Use music

Music notification

• By when do I have to report my music use?

  There is no fixed period for this in general*, but we do recommend: The earlier, the better! This way, you can clarify any unresolved issues and are on the safe side. What’s important is that you notify us of your event before it takes place.
  
  Here is some legal background for those who are interested: There is even a statutory obligation to notify music uses beforehand. After all, the general rule in business life is: If you want to use rights, you must acquire them beforehand.
  
  *If you are a member of an association or an umbrella organisation with which a general agreement or blanket agreement has been entered into, it is possible that there are specific provisions regarding the number of days before the event before you must submit the music use notification. Your association or umbrella organisation would have to inform you of any such mandatory notification deadlines. 

• Do I have to report anything afterwards?

  Please always submit event notifications with specific dates such as place, date, attendance (where applicable), etc. In the case of specific event types, e.g. concerts, we also need you to submit the net ticket sales figures once you have them. To do this, you can use the function in the Online Portal.

  In the case of live events, i.e. events with bands/musicians, you must submit a setlist.  You can do this on the Online Portal under My setlists.

• Was ist die EAN bzw. die GTIN? Gibt es einen Unterschied?

  Die European Article Number, kurz EAN, ist eine international anerkannte Zahlenfolge, zur Kennzeichnung von Produkten. Die EAN ist die 13-stellige Nummer unterhalb des Barcodes. Mit der EAN kann jeder Artikel, jedes Produkt oder jede Produktvariante weltweit überschneidungsfrei identifiziert werden. Bereits im Jahr 2009 wurde die EAN durch die international gültige Bezeichnung GTIN (Global Trade Item Number) ersetzt. Hierzulande wird allerdings weiterhin oft die Bezeichnung EAN verwendet. Unterschiede zwischen EAN und GTIN gibt es keine.

• Was sind HAP und EVP und wann nutze ich welchen Preis?

  HAP – Höchster Händlerabgabepreis: Der HAP wird häufig von größeren Herstellerinnen oder Labels genutzt, die ihre Musikprodukte über Zwischenhändler in den Einzelhandel bringen. Bei der Nutzung des HAP ist die Angabe einer EAN/GTIN erforderlich.

  EVP – Endverbraucherpreis, Endverkaufspreis oder auch Detailverkaufspreis: Der EVP wird häufig von kleineren Herstellern verwendet, wenn sie Musikprodukte direkt vertreiben, wie Musikerinnen, die ihre Alben auf Tournee an die Konzertbesucher verkaufen.

• Which tariff is the right one?

  That depends on where and how you use music. You can easily find out the right tariff:

  1. Is your query about an event, a permanent music use (e.g. In retail, the catering trade and in hotel and guest rooms) or do want to use music on the internet? In that case, please use our price calculator.
  2. Or do you want to fix music onto sound recordings? In that case, please go to our online service Product application.

  We also offer a complete tariff overview at tariff overview:
   

  • In the left column you can see the type of music use
  • On the right, you can select the exact category or genre.
  • After you have selected the category, you can download the relevant questionnaire.
  • By answering the questionnaire, you get to the right tariff.
     

  Please do get in touch if you still need help.

• Which form do I use for my music notification?

  You cannot submit notifications relating to most GEMA tariffs for events and background music; instead, you can do this via the price calculator in our Online Portal. It’s really simple and you also find out about the price there and then. 

  For tariffs that have not yet been integrated into the Online Portal, notification forms are available. They are located on the following overview page.

  Please submit your notifications for music on sound recordings at Producers’ notification.

  Additional information on your music notification is included in our video. 

• How can I report music uses?

  1) Music in public
  
  a) Event

  • Concert
  • Theatre performance
  • Festival
  • Party/celebration/dance/balls
  • Disco
  • Carnival
  • Processions/street parades
  • Mass
  • Self-made copies 
  • Film presentation/slide show etc.
  • Sports event
  • Spoken word cabaret, comedy, reading etc.
  • Outdoor markets
     

  b) Permanent music use

  • Retail, service sector, doctors etc.
  • Catering, restaurants and hotels etc.
  • Hotel and guest rooms 
  • Music in amusement halls
  • Swimming pools, saunas, indoor climbing walls etc.
  • Copying of sheet music
  • Self-made copies
     

  you can simply and quickly report your music use via the Online Portal. In this case, you first determine the price via the price calculator.
   

  2) If you report music on the internet, please use our licence shop.
   

  3) Or do you wish to licence sound recordings? You can do this via our online service Product application.
   

  4) All tariffs which have not been integrated into said tools can be reported by using a form. An overview can be accessed under tariff overview.

  1) Music in public
  
  a) Event

  • Concert
  • Theatre performance
  • Festival
  • Party/celebration/dance/balls
  • Disco
  • Carnival
  • Processions/street parades
  • Mass
  • Self-made copies 
  • Film presentation/slide show etc.
  • Sports event
  • Spoken word cabaret, comedy, reading etc.
  • Outdoor markets
     

  b) Permanent music use

  • Retail, service sector, doctors etc.
  • Catering, restaurants and hotels etc.
  • Hotel and guest rooms 
  • Music in amusement halls
  • Swimming pools, saunas, indoor climbing walls etc.
  • Copying of sheet music
  • Self-made copies
     

  you can simply and quickly report your music use via the Online Portal. In this case, you first determine the price via the price calculator.
   

  2) If you report music on the internet, please also use the online portal with the price calculator.
   

  3) Or do you wish to licence sound recordings? You can do this via our online service Product application.
   

  4) All tariffs which have not been integrated into said tools can be reported by using a form. An overview can be accessed under tariff overview.

• How can I register sound recordings online?

  There are two ways to register the use of music on sound recordings: For many purposes, you can simply purchase the licence in our online portal. This applies, for example, to the production of music CDs or records. In other cases, for example when registering audiobooks, we provide you with forms that you can use to register the use of music by e-mail or post. You can find an overview of all uses in the online service Production application.
  
  Please note: You can find the online service in the Services section of the Online Portal.