Using music on the internet
Whatever way you want to use music on the internet: Register it with GEMA and acquire the right licence. This applies whether you use music across Germany but also for transnational online music services. You can register your podcast with music and your internet radio here, music on-demand and video on-demand (download and streaming) here. This is also the right address for you if your matter relates to background music on websites, GEMA member websites, audio books, music for emails, vouchers and QR codes.
- Find out how you can register the music use
- More about our Online Portal and Licensr
- The most important information on music on the internet
Everything about how to register music on the internet
Those who compose songs, write lyrics or publish music want to get fair pay. Just like everyone else. That is what copyright is for. It protects creators by law and ensures that they are fairly remunerated when their works are used in public. Of course, this also applies to music use on the internet. With your contribution, you are therefore making a really important contribution.
Access to musical world repertoire
Did you know that copyright applies irrespective of GEMA? Your advantage: Instead of contacting and paying each creator individually for your music on the internet , you can simply contact us – and get access to musical world repertoire. After all, we do not just represent the rights of more than 95,000 GEMA members but also more than two million rightsholders abroad.
GEMA Online Portal - for online uses in Germany
Internet radio, podcasts, websites, portals, GEMA member websites, emails or apps: The GEMA Online Portal is the place for notifying us of music on the internet. It’s rather easy and quick as well. Especially in the case of repeat notifications, our Online Portal is particularly convenient. Don’t forget: The Online Portal is exclusively for music which is used across Germany.
Licences for transnational online music services
You are offering your online music service in at least two countries? In that case, simply use Licensr, the self-service platform of ICE to have your music licensed. Just answer a few questions and the tool will determine the licence fee. Calculation, payment via credit card and confirmation by email, all of that within just minutes. In order to use Licensr for transnational licences, you need to run a streaming or download service or offer music online B2B. Your annual expected turnover is a maximum of EUR 250,000.
Livestreaming – for events such as concerts, fairs or sports courses
Livestreaming (or linear streaming) refers to videos or music content which are made available simultaneously to all viewers at a specific point in time only, similar to a TV broadcast. There may be an option to stop the stream and to continue watching up to a maximum of two hours later.
The licence also includes the act of showing the livestream at a later point in time, once and linear on the website. Only additional access/ views must be included in the fee calculation later.
Music on-demand (download und streaming)
There is a case of music on-demand when music can be downloaded (download) or listened to directly (streaming) via data stream from an internet provider or service.
Don’t forget: Music is clearly in the foreground when it comes to music on-demand (MOD). We distinguish it from video on-demand (VOD). Here, you have e.g. films or series where the image plays a bigger role.
You can find out on the respective tariff page how to register music on-demand.
Music and music video Paid-for streaming
Use of GEMA repertoire in the course of paid-for streaming services (tariff VR-OD 8)
Music and music video Paid-for streaming (B2B)
Use of GEMA repertoire in the course of paid-for streaming services (tariff VR-OD 13)
Music & music videosFree streaming
Free-of-charge and ad-supported music and music video streaming services (tariff VR-OD 9)
Small-scale online use
Music-on-demand, video-on-demand, background music on a small scale (tariff VR-OD 10)
Video on-demand (download und streaming)
Music is an elementary component of films, series and many shows. At the same time, the market for video streaming has grown rapidly. If you provide e.g. feature filmes, series or shows with music on your website or via your webserver for retrieval via download or streaming, our video on-demand tariffs apply.
You can find out on the respective tariff page how to register the music in videos on-demand.
Internet radio and podcasts
Podcasts now have a fixed place in the media landscape. All the more important that you stand out and become recognisable with your own production. Strike the right note with music - even before the first word has been spoken.
Internet radio is becoming ever more popular. You can acquire the necessary exploitation rights from us.
Further types of use and tariffs
If you use background music on a website, audio books, radio plays or offer dial-back melodies for downloading purposes, please also register this with us. Find out on the respective tariff page how to do this. The same applies for all other types of use (see below).
Small-scale online use
Background music on websites, apps, emails at a small scale. (tariff VR-OD 10)
Audio books, radio plays & similar productions
Music in audios, radio plays and similar via download and/or streaming (tariff VR-OD 12)
Non-commercial licences online
Background music for websites, downloads, streaming using a non-commercial licence (GEMA NK licence)
Frequently asked questions on social media & websites
Do you want to use music on a social media platform such as YouTube, Twitch, TikTok, Instagram or Facebook? We answer your frequently asked questions in our help centre.
I would like to upload music on a video platform such as YouTube or Twitch. What do I need to consider?
Here’s everything you need to know. First things first: ...
I want to use music on TikTok. What do I need to consider?
In its “Music Terms of Service”, TikTok differentiates between non-commercial and commercial videos. Non-commercial TikTok videos are created by natural persons are exclusively for personal entertainment and are not made for commercial purposes.
