GEMA and GEZ – is that not the same?

No, GEZ, which has been renamed into “ARD ZDF Deutschlandradio Beitragsservice”, is a non-incorporated shared institution, jointly run by the public service state broadcasting companies, the Zweite Deutsche Fernsehen (ZDF) and the Deutschlandradio.  It collects the so-called TV licence or broadcasting fees (from households).

GEMA, on the other hand, is a commercial association [wirtschaftlicher Verein]. Its purpose is to manage and process the rights of music creators.