General Assembly 2026

Additional programme at the General Assembly

Hybrid Events

Additional programme at the General Assembly

We have prepared exciting sessions as part of our fringe events for you. You can gather news and infos on current topics from within GEMA but also from external experts. All the following info events are held hybrid.
Full authors who are represented at the General Assembly can still participate digitally in the events of the supplementary programme. 

Info-Brunch: 11.30 am to 12.30pm
Songwriting Essentials: Guidelines for creative songwriting and producing
How to Succeed in Songwriting and Come Up with Great Song Ideas.  
Artist Linda Stark and music producer Benni Dernhoff will discuss these questions and more with some tips and advice and share some personal stories and anecdotes from their everyday life as songwriters. 

Speaker: Linda Stark (Singer/Songwriterin), Benni Dernhoff (Songwriter & Musikproduzent)
Moderation: Clara Zumbiel (GEMA, Key Account Management for Authors)


Panel: 12.30 am – 13.30 am
TikTok marketing and content creation
SongPush (an agency specialising in TikTok marketing and campaigns) discusses its learnings on “successful TikTok campaigns and content creation” with its business partner, the leading influencer marketing firm ENKIME. Further input will be provided by an artist with experience and audience reach on TikTok.

Speaker: Oliver Delfendahl (Co-Founder ENKIME), Marcus Cremer (Co-Founder Songpush) , Stefan Kling (Co-Founder Songpush)
Moderation: Clara Zumbiel (GEMA, Key Account Management for Authors)

Panel: 18.00 pm – 19.00 pm 
Generative artificial intelligence in the music industry: insights into the AI study and current developments
Generative Artificial Intelligence (AI) is one of the biggest technological shifts for the creative industries. As a CMO, we see the challenges and opportunities that come with this new technology. Find out more about the key outcomes of the recently published AI Study, about how GEMA handles AI and about the impact generative AI has on the music industry. 

Speaker: Michael Duderstädt (Direktor Politische Kommunikation der GEMA) , Julia Friebe (Manager & Team-Lead im Bereich Innovationsmanagement), Stefanie Moser (Projektmanagerin Innovative Technologien im KI Team der GEMA)

Information-breakfast: 8.30 am 
What’s next for CDs?  
Reform of licensing of, and royalty distribution on physical media 
The market for physical media such as CDs or DVDs has been shrinking sharply and steadily for years. Our aim is to secure the future exploitation of copyrights in this field by simplifying and streamlining licensing and distribution processes significantly. This will allow GEMA to respond flexibly to new market trends. We will introduce you to the change in GEMA’s royalty distribution scheme that is up for vote in this context and look forward to discussing it with you.
Speaker: Dr. Monika Staudt (Direktorin VBC & SKMV (interimistisch) der GEMA), Britta Stoffels (Referentin CoE Verteilung), Michael Schmidt (Abteilungsleiter Lizenzierung Vervielfältigungsrechte)
 

Information-breakfast: 8.30 am
Mental health in the music industry
Mental health is a topical issue in the music industry.  How can one take care of one’s mental health and build resilience despite high stress levels, for example while on tour? Artist Diana Goldberg shares her experience from her everyday life as a musician and discusses her perspective with the association “MiM – Mental Health in Music” and music manager, publisher and producer Henrik Kersten. The panel will be moderated by Ariane Petschow of MusicHub. 

Speaker: Diana Goldberg (Singer/Songwriterin), Franziska Lauter (Co-Founderin MiM-Verband) , Henrik Kersten (Verleger/Manager)
Moderation: Ariane Petschow (Marketing Lead MusicHub) 

Panel: 10.00 am – 11.00 am
Sustainability in the music industry 
A discussion on the topic of sustainability in touring and festival production. The initiative “Music Declares Emergency” is an organisation with roots in the music industry that is committed to addressing the climate emergency. Together with the Wacken Festival and the Sustainability Manager of Milky Chance, we will discuss actions and experiences. 

