German GEMA Operates Extensive Cultural Promotion Fund

The German performance rights organization GEMA plans to implement genre-independent funding for music. Previously, the pop/entertainment music sector contributed 97% of funds to the subsidy pool but received only 70% in return. The remaining funds were primarily allocated to the classical music sector. The new system aims to restructure how these funds are distributed between genres. GEMA members will vote in early May on a reform to restructure music funding. Currently, the U-Music division contributes 97% of funds to the subsidy pool but only receives 70% in support, with the remainder going to E-Music. The proposed reform aims to make funding genre-independent by dissolving the current division between E-Music and U-Music. The GEMA, an organization known for collecting and distributing money for played music, also operates its own extensive cultural funding initiative called the Kulturfonds Online. Marco Thiedig, an expert for cultural funding at GEMA, and musician Revelle, a jury member, discussed the fund.