The Ivors Academy is mobilizing to ensure Irish songwriters and composers retain control over their livelihoods as generative AI threatens to erode music publishing revenues. The UK-based creators’ body has formally backed a motion filed by Sinn Féin politician Aengus Ó Snodaigh, which will be debated in the Irish Dáil on Tuesday, July 14, 2026. This legislative push directly addresses the financial risks facing rights holders, with research from CISAC projecting music creator revenues could drop by nearly 25% by 2028 due to AI exploitation, potentially totaling €10 billion in cumulative losses over five years.
Motion Targets Copyright and State Funding
The proposed motion explicitly aims to protect the copyright and incomes of artists while ensuring no state funding for art is allocated to content produced by AI. It further demands that the creative sector be placed at the heart of decision-making regarding AI policy. CEO Roberto Neri described the filing as a critical milestone demonstrating the value of creators, industry partners, and policymakers collaborating to safeguard Irish writers’ rights and livelihoods. The Ivors Academy has welcomed the motion and is urging the government to vote in support of it.
EU Presidency Offers Global Leverage
Beyond domestic legislation, the Ivors Academy is leveraging Ireland’s newly assumed presidency of the Council of the European Union to pressure Brussels on creator rights. CEO Roberto Neri wrote directly to the Irish Taoiseach, calling on the government to use its EU leadership to advance these issues in European negotiations. Catherine Martin, the Ivors Academy’s head of policy for Ireland, stated that Ireland has a unique opportunity to lead the conversation on creators’ rights during its presidency, hoping the motion builds momentum for meaningful, practical action.
The Academy’s open letter to the Taoiseach outlines specific demands, including legislation for proper authorization, fair remuneration, and transparency when songwriters license work for AI training. It calls for protections against deep fakes and unauthorized digital replicas through new personality rights, safeguarding voices, lyrics, and creative styles from mimicry. Additionally, the group requires AI services to be transparent about the works used to train models and to clearly label AI-generated music so consumers know what they are listening to. These demands align with the Academy’s broader global campaign fighting AI exploitation by demanding consent and fair payment for music used in AI training.
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