Basic funding
Would you like to apply for funding directly?
Would you like to apply for funding directly?
The second round of basic funding is now closed!
We have once again received a very high number of applications – what an amazing response! We are delighted that the second funding round of the Culture Fund Online has generated so much interest. Due to the large volume of submissions, we now have to close the registration process, because we can only support a limited number of works.
The jury will carefully review the applications over the coming weeks. By the end of January 2026, we will announce whether funding has been approved. The payout of funds is scheduled for 1 February 2026. There will be another opportunity to apply for basic funding next year, in mid-2026. We will publish all relevant information on gema.de in a timely manner.
We wish all participants the best of luck and keep our fingers crossed!
Conditions for funding
All full and associate members of GEMA who fulfil the requirements (see below) are eligible for funding.
This subsidy relates exclusively to works. Every member can file one application for subsidy of a work per financial year. Each work can be supported with a subsidy only once. This also applies if multiple applicants apply in respect of the same work. We therefore recommend that other parties with an interest in the work be notified in advance when planning to file an application.
An application for a subsidy can be filed if the following conditions are met:
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The work must have been registered within the past two years, the deadline being the start of the respective funding round.
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The work must be published on commercial online platforms, e.g. YouTube or Spotify. Exclusive publication on a private website is not sufficient.
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Works created by an AI are excluded from this subsidy.
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The applicant must have a share in the work of at least 10 %.
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There may be no more than ten parties with an interest in the work.
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The member making the application must have generated revenue in the GOP, MOD D and/or MOD S categories during the financial year prior to the filing of the application.
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In the GOP and MOD categories, the revenue for the work received in total by all interested parties must not have exceeded €1,000 during the financial year prior to the filing of the application.
2nd funding round: from 03.11.2025
2nd funding round: from 03.11.2025 (closed)
As soon as the funds available for the funding round are exhausted, no further applications can be approved.
Applications for a basic subsidy may only be submitted via the Onlineportal. Our eligibility requirements are as follows.
The subsidy amount of €2,500 will be allocated among all GEMA members with an interest in the work on a pro rata basis that corresponds to their respective share in the work, as defined in the GEMA work registration valid at the start of the funding round.
The funding amount is paid out to the member account for all applicants after the applications have been reviewed.
Subsidies will be awarded by an independent jury consisting of nine full members and three deputy members. Applications will be processed in order of receipt. Once the funds designated for a given funding round have been exhausted, no further applications can be approved.
If you would like to find out more about the jury, please take a look at: Meet the Jury.