Speaker: Tine Theurich (Aktivistin und Mitgründerin MDE Deutschland/Geschäftsführerin der Kommunikationsagentur "SUPERUNKNOWN") , Anja Lorenz (GEMA Nachhaltigkeitsmanagerin), Sonja Lachenmeyr (Dirigentin)
Moderation: Christin Gläßler (Teil der Arbeitsgruppe Nachhaltigkeit & Managerin in der Abteilung Strategy, Innovation & New Business bei der GEMA)


Panel: 16.30 pm – 17.30 pm
Digitisation of usage recording at GEMA

From Setup to Sound File Upload: Digitalisation of Music Use Monitoring by GEMA. In an open discussion by a panel of experts, we will provide an overview of current developments in usage reporting in various distribution categories. Topics touched upon will include monitoring of public-service broadcasters, usage reports on the GEMA Online Portal (setup) and live event monitoring. There will also be an opportunity for questions from members

Speaker: Bernd Leuschner (Head of Key Account Management), Benjamin Lambert (GEMA), Jochen Berg (Leiter Juristische Grundsatzfragen und Geschäftsentwicklung in der Direktion Sendung und Online), Jens Kindermann (Abteilungsleiter Mitglieder- und Repertoiremanagement im Bereich Produkte), Frank Schulze ( Business Process Manager – VBC Music Reporting Support)

Break-Out-Session: 17.30 pm – 18.00 pm
MusicHub
MusicHub presents a compact and dynamic session providing an overall view of recent developments and future innovation of the platform.  
The agenda will include an introduction from the Strategy & Development Directorate followed by an insightful presentation by MusicHub’s new CEO Max Fellmuth, who will give both a review and an outlook for the future. A live demo will show practical examples of how current features of MusicHub can be used, and a Q&A-session will be held to give the audience the opportunity to ask questions and provide valuable feedback.  
This session is your chance to learn directly from the people behind MusicHub, to exchange ideas and to explore the wide range of possibilities MusicHub offers for music creators.

Speaker: Tilmann Hemminger (Abteilungsleiter Strategy, Innovation & New Business), Max Fellmuth (Geschäftsführer MusicHub)

Get Together: 18.00 pm – 20.00 pm
The informal get-together takes place after the curia meetings. Here you can round off the day with a drink and meet and network with colleagues from the industry.

Information breakfast: 8.30 am
Ideas, food for thought and innovations from members: mysician, a platform for mediation and networking in the music industry

Our “Ideenbox” initiative of autumn 2022 allowed members for the first time to submit ideas for offerings that make the work of music creators easier. Together with our members, we have expanded on, and developed the idea of a platform for members and other players in the music industry to network and find jobs and projects. Learn more about the current status of the “mysician” idea and give us feedback during this interactive breakfast session with GEMA’s Innovations Team.

Speaker: Adam Egerer (Manager in der Abteilung Strategy, Innovation & New Business), Julia Friebe (Manager & Team-Lead im Bereich Innovationsmanagement), Oliver Kruse (Manager in der Abteilung Strategy, Innovation & New Business)
online event

Technical tuition 

We want to give members the opportunity as part of this session to test the hybrid event system in the run up of the General Assembly 2023 and to ask questions how it all works. 

The tuition is mainly directed at such members who are planning to participate digitally. 

Event date:
Monday, 8 May, from 3.30 to 5pm

Registration
You need to have registered in our online registration system until 05 May.

You will find the Login-Link to the event here shortly.  

When you log in to the event system, please use the personal password sent to you with your invitation and your membership number pr your email address and the password you selected in the course of of the registration process, if you are representing a member.

Details on the technical requirements for taking part in the General Assembly digitally you can find in our FAQs

Online EVENT

Discussion sessions of the professional categories 

Before the hybrid General Assembly, the discussion sessions are meant to provide full members, their representatives and delegates the opportunity to gather information about the agenda items relevant to them within their own professional categories, and to ask questions. 

The discussion sessions of full members are held digitally as follows:

Event dates:

With the deputy Chairman of the Supervisory Board, Stefan Waggershausen and Dr. Lars Hendrik Riemer of the GEMA Legal Division  
With the deputy Chairman of the Supervisory Board, Dr. Götz von Einem and Dr. Kai Welp, GEMA Legal Division  
With the Chairman of the Supervisory Board, Dr. Ralf Weigand and the General Counsel of GEMA, Dr. Tobias Holzmüller 

Registration
Participants must register by 1pm of the event day via the online registration system at the latest. You will get an email with the access data from us about half an hour before the event begins. 

