By Sonosfera Team
IMRO charges the Dual Music Licence once a year, not monthly. A restaurant or cafe playing background music pays €100.10 per 20 seats a year at the standard rate (€150.21 at the higher rate), and a shop pays at least €185.09 a year, both plus VAT. Sonosfera costs €13.99 a month per zone (€139.90 a year) for a catalogue it says needs no IMRO or PPI licence.
Information notice: This is general information, not legal advice. IMRO tariff PDFs and the Sonosfera Ireland price were checked on 26 October 2026. If you spot an error, use the contact page.
The salon version of the same country question is in the salon music licence by country, including Ireland. Venue services are lined up on Compare Ireland.
What the IMRO Dual Music Licence is
One licence covering both IMRO (songwriters) and PPI (recordings). IMRO's tariff defines the "Dual Licence Contract" as the contract "between the Licensee, IMRO and PPI." Source: IMRO HRNPD tariff PDF, 2026.
Cafes and restaurants (tariff HRNPD, 2026)
Background music through a radio, CD player or speakers, per year, for each unit of 20 seats or part thereof:
- Standard rate: €100.10
- Higher rate: €150.21
- Radio or TV alone: €83.76 standard, €125.61 higher
The higher rate is the trap. IMRO says "All performances in the first Licence Year will be charged at the Higher Royalty rate unless the user applies in writing for a licence before the music is performed." Source: the HRNPD PDF above.
Example: a 40-seat cafe is two units of 20 seats, so €200.20 a year standard, or €300.42 at the higher rate, plus VAT.
Shops, and coffee shops with six seats or fewer (tariff Retail, 2026)
The retail tariff covers shops and "coffee shops and food takeaways (with six or less seats...)". It is a base fee of €113.11 per premises plus €71.98 per 100 sqm of public retail space, with "a minimum Royalty of €185.09 per annum." Source: IMRO retail tariff PDF, 2026.
Can I just use Spotify?
No. IMRO: "An IMRO Dual Music Licence is required for the public use of any copyright music played through mechanical means", including streaming "from services like YouTube, Spotify, iTunes, SoundCloud". Source: IMRO FAQ. Spotify also limits its service to personal use: Spotify public and commercial use (Ireland).
The alternative: music IMRO and PPI do not represent
The tariff only applies to music "within the Repertoire Controlled by IMRO". Sonosfera makes and controls its own recordings; its Irish salon guide says that playing only that catalogue does not require the usual performing-rights licences, naming IMRO/PPI in Ireland. Source: salon music licence, Ireland.
Sonosfera in Ireland: €13.99 a month per zone, or €139.90 a year (€11.66 a month). Every plan comes with a Music Use Certificate in your business name. See current Ireland pricing.
What it does not cover: radio, TV, Spotify, live music or DJs. If you play those, keep your IMRO licence.
Which is cheaper for you?
- 40-seat cafe, mainstream music: about €200 to €300 a year to IMRO, plus a commercial music source on top.
- Same cafe, Sonosfera only: €139.90 a year for one zone, no IMRO fee for that catalogue.
- Small shop under 100 sqm, mainstream music: at least €185.09 a year to IMRO.
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