Brian Kennedy has joined the call for the setting up of a Northern Ireland Music Royalty Rights Society, which would collect royalties on behalf of composers, writers and performers living north of the border.
The NIMRRS steering committee claim that up to £8 million a year is being lost because no one is specifically representing their interests.
“This is a very important issue,” Kennedy said during a visit to Stormont on Thursday April 17 to meet MLPs. “When I arrived today, I saw all these children being shown around and I thought, ‘There’s the future. In that group there could be the next Van Morrison, the next Snow Patrol or even the next Brian Kennedy, God help them.’ That’s why it’s important we give them a bill of rights for their musical future.”
The proposals received a ringing endorsement from SDLP arts spokesman Pat Ramsey.
Talking to the BBC, he said: “There’s a strong argument for the rights of musicians, performers, songwriters and composers to be dealt with by a local royalties collection agency. There is no doubt that the Irish Music Rights Organisation has brought great benefit to musicians and the music industry in the Republic.”
It’s since been confirmed that the Assembly Arts Committee will carry out a feasibility study into the proposals.