the dates should send an email to events [at] imro.ie.

All events take place at IMRO in Pembroke Row, Dublin 2.

Call for action from IMRO Chair Eleanor McEvoy
Singer, songwriter and IMRO Chairperson Eleanor McEvoy has issued a call to musicians and composers to contact their MEPs regarding upcoming European Parliament legislation on copyright. She writes:

In the next few days the European Parliament will vote on whether to approve the most significant reform of copyright law in nearly two decades. At the heart of these reforms are proposals to ensure that online platforms which host content uploaded by their users (video and music sharing services) are liable for copyright and must either obtain a licence or block unlicensed content.

She describes the issue as ‘the most significant battle that our copyright community has had to face in our time’ and is asking artists to email Members of the European Parliament to ask for support. See further details at www.creatorsfight.com.