Representing the rights and interests of featured artists in the music industry
“Where words fail, music speaks”
– Hans Christensen Anderson
IAO is the umbrella association for national organisations representing the rights and interests of featured artists in the music industry.
Our principal interests are transparency, the protection of intellectual property and a fair reflection of the value an artist’s work generates.
Latest news
You listen to their songs – hear their voice Musicians in the age of streaming and AI
IAO will be represented in seminar in the European Parliament on October 13th by President Nacho García Vega, CoArtis, Spanish coalition of featured artists, and board member Karin Inde, Swedish Musician’s Union. The IAO thanks Greek MEP Konstantinos Arvanitis for...
Ensuring AgoraEU can effectively support authors, performers, and other artists and cultural workers across all cultural and creative sectors
Joint comments and voting recommendations on the proposed amendments to the AgoraEU programme, [pdf-embedder url="https://www.iaomusic.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/09/Authors_performers_artists_EP-report_AgoraEU.pdf" title="Authors_performers_artists_EP...
IMARA and IAO have signed an agreement
IMARA and IAO have signed an agreement, Memorandum Of Understanding, to work more closely together on artists’ rights internationally The partnership aims to give music artists a stronger collective voice on major issues affecting the industry, particularly:...
Facebook Posts
Joint Letter to JURI Committee (19 June 2025):
Creator and performer groups urge action on generative AI, demanding consent, fair pay, clear TDM rules, transparency, and protection of rights, data, and moral integrity.
IAO warns: major labels’ AI deals risk market distortion.
Key issues:
– Conflicts of interest
– Distorted competition
– Unlicensed use of performances
– No transparency or consent
Artists must have a say.
IAO celebra que @EU_Commission investigue la compra de Downtown por UMG. Pedimos a @Teresaribera que actúe para proteger la competencia y la diversidad musical.
– Nacho García Vega, Presidente de IAO
IAO welcomes @EU_Commission's probe into UMG's planned takeover of Downtown. This move risks market concentration and harms indie labels & artists. We urge @Teresaribera to act firmly to protect fair competition and diversity in the music sector.
–Nacho García Vega, IAO President
Current campaigns
GECAT Pass
Getting ALL European artists back on the road Proposal for a cultural area permit scheme across multiple geographical groupings, July 2021 The European Union and its nearest neighbours across multiple geographical groupings share many aspects of aligned cultural and...
Music First
A campaign in the USA to demand fair market pay for all music on ALL radio platforms
Make Music Work
Music needs a fair and transparent marketplace for performers whether to protect cultural assets or encourage new growth
