Melodial Legal Assurance: Fully Licensed Music in Ireland

Melodial’s music model means no public performance or music licensing fees are needed in Ireland. Here is the legal reasoning, in plain language.

All music fully owned or directly licensed

Melodial is a music service for businesses where every track is fully owned or directly licensed. There are no covers or third-party songs in the catalogue, only original music created for Melodial. Because Melodial holds the necessary rights, it can grant you permission to play the tracks in public without involving any external licensing body or collecting society.

When you subscribe, you are granted a blanket public performance licence to play Melodial’s music within your business premises for the duration of your active subscription. This licence covers public performance, background music and in-store ambience.

What this means in Ireland

If a business in Ireland uses Melodial exclusively, it does not need a licence from IMRO (the Irish Music Rights Organisation), which together with PPI sells the IMRO Dual Music Licence. Melodial has effectively taken care of the public performance right by holding the music rights and giving you direct permission to use it. No royalties are owed to IMRO when you play Melodial, because the catalogue sits outside their repertoire. Collecting societies themselves acknowledge this model: APRA AMCOS states that you do not have to go through them to legally play music, and PRS for Music notes that music outside its control may simply require a licence from the relevant copyright owner, which is exactly what a Melodial subscription is.

The cost of non-compliance

IMRO can bring copyright infringement proceedings under the Copyright and Related Rights Act 2000. Courts can award back licence fees, damages and legal costs that go well beyond what the Dual Music Licence would ever have cost, along with orders that stop you playing music altogether.

Real case: In 2013, IMRO obtained a Circuit Court order against the operator of Joys nightclub in Dublin for €14,236 in unpaid licence royalties, alongside an injunction. Elsewhere in Europe, France’s highest court confirmed retailer Saint Maclou owed nearly €120,000 for playing “royalty-free” music in its stores, since equitable remuneration applies regardless of the catalogue the music comes from.

This is why businesses either pay IMRO fees or use a directly licensed service to stay on the right side of the law.

The three rights you need, all covered

Recording rights, the right to stream a specific sound recording: covered by Melodial. Publishing rights, the right to stream the composition and lyrics: covered by Melodial. Public performance rights, the right to play music in a commercial environment: covered by Melodial.

Compliance, coverage and certification

Every account includes an official Certificate of Compliance you can keep on file as tangible assurance that you comply with music copyright law. One important note: Melodial’s legal benefits apply only while you are playing Melodial’s platform. If you step outside it, for example a personal Spotify playlist or the radio, your business is once again subject to public performance licensing rules and IMRO fees for that music.

In summary, Melodial removes the need for public performance fees in Ireland entirely: no hidden costs, no reporting requirements and no risk of infringement claims, as long as Melodial is your exclusive music source.

Frequently asked questions

Is Melodial’s direct licence legally valid in Ireland?

Yes. Copyright owners can license their works directly. Because Melodial owns or directly controls its whole catalogue and none of it is registered with IMRO, Melodial can grant your business permission without any collecting society involvement.

What proof do I get?

A Certificate of Compliance, downloadable from your account, confirming that the music you play is fully licensed for commercial use.

Does this cover other music I play?

No. The licence covers Melodial’s catalogue only. Any other commercially released music, from radio to Spotify, still requires an IMRO licence.