GEMA: A quick explanation.
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GEMA (Gesellschaft für musikalische Aufführungs- und mechanische Vervielfältigungsrechte) is the German collecting society for music authors. This means that it represents the rights of composers, lyricists, and music publishers and ensures that they receive fair payment when their music is used.
What does GEMA do?
It manages usage rights: Music creators transfer the rights to their works to GEMA. GEMA uses these rights to issue licenses whenever music is used publicly.
It collects license fees: When music is performed, played, or reproduced in public, for example at events, on the radio, on television, in clubs, or in stores, users pay a fee to GEMA in order to use this music legally.
It distributes royalties: The revenue from these license fees is collected and distributed as royalties to the music authors and their publishers. In this way, GEMA ensures that authors receive money for the use of their works without having to enforce each individual use themselves.
Why is this important?
Withouta collecting society such as GEMA, each user would have to negotiate individually with each artist or rights holder before being allowed to use their music. This would be very complicated and practically impossible, especially with a large number of pieces of music. Thanks to GEMA, music creators receive and reliable income when their music is used.
Brief summary
GEMA = Association that manages music rights.
Music users pay fees when they use music publicly.
Music authors receive royalties, i.e., money for the use of their works.
What does GEMA do?
It manages usage rights: Music creators transfer the rights to their works to GEMA. GEMA uses these rights to issue licenses whenever music is used publicly.
It collects license fees: When music is performed, played, or reproduced in public, for example at events, on the radio, on television, in clubs, or in stores, users pay a fee to GEMA in order to use this music legally.
It distributes royalties: The revenue from these license fees is collected and distributed as royalties to the music authors and their publishers. In this way, GEMA ensures that authors receive money for the use of their works without having to enforce each individual use themselves.
Why is this important?
Withouta collecting society such as GEMA, each user would have to negotiate individually with each artist or rights holder before being allowed to use their music. This would be very complicated and practically impossible, especially with a large number of pieces of music. Thanks to GEMA, music creators receive and reliable income when their music is used.
Brief summary
GEMA = Association that manages music rights.
Music users pay fees when they use music publicly.
Music authors receive royalties, i.e., money for the use of their works.
