Cultural Subsidy for the Online Sector
As a collecting society, our remit extends to providing support for works and activities of cultural significance.
From this year, a dedicated Cultural Subsidy Online exists to further this aim. It is funded primarily through deductions from our collections in the music on demand (MOD D, MOD S) and social media (GOP) categories, along with other amounts that cannot be distributed and is specifically targeted to benefit music creators whose online rights are managed by GEMA. This move sees us charting the course for the future and consistently promoting diversity and variety in the online repertoire represented by GEMA.
The Cultural Subsidy for the Online Sector entails a twofold approach:
-
a revenue-based subsidy known as the Cultural Supplement for the Online Sector
-
the Cultural Fund for the Online Sector, a targeted individual subsidy for concrete works and projects
Cultural Fund for the Online Sector goes live
Starting June 2, 2025, the new Culture Fund for the Online Sector will launch, offering GEMA members the opportunity to apply for individual funding for their culturally significant works and achievements. With this initiative, we aim to specifically promote the diversity and variety of the online repertoire.
Why does the Culture Fund for the Online Sector exist?
We believe that cultural diversity in the online space is essential for music culture and, consequently, for GEMA’s repertoire. That’s why we are committed to supporting talented artists and music publishers with resources from a specially established fund.
What do we offer?
Funding is provided in the form of basic and special funding. The basic funding is awarded twice a year, while the special grant is awarded once a year.
Apply for the first round of basic funding through our online portal starting June 2, 2025! Further information and the terms of participation can be found under Basic Funding.
Our funding programmes
Basic Funding
Special Funding
Meet the Jury
Nine members and three deputies from the music industry form an independent jury. This jury was elected by GEMA’s Supervisory Board for a period of three years. Discover the creative minds behind each jury member.
Anna-Marlene Bicking
Julian Butz
Niels Eberhardt
Daniel Flamm
Matze Hielscher
David Jürgens
Jules Kalmbacher
Feline Moje
Tamara Olorga
Revelle
Thimo Sander
Anne de Wolff
Kulturzuschlag Online
Cultural Supplement for the Online Sector
With the distribution dated 1 December 2024, all members who received revenue in the music on demand (MOD D, MOD S) and social media (GOP) categories during the 2023 financial year will receive a supplement for the first time. The revenue is weighted according to various criteria:
1. We are especially keen to promote the coming generation of talent. In the interest of providing targeted support for young creators at the start of their career, their revenue is weighted double. All members who are under 30 years of age, and have been GEMA members for under five years, benefit from this.
Please note that this “newcomer factor” is capped at €5,000, and that the respective member’s total revenue in the music on demand (MOD) and social media (GOP) categories must not exceed €10,000 for the year in question.
2. Each member who is entitled to a subsidy will have their respective online revenue taken into account on a graded basis, depending on the amount received. Revenue of up to €5,000 (creators) or €50,000 (publishers) counts at a rate of 100% for the purpose of calculating the Cultural Supplement for the Online Sector. Any further revenue above that level only counts partially – at a rate of either 50% or 25%. For further details, please see the graphic to the right.
Online revenue falling below a minimum amount of €100 (creators) or €1,000 (publishers) will not be taken into account for the purposes of the Cultural Supplement. Because of the differences in weighting, the supplement will vary, depending on the individual member and their revenue.
Cultural Supplement for the Online Sector
With the distribution on 1 December 2024, all members who received revenue in the music on demand (MOD D, MOD S) and social media (GOP) categories during the 2023 financial year received a supplement for the first time. The next distribution for the Cultural Supplement for the Online Sector will take place on 1 October 2025 for financial year 2024. The revenue for the Online Cultural Supplement will be weighted according to the following criteria:
We are especially keen to promote the coming generation of talent:
In the interest of providing targeted support for young creators at the start of their career, their revenue is weighted double. All members who are under 30 years of age, and have been GEMA members for under five years, benefit from this.
