From GEMA registration and copyright to payouts (Updated January 2023)

Today, let’s talk about the Society for Musical Performing and Mechanical Reproduction Rights. The what? Exactly: GEMA—more long-windedly, Germany’s collecting society for composers, lyricists, and music publishers. There are quite a few important things here that could be relevant to you as an artist. For example: when it’s worth becoming a GEMA member as a musician. Or what you need to register. And, of course, how much cash you can end up getting out of it.

When can you become a GEMA member as a musician?

Put very simply: as soon as you’re the author of a song. It doesn’t matter whether you’re a composer or a lyricist. Were you involved in both? Even better—because that means more money. Lyrics and composition are split separately within GEMA. The points key is higher for composition. If you’re purely a performer, though, GEMA isn’t the right place for you—the GVL is. You also can’t register an entire band with GEMA—only individuals.

At the latest, once you’ve got solid streaming numbers on Spotify and the like, your YouTube videos are getting lots of clicks, or maybe one of your songs has even been played on the radio, it’s high time to register with GEMA (or another organization). If you want to learn more about Spotify and YouTube payouts, take a look here: distribution in the Music on Demand categories (Spotify, Deezer, or Apple Music), distribution in the Mixed Online Platforms categories (YouTube & co.).

Within GEMA, there are two possible memberships: associate member and full member. You can find information on membership status here.

What do you need as a musician to register with GEMA?

Bad news first: you need money. As an author, you have to pay a one-time admission fee of €90 to GEMA. On top of that, there’s an annual membership fee of €50. After a simple admission application (name, bank details, pseudonym, etc.), you automatically become an associate member for at least 1 year. The contract then renews automatically, unless you cancel in time. Once your contract is complete, you’ll receive a confirmation agreement—and then you’re ready to go.

Is it worth it with the royalties and flat rates?

You can test whether membership is worth it for you using the live calculator on the GEMA website.

If you release something in the current year, you’ll get paid in the following year. It just depends on how much. GEMA makes six distributions per year. You can read on the GEMA website exactly when you’ll receive your royalties in which category.

GEMA payouts are handled via a complex distribution system that is renegotiated each year at the annual members’ meeting. As an associate member, your rights as an author are represented by a total of 64 elected delegates (also elected anew each year). It’s extremely difficult to figure out the exact euro share, because there are so many different tariffs and billing procedures. In addition, GEMA distinguishes between “serious music” (E-music) and “entertainment music” (U-music). A pop track of normal length receives fewer points than a piece orchestrated for an orchestra that runs longer than 60 minutes.

Want a few examples?

• A piece of music with a duration of 3 minutes is broadcast live in a ZDF TV show. Assuming there is only one rights holder for this work, the musician receives €744.56 in royalties. If there are multiple rights holders, this amount is split according to the rules in the distribution plan.
• A piece of music with a duration of 3 minutes is broadcast on the radio station Berliner Rundfunk 91.4. Assuming there is only one rights holder for this work, they receive €1.21 in royalties.

However, the exact amount of your payout can only be calculated in the specific individual case. A flat-rate estimate is hardly possible, but you can find general examples in the information sheets to use as a guide. Want to know exactly? Then take a look at the distribution plan—all distribution rules are listed there in full detail.

What are royalties?

Royalties are the earnings you receive as an author or publisher, after administrative costs have been deducted, for the use of your works. To receive royalties from GEMA, you must first grant it the usage rights to your works. Only then can GEMA collect license fees on your behalf and pass them on to you afterward.

What does GEMA charge?

How much an event organizer, a restaurant owner, or a radio station pays for a GEMA license depends on many factors. Is the music performed live or played back? How big is the venue? Is admission charged for the concert? Is the music played in the background or foreground? Which station is playing the music? Etc. Depending on the type of use, there’s a different tariff. If you’re interested in what each tariff costs, click through the tariff calculator on the GEMA website.

Workshops, funding, the GEMA Foundation—what else does GEMA do for musicians?

On the GEMA website, you’ll find lots of workshops for creatives. It’s a good platform to start connecting with other musicians. Under the umbrella of the GEMA Foundation, there are also a range of funding programs. For example, it supports composers, lyricists, music publishers, and their relatives who are in need. It supports composers and lyricists through earmarked training grants, funding for musical productions, pilot projects, competitions and publications, as well as through the awarding of prizes and research projects with a special focus on contemporary music. The foundation’s funds come from returns on the foundation’s assets grown through endowments, as well as from voluntary donations.

Copyright—what does GEMA do for musicians?

First of all: copyright is extremely important. It has to be protected. Copyright provides special protection for you as an author and for your works. That’s because copyright establishes that the author of a work can decide how it is exploited and published. They can only allow others to use it and grant them usage rights. GEMA enforces exactly that for authors. It makes sure that wherever your song has been used, it’s also paid for. They’re basically your personal money collectors. GEMA helps authors—so, you too—protect your exploitation rights, which can be hard to enforce and prove on your own. Imagine Sarah Connor had to collect her own money if her songs were played late at night in some club in Ulm. That would probably work only so-so. That’s why Sarah Connor, who also co-composes and co-writes her songs, has her copyrights managed by GEMA. GEMA provides a license for the use of the works, which the organizer can purchase. So if the club in Ulm plays Sarah Connor songs, she is paid by GEMA for it. If an organizer fails to report the event to GEMA, it can get expensive.