Special funding
Have you heard about our new special funding program? Starting on 1 December 2025, it will launch as part of the Culture Fund Online – and it’s aimed directly at you as a composer or lyricist!
Are you working on your songwriting career, producing your music project, or perhaps planning to release your brand-new work online? Then use the opportunity and apply with your project for our special funding. We’re supporting 24 projects with a grant of 10,000 euros each, so you can bring your musical ideas to life and take a big step closer to your goal. The application deadline is 31 December 2025.
Ready for more? You’ll find all the details on requirements, terms and conditions, and how to apply on this page. We’re keeping our fingers crossed for all applicants – good luck!
Would you like to apply for funding directly?
The Basic funding programme enters its next round
From 3rd November 2025, you have the opportunity to apply for individual funding of €2,500 for your culturally significant works and contributions, once again. Details on eligibility and funding conditions can be found in the FAQs below.
Not successful in the first round? No worries! Take the opportunity and apply again for the new funding round. Was your application declined this time? That’s not a setback – you’ll have another chance to submit a new application next year.
The jury looks forward to receiving your application. Best of luck!
Conditions for funding
All full and associate GEMA members belonging to the professional category of composers or lyricists are entitled to subsidies.
The subsidy is aimed at professional music authors who want to develop their songwriting career strategically by tapping into new networks of artists and/or business networks, new genres or new markets via organised writing sessions in and outside Germany or through prospective participation in songwriting camps, thereby developing a growing catalogue of copyrighted works in which they have been involved and are therefore entitled to a share of the proceeds.
It is furthermore aimed at creators who are also performers (as solo artists or as part of a band) and who, in this capacity, are planning the production and online release of an audio recording (e.g. an EP or album) consisting solely of new own works.
Music producers who are demonstrably, and to a significant degree, involved as co-authors in such a creation and music production process, are also entitled to apply.
By 31 August 2026.
Applications for a special subsidy may only be submitted via the Onlineportal. Our eligibility requirements are as follows. Please use our handout for registration in our Onlineportal.
Applications may only be submitted by the actual applicant. Applications may not be submitted by proxy representatives. More information, see here: eligibility requirements.
Applications for the first funding round may be filed from 1 to 31 December 2025.
The funding amount is €10,000. For further details on payment arrangements, please refer to the terms and conditions.
The jury is expected to decide on the submitted applications by the end of January 2026. We will inform you of the decision in February 2026.
The allocation of funds is determined by an independent jury. Applications are processed in the order in which they are received. Once the funds allocated for a funding round have been exhausted, no further applications can be approved.
The payment is made in two instalments: Of the €10,000, you will receive €7,500 (75%) immediately after your application has been approved. The remaining €2,500 (25%) will be paid after the project has been completed and the required documentation has been submitted. The first instalment is expected to be credited to the member account on 1 March 2026.
No.
If there are indications that the project cannot be implemented, or cannot be implemented as outlined in the funding application, this must be reported to GEMA immediately. GEMA reserves the right to reclaim any funds already paid out from the applicants.