The discussion sessions of the professional categories will be run via the conference tool Teams (webinar mode). This means that only the presenters will be visible at the beginning.  

  • If you have already installed Microsoft Teams on your computer, you can take part by clicking on the invitation link directly via the programme.  

  • If you have not installed Teams yet, you can participate in the event via one of the two browsers, Microsoft Edge or Google Chrome without having to install Teams. Just open the link to the event in one of the two browsers and select the option “continue on this browser”. Then, enter your full name in the entry field and click on “join now”.  

Questions and contributions 

You can ask questions via the chat function of Teams. If you want to ask a question live via video feed, please raise your hand by selecting the respective button in Teams. You will then be called up by the moderator. Please note that you then have to activate your camera and your microphone by clicking on the respective button so that the rest of the participants can see and hear you. 

The agenda for the General Assembly is located together with additional information on all agenda items here

Hybrid EVENTS

Personal discussions at the General Assembly

In personal discussion sessions, the associate members have the opportunity to exchange their views on the agenda and other topics of interest, and to vote on them, where applicable. By popular demand from the membership, personal discussion sessions will take place directly before the assembly of the associate members in a hybrid format. It is possible that the professional categories hold by-elections of Delegates directly after the personal discussions. 

Event dates:

With the Delegate speakers Stefanie Schlesinger and Franz-Michael Deimling, Chairman of the Supervisory Board, Dr. Ralf Weigand and General Counsel of GEMA, Dr. Tobias Holzmüller  
With the Delegate  speaker Stephan Runge, deputy Chairman of the Supervisory Board, Stephan Waggershausen and Dr. Lars Hendrik Riemer of the GEMA Legal Division 
With the Delegate speaker Neil Grant, deputy Chairman of the Supervisory Board, Dr. Götz von Einem and Dr. Kai Welp, GEMA Legal Division 

Registration
To participate digitally and for representatives to take part, it is required to register in the online registration system before the event.  

When you log in to the event system, please use the personal password sent to you with your invitation and your membership number pr your email address and the password you selected in the course of of the registration process, if you are representing a member. 

 
The agenda for the General Assembly and information material on all agenda items is located here.
Hybrid Events

Info breakfasts, break-out sessions, panels

Once again this year, we have put together an exciting side program to accompany the meetings. It offers plenty of opportunities to network, learn more about GEMA and its work, and gain valuable insights from external experts. 

Regular members who are represented at the general meeting may still participate digitally in the events of the supplementary program. 

Kick-off event: Creator Summit 

Monday, 2:00 - 8:00 p.m., on-site only

For the first time, the GEMA Creator Summit brings together music creators, social media experts, and key players from the music and content industries in one place. 
In addition to insights, tools, and strategies, the summit offers plenty of opportunities for genuine exchange within your peer group – including relaxed networking moments over cold drinks. 

Tuesday, all day
Childcare, on-site only

Tuesday, 1:00 - 2:00 p.m.
Panel: Decoded: From Idea to Hit

Tuesday, 12:30 - 1:30 p.m.
Panel: Behind the score: Tips & Tricks from the World of Film Music

Practical tips and tricks from the world of film music. Personal experiences from, among others, Music Supervisor Patrick Joest and German Film Music Award winner Chrisna Lungala.

Tuesday, 1:30 - 2:30 p.m.
Information Session: The New GEMA Cultural Funding Program

Tuesday, 3:30 - 4:30 p.m.
Masterclass: Songwriting Essentials, on-site only

Tuesday, 5:00 - 6:00 p.m.
Songs in Numbers – What Do the Data Really Tell Us About Your Work?

Tuesday, 6:00 - 7:00 p.m.
Between Creativity and Marketing: Who Gets Visibility and Why?

A format by the FLINTA* Network

Tuesday, 7:00 p.m. - 01:30 a.m. (Doors open at 7.00 p.m.)
Members' party 

Celebrate with us – The big members’ party with the Fred Jay Award ceremony is coming up! On Tuesday, we invite you to join us for an unforgettable evening with delicious drinks and great food.