Please note that this “newcomer factor” is capped at €5,000, and that the respective member’s total revenue in the music on demand (MOD) and social media (GOP) categories must not exceed €10,000 for the year in question.
Each member who is entitled to a subsidy:
Each member who is entitled to a subsidy will have their respective online revenue taken into account on a graded basis, depending on the amount received. Revenue of up to €5,000 (creators) or €50,000 (publishers) counts at a rate of 100% for the purpose of calculating the Cultural Supplement for the Online Sector. Any further revenue above that level only counts partially – at a rate of either 50% or 25%. For further details, please see the graphic to the right.
Online revenue falling below a minimum amount of €100 (creators) or €1,000 (publishers) will not be taken into account for the purposes of the Cultural Supplement. Because of the differences in weighting, the supplement will vary, depending on the individual member and their revenue.
Cultural Supplement for the Online Sector (FAQ)
The amount initially available for the Cultural Subsidy for the Online Sector is a figure in the mid single-digit million range.
The level of the Cultural Supplement for the Online Sector varies from member to member. In general, however, the following holds true:
-
The Cultural Supplement for the Online Sector will not, in principle, be as high as other cultural distributions (e.g. the rating procedures).
-
However, for all members receiving the Supplement, the amount will be higher than the deduction made from their revenue in the music on demand (MOD) and social media (GOP) categories.
-
The Cultural Supplement for the Online Sector is relatively high this year because the Cultural Fund for the Online Sector has not yet been set up, leaving more funds available for the Cultural Supplement.
The following factors should also be noted:
-
The overall funds available for the Cultural Subsidy for the Online Sector are limited. In the music on demand (MOD) and social media (GOP) categories, the customary 10% deduction for social and cultural purposes has been replaced by a deduction of 1%.
-
The Cultural Subsidy for the Online Sector is also funded out of collections from statutory remuneration rights and amounts that cannot be distributed but that fall into the MOD and GOP categories. The overall level of the funds is not, for example, comparable to their previous value.
The level of the Supplement varies individually, depending on the weighting applied to the member’s revenue:
-
Revenue received by “newcomers” up to €5,000 is weighted double. As such, newcomers with revenue up to €5,000 will receive a Cultural Supplement determined by their revenue but twice as high as that received by other members within the same revenue group.
-
High levels of revenue will be taken into account on a graded basis structured as a "degression”. This means that although the Cultural Supplement for high revenue may be greater in terms of the amount paid, it will represent a lower percentage of the member’s revenue than that received by members whose actual revenue is low.
The three categories here (MOD S, MOD D, GOP) are the ones from which the funds for the Cultural Subsidy for the Online Sector are derived. In the MOD S VR, MOD D VR and GOP VR categories, there is no deduction for social and cultural purposes. The video on demand (VOD) and media library (MED) categories, on the other hand, have been integrated into the existing rating system.
The Cultural Supplement for the Online Sector is a percentage-based supplement to online revenue of the respective member. To determine this revenue, various forms of weighting are applied. Among these – alongside the newcomer factor – is the method known as “degression”.
For all members participating in the Cultural Supplement for the Online Sector, MOD-/GOP-related revenue of up to €5,000 (creators) or €50,000 (publishers) is counted at a rate of 100%. If a member’s overall revenue is higher, only the amount exceeding €5,000 or €50,000 will be counted at a lower rate.
For example: a member has online revenue of €8,000. Out of this, the first €5,000 are counted at a rate of 100%, and the remaining 3,000 at 50% (i.e. €1,500). Based on this, the member’s total online revenue for the purposes of the Cultural Supplement is €6,500.
In terms of structure, revenue received by individual creators is not comparable to that of publishers, who generally act for a large number of writers. This is why GEMA differentiates between creators and publishers in a variety of contexts in which revenue level is a key factor (minimum revenue for full membership and GOP supplement among other things).
