Last week IMRO sent letters to three of Ireland's most prominent music blogs; Nialler9, The Torture Garden and Asleep On The Compost Heap, explaining the new "MCPS-IMRO Limited Online Exploitation Licence (LOEL)" which covers the use of music online by "small-scale/non-commercial companies and individuals, providing services in Ireland, whose gross revenue is less then €7,000 per year".

Not surprisingly, many bloggers and musicians have made their disapproval heard. According to an interview in the Guardian, Niall Byrne of Nialler9 stated that, "lumping [in] a music blogger who blogs from home in his spare time ... with a professional company is wrong... It will have a destructive effect on the promotion of music online as many bloggers won't be able to afford these fees and as a result bands will have less of an outlet to promote their music".

IMRO, on the other hand, see it as matching blogs up with the rest of the industry. They argue that charging those who supply music on demand on blogs is no different than charging hairdressers and shopkeepers for use of music on their premises, which is already a well established license. Some argue if blogs get music for free, then radio stations will want to follow suit and then the world of copyright and royalties gets a further knock on the head, depriving artists (and labels) of yet another source of income.

But nothing is ever simple in the world of royalties and copyright. The Dublin-based label Richter Collective have also been asked to pay a licence to stream music - from their own bands on their own site.

Richter Collective's Michael Roe said in an interview with Hotpress, "they're applying the regulations in a blanket fashion, which doesn't work. There has to be room for a waiver system under which labels and artists can elect to give their music free to non-commercial sites".

Meanwhile musicians have aired their concerns, saying blogs are an invaluable promotional platform for their music. The Cast of Cheers even pulled out of the Best Of IMRO Showcase Tour gig in the Dublin Academy last week to show "solidarity in support of blogs, upcoming artists and artist-led labels". Mia Sparrow, who was also on the bill, followed suit.

Is it a case of reality catching up with the blogosphere or an attempt to apply an old system to a new world? It's probably a bit of both. But it's a decision that will, without doubt, shut down many independent music blogs.

There is set to be a meeting between bloggers and IMRO next week.