Our distributions as of 01.11.2023
Late adjustment distributions in the live performance and public playback categories
Our distribution dated 1 November 2023 relates in particular to uses that could not be included before the cut-off date for the main distribution in the live performance and public playback categories dated
1 June 2023. The total for this distribution is €15.8 m – three times the amount for the year before
(€5.1 m). The reason for this substantial increase is the healthy development of the events market following the pandemic-related restrictions of the previous years, particularly in the field of high-priced events.
This distribution was also carried out with our new IT system. We notified you of this over the summer in the context of the distributions. This may result in further changes to the detailed statements.
The new feature as of 1 November 2023 is that your statements may include details of uses under the heading MD. From now on, we will use this code – which is not a new category – to designate uses falling under the heading of music playback direct distribution and distributed in accordance with § 130 of the distribution plan, for example the use of music in call queuing loops, sound installations or in-store radio or as stadium anthems. Until now, such uses had appeared in the detailed statements under category UD.
Providing your detailed statements
The detailed statements are now available in GEMA’s Online Portal. You can download your detailed statements by category after you logged in to your GEMA account under section My Royalties. We also provide you with your distribution information from GEMA Download (GDown). You can access this as
a one-click download in the service My Downloads. As usual, you can still use the GEMA Download service to access these formats.
Late adjustment distributions dated 1 November 2023 in the live performance and public playback categories
Our distribution dated 1 November 2023 relates in particular to uses that could not be included before the cut-off date for the main distribution in the live performance and public playback categories dated 1 June 2023. The total for this distribution is €15.8 m – three times the amount for the year before (€5.1 m). The reason for this substantial increase is the healthy development of the events market following the pandemic-related restrictions of the previous years, particularly in the field of high-priced events.
This distribution was also carried out with our new IT system. We notified you of this over the summer in the context of the distributions. This may result in further changes to the detailed statements.
The new feature as of 1 November 2023 is that your statements may include details of uses under the heading MD. From now on, we will use this code – which is not a new category – to designate uses falling under the heading of music playback direct distribution and distributed in accordance with § 130 of the distribution plan, for example the use of music in call queuing loops, sound installations or in-store radio or as stadium anthems. Until now, such uses had appeared in the detailed statements under category UD.
Providing your detailed statements
The detailed statements are now available in GEMA’s Online Portal. You can download your detailed statements by category after you logged in to your GEMA account under section My Royalties. We also provide you with your distribution information from GEMA Download (GDown). You can access this as a one-click download in the service My Downloads: http://gema.de/onlineportal/meinedownloads
As usual, you can still use the GEMA Download service to access these formats.
Announcement: Postponement of the distribution for the Mixed Online Platforms divisions (GOP - supplement & assignment of synchronization rights for non-commercial User-generated content (UGC)).
Our distributions as of 01.10.2023
Online Categories
As of 1 October 2023, you will receive royalty distributions for uses of your works in our online categories music (streaming & download), video (streaming & download), mixed online platforms and web (including background music on websites).
Information on which streaming and download platforms are included in this distribution and with which usage periods can be found here.
New: Quarterly distributions in the online segment from 2024
We are pleased to announce that we will pay out more often and therefore faster in the online segment in the future: We are increasing the distribution frequency in the Music Streaming (MOD S, MOD S VR) and Mixed Online Platforms (GOP, GOP VR - usage-based distribution) divisions from half-yearly to quarterly.
In the following categories you will receive your royalties on January 1st, April 1st and July 1st and October 1st.
Please note: There is still a 3-month complaint period after the distribution date, now linked to the new quarterly distributions.
Music streaming & Music download
The music on demand categories include pan-European uses. Uses outside of the pan-European region are licensed by our sister organisations and paid via the international income categories A and A VR to our members. The distributable amount in the streaming sector is increasing significantly. Numbers in the download sector, however, are declining.
If you wish to find out more about the distribution in our online categories music (streaming & download), it’s worth taking a look at our page on the Music on Demand.
Video streaming & Video download
The video on demand categories exclusively contain uses from within Germany. Uses outside of Germany are licensed by our sister organisations and paid via the international income categories A and A VR to our members.
Take a look at our recently provided section on Video on Demand.
Mixed online platforms
If your music is played on social media platforms such as YouTube, Facebook or TikTok, you will receive distributions in the mixed online platforms’ categories. On 1 October 2023, like every year on this date, we distribute the royalties we have collected from YouTube based on usage reports.
Detailed information on the mixed online platforms’ categories can be found at our GOP distribution page.
Sound recordings
On 1 October, a backlog payout with a small volume is made for the second semester 2022 will be made in the Phono VR category (reproduction of musical works on physical sound recordings or media carriers). The main distribution for this usage period has already been made on 1 July 2023.
Since last year, in the physical audio media licensing sector, GEMA has in some cases been unable to draw up licence invoices due to an essential system changeover. Any payments that are still outstanding will be made in the upcoming distributions. If you have any questions, please contact mitgliederservice@gema.de.
You can learn more about our sound recordings here.
International
In the international categories A and A VR (reproduction rights), we distribute income collected by our sister organisations in respect of uses of the GEMA repertoire in their respective countries.
Click here to find out which countries and periods will be distributed on 01.10.2023.
Further information about international us is available here.
Rating and assessment procedures and pension plans
for composers, lyricists, publishers
- Assessment procedure and pension plans for arrangers
On 1 October 2023, in relation to its various rating procedures including pension plans, and to the assessment procedure for arrangers, GEMA will distribute around €54 m to its members for the 2022 financial year.
