Our distributions dated 01.07.2026
It´s GEMA Pay Day!
Checked your account yet? As of July 1st, it’s that time again: GEMA is distributing a total of €331 million to its members. Eligible for payouts are all those who generated revenue in the categories radio, TV, media libraries, cinema, online and international.
On our Song Economy page, we break down: How much was distributed in each category? How many music creators benefit? And which top 3 songs earned the most in the 2025 financial year?
Curious? Dive into the details right here!
Radio, TV, Media libraries
On 1 July 2026, GEMA will distribute a total of €261.6 m (+0,8%) for financial year 2025 to its members and sister organisations in TV and radio categories.
As always, the individual impact on your distribution depends on the specific context in which your works are used (e.g. duration or the broadcasting channel).
For further information, please see our information sheets for categories FS, FS VR; T FS, T FS VR and categories R, R VR. To learn more about our distribution categories, please visit Radio and TV.
Cinema and Sound-Film Direct Distribution
In line with the market trend, the distribution amount of €7.6 m (+6%) in this sector has risen in comparison to the previous year. Whereas the pay outs sum in the area of sound-film direct distribution (including online advertising) is declining.
For further information, please see our information sheets for categories T, TD, TD VR. You can learn more about our film distribution category here.
Usage-based media library distribution
For the usage-based distribution of revenues from the online services of the broadcasters ARD, ZDF, Funk and ProSiebenSat.1, around €10.6 million can be distributed for the 2025 usage year. This represents a significant increase of +27.7% compared to the 2024 financial year, making it a very positive result.
How royalties from media library usage are generated:
Broadcasters provide us with all relevant information about their media library content: titles, musical and audiovisual elements, usage figures and timeframes. These data are usually supplied by specialised monitoring service providers. To distribute the revenues, we calculate so-called “streaming second values” and additional amounts based on the funds received from broadcasters and other sources. If we can clearly identify your works, you will receive a payout.
Already checked your account statement?
The new categories MED and MED VR will appear in your account statement with the respective amounts – for example: Composers - MED 2025 K, MED VR 2025 K; Lyricists - MED 2025 T, MED VR 2025 T.
Further information: info sheet for media libraries.
Second distribution in the broadcasting sector from 1 November 2026
From the 2026 distribution year onwards, our members in the broadcasting sector (television and radio) will benefit for the first time from an additional distribution date. Alongside the established regular payment on 1 July, this marks an important step forward.
Each year on 1 November, additional distributable usages will be taken into account. These may arise, for example, from claims processing, allocations, documentation updates and late registrations. They will be included in a supplementary distribution for usage years that have already been settled. This creates an additional distribution opportunity that benefits all eligible rightsholders — a genuine added value that takes effect from now on.
Music on Demand Streaming & Social Media Platforms
On 1 July 2026 you will receive a distribution for the use of your works in our online categories relating to music streaming (e.g. Spotify) and social media platforms (e.g. YouTube).
In the MOD streaming sector, the payouts from Apple Music will include the third and fourth quarters of 2025. In addition, a further special payment from Amazon has been finalised following previously unsatisfactory usage reporting. The funds for the 2024 period will be redistributed to the corresponding usages.
In the social media sector, YouTube (ad-funded) includes the second and third quarters of 2025. For TikTok, the third quarter of 2025 was already taken into account as of 1 April 2026.
To find out which usage periods are included in this distribution, please click here. Further information on the distribution can be found in the following supplements available for download: MOD S and GOP.
For detailed information about the social media platforms categories, please see our GOP distribution page. We also recommend our Music on demand page.
International
In the international income categories A and A VR (mechanical rights), we distribute revenues from our sister organisations for uses of the GEMA repertoire in their respective territories.
Furthermore no distribution is being made for France. The reason for this is a tax audit at our French sister organisation, SACEM. For more information, please refer to: Our distributions as of 1 January, under International/Withholding Tax (France).
Information, on which countries and periods are distributed as of 1 July 2026, can be seen here. Informations about sound recordings you can find here.
From 1 July 2023 GEMA will also distribute using a new IT system
We would like to inform you that we will also be using a new IT system for the payouts of July 1st, 2023. For more detailed information on this matter please visit the website.
Information about our last payouts
Payouts as of November-December 2025
In the categories Live and reproduction, Libraries and Cultural Fund Online
Payouts as of 01.10.2025
In the categories Online, International, Rating and Cultural Fund Online
Payouts as January 2026
In the categories Mixed online platforms, Music on demand streaming, International
FAQs - frequently asked questions regarding the distribution
It is possible that the account statements are still on their way, they are only available a few days after the payout at the start of the new month. The process is as follows:
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Detailed breakdowns/statements are available via the GEMA Download.
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Money flows.
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The account statement will be issued and transferred (by post or the Online Portal)
Are you registered for the Online Portal? Then you can access your account statements there:
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Simply go to My financial details in the Online Portal.
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You can access this in the area My account statements.
More information you can find here.
If you have any questions please contact: fingerprint@gema.de.
You can submit a claim for an incorrect distribution quickly and easily using the following options:
- You log into the Online Portal and use the Service Claims.
- For missing live events, use the service My setlists in the Online Portal 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 Online Portal > 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 Online Portal under Claims. You can access all the details regarding claims here.
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.
You can reach our service department by sending an e-mail to: mitgliederservice@gema.de
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 Online Portal)
Are you registered for the Onlineportal? Then you can access your account statements there:
- Simply go to My financial details in the Online Portal
- You can access this in the area My account statements.
FAQs - frequently asked questions regarding the payouts
The COVID-19 financial aids will be offset as follows, but no earlier than: GEMA Schutzschirm 2020 from 1 June 2023; GEMA Schutzschirm 2021 from 1 June 2024.