Wednesday, all day
Childcare, on-site only

Wednesday, 9:00 - 9:45 a.m. 
Information Session on the Social Security Fund, on-site only

Wednesday, 9:00 - 10:30 a.m.
Info breakfast: Croissants & Copyright: A conversation with GetOn

Wednesday, 4:30 - 5:30 p.m. 
Panel: One Year of Green Touring Rider – A Review  

Wednesday, 5:00 - 6:00 p.m.
How will concerts and festivals in Germany evolve by 2035?

Wednesday, 7:00 - 8:10 p.m.
Political Panel: AI Meets Creativity – Who Owns the Music of Tomorrow?

Wednesday, 7:00 - 9:00 p.m.
Get Together, on-site only

We come together again in a relaxed atmosphere to round off day 2 together.

Thursday, all day

Childcare, on-site only

For orientation

Get a quick overview of all the important areas of the General Assembly 2026. The site plan shows you the way.

Take a closer look at the site plan.

Lageplan der Atelier Gardens
Lageplan der Atelier Gardens
Timetable zur MGV 2026

Timetable

All events at the 2026 General Meeting at a glance. The schedule will help you make sure you don't miss a single event.

Take a closer look at the site plan.

Timetable zur MGV 2026
Timetable of the General Assembly 2025

Timetable

The timetable for the 2025 Annual General Meeting shows you all the items on the programme in a compact and clear format.
Take a closer look at the timetable.
Timetable of the General Assembly 2025

Knödelstage: Line-Up

The timetable for the 2025 Annual General Meeting shows you all the items on the programme in a compact and clear format.
Take a closer look at the timetable.
Timetable of the General Assembly 2025

Highlights

Membership Party- Tonhalle

Celebrate with us – the big membership party with the Fred Jay Award ceremony is coming up!

It’s that time of year again: This Tuesday, we cordially invite you to join us for a special evening featuring great drinks and delicious food. 

Once again this year, the coveted Fred Jay Award will be presented. We’re not revealing who will receive the award just yet—but this much we can say: The honor goes to an extraordinary individual who has mastered the art of songwriting in an impressive way. And of course, the winner will also be performing live on our stage! 

Let’s celebrate together what unites us all—our shared passion for music. 

Join us as we pay tribute to music! 

Registration for the event opens on April 1.

Networking

One day after the membership party in the Tonhalle, we also invite you on Wednesday evening to a relaxed get together in the Nachtkantine right next door. Together, we will bring the second assembly day to a close with snacks and drinks and leave time and space for individual plans on that evening. 

After all, in addition to our official event spaces, there are many other options to meet up in the Werksviertel Mitte in very different kinds of ambiences: 
In the Fitzroy bar, overlooking the whole of Munich, at the Knödelplatz [dumpling square] in front of our music stage or in one of the many other places catering for your pallet – there’s something for everyone here! 

 A particular highlight this year – the Katerfrühstück [hangover breakfast] 

On the morning after the membership party, we invite you to a “Katerfrühstück” on the ferris wheel on the grounds. Register for one of the four time slots and you will be randomly matched for a ride with other members!

Panels & expert presentations

We’re offering a diverse program of panels and presentations, where GEMA staff and industry experts will explore a variety of topics.  
 
Some highlights: 

  • We’ll take a close look at GEMA’s data and share what it reveals about your works 
  • We’ll present a vision of the future of concerts and the festival market in Germany through 2035, and what a Green Rider for tours might look like
  • We’ll share tips, tricks, and insights from the world of film music
  • In a session organized by the women’s network, we’ll explore who gains visibility and why 

Info café

We welcome you to our Info Café! 

In a relaxed atmosphere, GEMA staff and partners from the GEMA+ program invite you to chat at several themed stations.  
Throughout the day, we’ll be on hand to answer your questions about your royalties, the new cultural funding, and many other topics, and provide personalized advice. 

Book a time slot at one of the stations via the live system so you can plan your members’ meeting even better. 

Politisches Panel und Get Together

Another highlight awaits you on Wednesday after the meetings; this evening will focus on the future and our community of solidarity. 

We’ll kick things off with our panel discussion “A I Meets Creativity: Who Owns the Music of Tomorrow?”, where we’ll talk with industry representatives and policymakers about the current state of the political debate, as well as the opportunities and challenges ahead.  Afterward, you’ll have the opportunity to ask the panel your own questions.
 