Pursuant to the resolution of the General Assembly in May 2023, the distribution for the assessment will be the final one for 2022, the financial year currently under consideration.
The 2022 financial year will also see the final distribution of the “COVID supplement”. This supplement was decided on by the General Assembly in May 2022 in response to the effect of the coronavirus pandemic on distributions relating to the rating procedures.
You can find further information about rating procedures and pension plans here.
Heard the latest? Current trends in the music industry.
In a study by the German music industry association BMVI, almost two thirds of respondents endorsed the motto “Kein Tag ohne Musik” (“Not a day without music”). Thanks to music streaming platforms like Spotify, Amazon Music and YouTube, listening to music – whenever, wherever – has never been easier. So it comes as no surprise that in 2022 the digital music market made up a good four fifths of the total revenue generated in Germany by music sales. Sales from physical media now account for just under 18% of total revenue, even though the retro vinyl disc is once again very popular. 26% of respondents prefer to purchase vinyl as their chosen method of supporting their favourite artists. In both areas – vinyl and streaming – a quarter of the songs listened to were pop songs. While the rock genre represents more than 50% of vinyl sales, the online area’s big winners in terms of listeners are hip-hop and rap.
It is particularly gratifying to note that more and more music lovers are prepared to pay for music. A third of all Germans stream their music via a paid subscription – good news for music creators everywhere! (Sources: BVMI report 2022, IFPI report 2022)
Information about our last payouts
Payouts as January 2024
In the categories Mixed online platforms, Music on demand streaming, Sound and audiovisual recordings, International
Payouts as of October-November 2023
In the categories Online, Phono VR, International, Rating, Live and Reproduction
Payouts as of 1 December 2023
GEMA starts distributing income for media libraries as a supplement
FAQs - frequently asked questions regarding the distribution
You can access an overview of your turnover in the Onlineportal in the service My royalties. There, you can also find where the royalties come from (live, radio, TV/film, digital or international income) and the revenue generated by your ten most successful works. More on this in the video.
Detailed statements (individual statements and usage statements) can be accessed in the free online service GEMA download.
- Individual statements = how high is the pay-out amount per work
- Usage statements = when and where were my works used
If you cannot access the service yet, get your activation via the GEMA Onlineportal. You can also request details on the distribution via e-mail: mitgliederservice@gema.de. Please note: They are subject to a service fee.
You can submit a claim for an incorrect distribution quickly and easily using the following options:
- You log in to the Onlineportal and use the Service Claims.
- For missing live events, use the service My setlists in the Onlineportal where you can submit your setlists in the form of a complaint/claim.
Please note: Before submitting any claims, please check whether a distribution has already been made for the period and category. You can access an overview of the deadlines and categories here: Please only claim uses, which are not included in your detailed statements (on the Onlineportal > GEMA Download) or need to be claimed for other reasons. Pursuant to § 59 of the GEMA distribution plan, claims must contain specific details which permit a verification. You ensure that this is the case by providing the requested details in the Onlineportal under Claims. You can access all the details regarding claims here.
When claiming unpaid royalties in the MOD distribution categories, please mind the following important points: If the royalties for use of a work during the specifiedusage periods of the Digital Service Providers (DSPs) concerned are not included in the royalty payment you received, you should make a claim for missing royalties shortly (at the latest within three months of the respective distribution date according to § 59 of the GEMA Distribution Plan). In order to arrange the licence allowing you to receive those royalties subsequently, the root of the problem (e.g. missing or incorrect declaration or registration, or incorrect classification of the work) needs to be fixed quickly. As a general rule, if information about the artist and label is provided in the work declaration prior to or for publication (ISRC), this helps the licensing and distribution processes run more smoothly.
If the dashboards of the DSPs show higher usage figures than those of our distribution, please consider that DSP dashboards usually show global streaming figures current to the day. Therefore, please check first whether the usage period concerned and the usage figures from the respective DSPs for the respective countries are included in the particular GEMA distribution you received for online and/or international use. If the royalty a stream earns, for example, on Spotify, per country, month and service type (Free, Student, Family, Duo, Premium) is not at least a few cents, we will not distribute it on a per-work basis but by way of supplements per entitled party.
According to § 59 of the GEMA Distribution Plan, complaints must include information specific enough to allow GEMA to investigate the problem. You can comply with this requirement by providing the requested information when raising your case through our online portal.
When claiming unpaid royalties for use on mixed-content online platforms (distribution categories GOP/GOP VR), please remember the following: The deadline for such claims is three months, counted from the date of distribution of supplements, which is usually on 1 December of a financial year. The distribution date for this year has been postponed to 1 January 2023. As a result, the deadline for claiming unpaid royalties is automatically postponed accordingly.
You do not have access to the Online Portal yet? Register as a music creator here. Then, you will receive an e-mail with an activation link to set your own password. After that, you complete the activation application which is shown in the Online Portal, and send it through to us. Once your account has been successfully activated, we will inform you. You can then start the service under GEMA Download and download the detailed breakdowns.
For further information about how to make a claim, please click here.
It is possible that the account statements are still on their way, they are only available a few days after the pay-out at the start of the new month. The process is as follows:
- Detailed breakdowns/statements are available via the GEMA Download.
- Money flows.
- The account statement will be issued and transferred (by post or the Onlineportal)
Are you registered for the Onlineportal? Then you can access your account statements there:
- Simply go to My financial details in the Onlineportal.
- You can access this in the area My account statements.