Because the threshold values designated for the Cultural Supplement for the Online Sector are ten times higher for publishers than they are for creators, the allocation of funds reflects the division between creators and publishers at distribution level. This leaves the Supervisory Board in a position to react to any undesirable developments in the future by simply adjusting the threshold values.
If the revenue is low, a revenue-based supplement will not generate any financially significant support. However, irrespective of revenue level, the option of an individual subsidy from the Cultural Fund for the Online Sector remains open to all members.
This rule is based on the principle that those with a high level of revenue have no special need for support from a cultural subsidy.
The first distributions of the Cultural Supplement for the Online Sector will take place on 1 December 2024.
FAQ
We have compiled the most frequently asked questions on the following categories:
- Cultural Subsidy for the Online Sector
- Cultural Fund for the Online Sector
- Culture Supplement for the Online Sector
The information provided here serves as a basic overview of the cultural subsidy online.
Cultural Subsidy for the Online Sector
The Cultural Subsidy for the Online Sector is a subsidy programme offering support to our members in the online sector. This can happen in two ways:
The Cultural Supplement for the Online Sector: this is a revenue-based subsidy, and as such is designed as a broad-based form of support.
The Cultural Fund for the Online Sector: this is intended to provide individual support. It consists of a work-related basic subsidy on the one hand, and on the other of a special, project-related subsidy.
The precondition for receiving a subsidy is simply to have generated revenue in the music on demand (MOD) and/or social media (GOP) categories during the previous financial year. Thus, even one cent is enough, and likewise it makes no difference which works generated this revenue for you.
Only works with an online component are eligible for a subsidy. This means that the work must be performed/broadcast online: for example, if it can be accessed on commercial platforms such as YouTube or Spotify. It will not be sufficient for the work to appear only on a single private website.
You can establish the online component by including a link to your work in the application form.
Culture Fund for the Online Sector
The Cultural Fund is part of the Cultural Subsidy for the Online Sector and comprises two different types of subsidy:
Basic subsidy: GEMA uses this to support works with an online component. The first funding round starts on 2 June 2025. Applications can only be filed via the GEMA Online Portal. To find out whether you are entitled to apply, please read the eligibility requirements.
Special subsidy: this is targeted at individual proposals or projects of particular note. The first funding round starts in November 2025. Eligibility requirements will be available to view soon on this page.
There are several framework specifications relating to individual subsidies. In particular, each member can only apply for a subsidy for one work or project per financial year. Any given work or project can be supported with an individual subsidy only once, even if multiple applicants apply for a subsidy for the same work or project.
The work or project for which the application for a subsidy is made must have an online component.
The member making the application must have generated revenue in the music on demand (MOD) and/or social media (GOP) categories – albeit not necessarily with a work that is the subject of the application.
Further conditions are set out in the eligibility requirements. These may include, but are not limited to:
• support for specific genres, work categories or projects in individual funding rounds
• revenue thresholds for applicants
• special conditions for a special subsidy (“flagship projects”)
The conditions have been deliberately kept flexible so as to offer scope for a broad spectrum of development and support options.
Applications can only be filed via thes GEMA Onlineportal. If you do not yet have access to the Online Portal, you can apply for this quite simply at Online Portal (“Register now”).
Since the basic subsidy is a work-related form of support, you can only apply in respect of works in which you have a minimum interest of 10%.
If you have authorised a third party to manage your repertoire in the Online Portal (“administrative authorisation”), the person or publisher holding this authorisation may also submit an application on your behalf.
To qualify for a subsidy, a work must not have been registered with GEMA for longer than two years. No more than ten parties may hold an interest in it, and it must not have generated more than €1,000 of revenue in the GOP and MOD categories over the previous financial year.
The subsidy will be paid out once all applications have been decided. This is expected to be in October at the latest. The subsidy will be credited directly to your membership account.
Each member may only apply for a subsidy in respect of one work per financial year.
