Organisation

Questions and answers

• 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.

• Why do we speak about GEMA members?

  Because we are an association. More specifically, we have the legal form of an economic association by virtue of state conferral pursuant to section 22 of the German Civil Code (BGB). We consist of composers, lyricists and music publishers (and, where applicable, their legal successors) who are our members.

• What is GEMA and what is its significance?

  The acronym “GEMA” stands for “Gesellschaft für musikalische Aufführungs- und mechanische Vervielfältigungsrechte” [Society for musical performing and mechanical reproduction rights]. We are a collective management organisation and a fiduciary trustee for more than 95,000 members. They are:

  • Composers
  • Lyricists
  • Music publishers
  • Legal successors of the mentioned groups

  The significance of GEMA for creators:
  We manage the rights for our members and for more than two million foreign rightsholders and ensure that they are fairly remunerated. We also get involved in other ways on behalf of the interests of music creators and lobby for them and for copyright matters, at national and international levels. After all, without copyright, creative people could not live from their work and would be deprived of their livelihoods.

  The significance of GEMA for music users:
  We are also here for music users. Remember: Copyright applies in any case, independently of collective management organisations like us. What this means: Without us, you would have to acquire the rights from each creator individually if you are using music in public. Because we are here, you get access to the global music repertoire. We also represent the rights of foreign creators in Germany. You get in touch with us and pretty soon you can enjoy the music. You can learn more about GEMA's purpose on the page “GEMA at a glance”.
  
  As an organisation, we are looking back to a long history and profound experience. As early as 1903, composers founded our predecessor organisation, the first collective management organisation in Germany, called “Deutsche Anstalt für musikalisches Aufführungsrecht“ (AFMA) [German institution for musical performing rights]. We at GEMA have the legal form of a commercial association and are under the supervision of the German Patent and Trademark Office and the Federal Cartel Office.

• What forms of membership are there?

  There are two forms of membership: associate and full membership. For new members, associate membership usually applies initially. You can become a full member after five years of associate membership and once you have achieved a certain minimum income.
  
  Information on forms of membership

• Who are the GEMA members?

  Our members are composers, lyricists and music publishers (and the legal successors of these groups). Music creators like them have launched the first German collective management organisation over a 100 years ago. Since then, a lot has happened, but one thing remained the same: To this day, it is the members who set the tone and control the course of GEMA.

• How is GEMA organised?

  GEMA actually “is” its members. As a consequence, our most important body is the General Assembly of members. It usually takes place once a year, and takes turns between Berlin and Munich. All full GEMA members and the delegates of the associate members can participate.  The General Assembly is the supreme body and therefore has the sole right to resolve changes to the statutes, the distribution plan and the deed of assignment. It also elects a Supervisory Board consisting of six composers, four lyricists and five music publishers every three years.  Among its tasks are the appointment, dismissal and supervision of the Managing Committee. The Managing Committee, in turn, runs the GEMA business. It is obliged to present the Supervisory Board and the General Assembly with an annual report.