Yvonne Catterfeld appoints GEMAscouts
There’s no end to the excitement – Yvonne Catterfeld has now drawn the lucky winners from the many enthusiastic young music fans who applied to become GEMAscouts. The successful singer, actress and songwriter, who is also a member of GEMA, is overwhelmed by the dedication and enthusiasm of the many young people wishing to actively demonstrate their commitment to their idols as part of GEMA’s youth marketing campaign. "At a time overshadowed by illegal downloads and exchange platforms, I am thrilled that so many young people are prepared to stand up for the protection of authors. I am very pleased that I can today appoint the future ambassadors of GEMA and so fire the starting shot for the campaign", Yvonne Catterfeld said as she drew the names of the scouts in Hamburg.
In the next few weeks, the young GEMAscouts will receive detailed background information on GEMA’s work and the importance of authors’ rights and their protection. On the strength of this material, they will work closely together with the GEMA Regional Offices and pass on their newly acquired knowledge to their contemporaries at schools and organised events. Frank Dostal, lyricist and Vice-Chairman of the GEMA Board of Supervisors, underscored the importance of this task: "Young people must once again accept that the inventors and creators of lyrics and music cannot practice their professions unless they are paid to do so. If you steal bread rolls, then you are a thief. So it can’t be "cool" to steal the food of life that is music. No one advocating fair play in music will steal it!".
The appointment of the GEMAscouts marks the start of the second phase in GEMA’s nationwide campaign for the protection of the intellectual property of its authors. The idea is to provide information and increase awareness so as to encourage young people in particular to accept the creative work of authors and the eligibility of their works for protection.
In Germany, GEMA administers the copyrights of more than 60,000 members (composers, lyricists and music publishers) as well as those of over 1 million rights owners from all corners of the world. It is one of the largest authors’ societies in the world for works of music.
A printable photograph can be downloaded here.