Following that, we cordially invite you to a get-together to round out the day in a communal atmosphere. 

The evening on the grounds will be rounded out by evening events hosted by various associations: The DKV invites all GEMA members to its music festival featuring over 10 live acts, and Song e.V. will also be celebrating its members’ party on the grounds of Atelier Gardens. 

Kinderbetreuung

We offer all-day childcare on all three days of the event. Childcare will be provided in a secure area in "Werk 1" in the immediate vicinity of the event venues. Prior registration is required.

Frauen*lunch

Lunchtalk: Women* in the music industry - support, challenges and visions for the future 

In this lunchtalk, we will talk about the particular challenges faced by women* in the industry and discuss how we can initiate change together with our female supervisory board members. We will also provide an overview of GEMA's current initiatives to promote its female* members. The audience is cordially invited to actively participate and ask questions - because change happens through dialogue. 

Open to anyone interested in a more diverse and fairer music scene.

Creative Sessions

What celebrated its premiere last year is now entering its second round: 
The MGV Creative Session brings songwriters, producers and creative minds together - directly within the framework of the GEMA General Assembly. In 2024, not only new connections were made, but also real tracks, some of which have already been released! There was a lot of interest, which is why we're continuing: 
 This year, we are once again organising exclusive studio sessions in cooperation with the producers from 29th Avenue Publishing: Interested parties could apply via the GEMA+ newsletter for three sessions on Tuesdays & Wednesdays with 4 songwriters each. 

New this year: the Open Mic Hour 

On Wednesday, 14 May, we will open the studio doors to all creative sessions for one hour at 13:00. Come along and listen to the first results, give your feedback and connect directly for the next session.

Nachhaltigkeit

What celebrated its premiere last year is now entering its second round: 
The MGV Creative Session brings songwriters, producers and creative minds together - directly within the framework of the GEMA General Assembly. In 2024, not only new connections were made, but also real tracks, some of which have already been released! There was a lot of interest, which is why we're continuing: 
 This year, we are once again organising exclusive studio sessions in cooperation with the producers from 29th Avenue Publishing: Interested parties could apply via the GEMA+ newsletter for three sessions on Tuesdays & Wednesdays with 4 songwriters each. 

New this year: the Open Mic Hour 

On Wednesday, 14 May, we will open the studio doors to all creative sessions for one hour at 13:00. Come along and listen to the first results, give your feedback and connect directly for the next session.

Im Werksviertel spielt die Musik

Visit us at our GEMAplus exhibition stand to find out more about our benefits programme. GEMAplus offers a wide range of extra benefits you can enjoy as a member, e.g. a large number of webinars and workshops, showcases at popular festivals and a list of potential partners that can support you in your music career. Whichever stage you are at in your career, we have the tools and resources to support you. Meet us at the GEMAplus stand and lets build your success in music together! 

Am Stand: Oliver Kruse (Manager bei  Strategy, Innovation & New Business), Luca Belloco (Membership Development Manager GEMA), Lena Schmidt (Editorial Manager BEFORE EIGHT Group GmbH, Daniel Lohmann (CFO & Co-Founder BEFORE EIGHT Group GmbH, Bernd Wulff (WVS), Georg von Siwers (WVS)

Three smiling people holding drinks, seated in a dimly lit room with colorful lights in the background.

Membership party

The membership party, during which the Fred Jay Award will be presented, takes place on 13 May 2025 from 7.00 pm at Werksviertel Mitte in Munich.

If you would like to take part in the members' party, please register in advance by 9 May using our members' meeting registration tool:  

GEMA Creator Summit

The GEMA Creator Summit brings together music creators, social media experts, and key players from the music and content industries in one place for the first time.
In addition to insights, tools, and strategies, the summit offers plenty of opportunities for genuine exchange within your peer group—including relaxed networking moments over refreshing drinks.
You’ll find more information here soon and will be able to register. 

GEMA Creator Summit Logo
Women's network image

Frauennetzwerk

As usual, you will have the opportunity to talk to GEMA employees at our information stands at the General Assembly 2025. The stands will be available on all three days of the event. You can already book a personal consultation appointment at one of the 10 information stands in our MGV-Live tool.