All works that potentially qualify for a subsidy are identified with a corresponding icon in the overview of works under “My repertoire” Onlineportal. If there is no such icon next to a work with respect to which you would like to apply for the subsidy, one of the following reasons may apply:
- It is possible that another member with an interest in the work has already filed an application for a subsidy. If this application is approved, you will receive a share of the subsidy corresponding to your interest in the work.
- It is also possible that your work does not meet the eligibility requirements for a subsidy: maybe it has already been registered with GEMA for longer than two years, or more than ten parties hold an interest in it.
- If you are not sure, try re-checking your work against the eligibility requirements.
Individual support via the Cultural Fund for the Online Sector is not limited to specific genres. Rather, its explicit purpose is to “appropriately reflect the variety and diversity of GEMA’s online repertoire”.
Distinctions such as those between serious and entertainment music play no particular role here; the option of applying for an individual subsidy from the Cultural Fund is available equally to works and projects traditionally classified as serious music.
Culture Supplement for the Online Sector
However, for all members receiving the Supplement, the amount will be higher than the deduction made from their revenue in the music on demand (MOD) and social media (GOP) categories.
The following factors should also be noted:The overall funds available for the Cultural Subsidy for the Online Sector are limited. In the music on demand (MOD) and social media (GOP) categories, the customary 10% deduction for social and cultural purposes has been replaced by a deduction of 1%.
The Cultural Subsidy for the Online Sector is also funded out of collections from statutory remuneration rights and amounts that cannot be distributed but which fall into the MOD and GOP categories. The overall level of the funds is not, for example, comparable to the previous rating.
The level of the Supplement varies individually, depending on the weighting applied to the member’s revenue: Revenue received by young, up-and coming creators is weighted double up to €5,000. This means that if their revenue is €5,000 or less, such creators will receive a Cultural Supplement determined by their revenue that is twice as high as that received by other members within the same revenue group.
High levels of revenue will be taken into account on a graded basis structured as a degression. This means that although the Cultural Supplement for high revenue may be greater in terms of the amount paid, it will represent a lower percentage of the member’s revenue than that received by members whose actual revenue is low.
These three categories (MOD S, MOD D, GOP) are the ones from which the funds for the Cultural Subsidy for the Online Sector are derived. Therefore, online usage also forms the basis for online funding.
The Cultural Supplement for the Online Sector is a percentage-based supplement to the online-related revenue of the respective member. To determine this revenue, various forms of weighting are applied. Among these – alongside the newcomer factor – is the method known as “degression”.
For all members participating in the Cultural Supplement for the Online Sector, MOD-/GOP-related revenue of up to €5,000 (creators) or €50,000 (publishers) is counted at a rate of 100%. If a member’s overall revenue is higher, only the amount exceeding €5,000 or €50,000, respectively, will be counted at a lower rate.
For example: a member has online-related revenue of €8,000. Out of this, the first €5,000 are counted at a rate of 100%, and the remaining €3,000 at 50% (i.e. €1,500). Based on this, the member’s total online-related revenue for the purposes of the Cultural Supplement is €6,500.
In terms of structure, revenue received by individual creators is not comparable to that of publishers, who generally act for a large number of writers. This is why GEMA differentiates between creators and publishers in a variety of contexts in which revenue level is a key factor (minimum revenue for full membership and GOP supplement, among other things).
Because the threshold values designated for the Cultural Supplement for the Online Sector are ten times higher for publishers than they are for creators, the allocation of funds reflects the division between creators and publishers at distribution level. This leaves the Supervisory Board in a position to react to any undesirable developments in the future by simply adjusting the threshold values.
If the revenue is below €100 (for individual creators) or €1,000 (for publishers), a revenue-based supplement will not generate any financially significant support. However, irrespective of revenue level, the option of an individual subsidy from the Cultural Fund for the Online Sector remains open to all members.
