Ireland’s Music Scene Is Thriving, Unless You’re a Musician

Despite pouring over a billion euros into music through gigs and streaming, Irish fans are unknowingly supporting an industry where most artists still can’t make a living.

According to the newly issued 2025 IMRO Ireland: Music Report, the sector is now worth more than €1 billion per year and employs over 13,400 people. The research, compiled by CORE Research and launched by Alan Kelly TD, emphasises music’s significant cultural and economic significance in Irish life.

The average Irish adult spent €757 on music events in 2024, with live acts, particularly arena gigs and festivals, accounting for the lion’s share. Consumer spending on streaming services has also increased to €375 million, with more than half of Irish adults now using platforms such as Spotify, YouTube Music, and Amazon Music.

Despite this high level of audience interaction, artists’ financial realities are very different. The average pay for full-time music professionals in Ireland is roughly 40% lower than the national average, and just 43% of those employed in the music industry work full-time. Most artists rely on extra income from teaching, administration, or other non-music industries to make ends meet. The report emphasises that streaming and digital platforms, while increasing reach, have done little to ensure equitable recompense for the people actually making the music.

Cost remains a major issue for many music fans. Two-thirds of adults named ticket prices as the main reason they’re going to fewer concerts, with almost half citing accommodation expenses as another barrier. Nonetheless, music is deeply embedded in daily life, with the typical adult listening for 84 minutes every day. Younger listeners (18–34) averaged 92 minutes per day. Radio remains a key source of music discovery for about half the population, and formats like CDs and vinyl still attract a strong base of physical media fans.

To close the gap between industry value and artist earnings, the report outlines several proposals: make the Basic Income for the Arts permanent, introduce music-focused tax breaks like those in the film industry, and protect creators through the EU AI Act. There’s also a call for greater investment in grassroots venues and global marketing, urging Ireland to adopt a state-supported model akin to South Korea’s K-pop machine.