Register your audiovisual and audio recordings with GEMA
Music on audio recordings provides a special music listening experience. The comeback of vinyl is evidence for this. The very act of putting on a record is sensual.
Here, you get a licence for music products such as CDs or LPs but also for products with mixed content such as cinema films on DVD or radio plays.
Register audio and audiovisual recordings in the GEMA Online Portal
Many helpful services in our Online Portal
Determine the creators of songs using our search repertoire function
New and simplified tariff structure from 2025
The market for audio and audiovisual recordings has changed. Digital offers prevail, physical music products such as music albums on vinyl and CD are still in demand while other offers are disappearing from the market. This is why we have reduced and significantly simplified our tariff structure. It entered into force in 2025. The focus is now on tariffs aligned with the market requirements and an easy-to-understand self-service. What this means for you is that choosing the right tariff is easier, for example.
Get a licence in just a few steps!
2 product categories, 2 tariffs
We distinguish between two types of storage media: pure music products and products with mixed content.
Produkts with mixed content such as cinema films on DVD and radio plays
(Tariff VR-MT-H category 2)
Your fee goes directly to the creators
There is a lot of hard work behind the creative effort of composers, lyricists and music publishers. For this, they deserve a fair remuneration if their works are used in public e.g. on a DVD, an audio book, on vinyl or as a music CD. The money that we receive from you will be paid out to our members but also the creators from abroad whose works are reproduced in Germany.
Select type of music use and register
Commercially available audio / sound carriers / recordings
CDs, LPs, MCs or similar. Distributed to the specialist trade (tariff VR-T-H 1)
Audio / sound carrier custom production
Special distribution e.g. as product supplements, magazine inserts etc. (tariff VR-T-H 2)
GEMA members with their own works
Special provisions for the production of audio sound recordings (limited number of units)
Film videos
Distribution to the specialist trade or via special distribution channels (tariffs VR-BT-H 3/VR-BT-H 4)
Music videos
Distribution to the specialist trade or via special distribution channels (tariffs VR-BT-H 3/VR-BT-H 5)
Synchronisation rights
Use of the GEMA repertoire to create a film work (tariffs VR-TH-F 1/VR-TH-F 2/VR-TH-F 3)
Multimedia data carriers
Including video contents on DVD ROM, CD-ROM, USB sticks or similar items and their distribution (tariff VR-AV-DT-H 1)
Audio data storage media
Without video content. Distribution to the specialist trade or via special distribution channels (tariffs VR-A-DT-H 1/VR-A-DT-H 2)
Musical mechanisms, barrel organs with cylinders, music on perforated cards
and their distribution (tariff VR-T-Sp 1/VR-T-DK 1)
Non-commercial licences
Reproduction on sound recordings or audiovisual recordings using a non-commercial licence
Who created the work? Who wrote the music, the lyrics or published it?
If you want to find out who the composer, lyricist or publisher or a musical work is, our Repertoire search will help you find them. This online service enables you to identify works. Once you have found the details, you can contact the participating publisher provided they are a GEMA member.
Don’t forget: The displayed data only show an excerpt of our database and therefore do not provide any information regarding the protection of the displayed work or the status of the participating rightsholders. GEMA does not provide any guarantee for the correctness of the data provided and accepts no liability for damage incurred by the user either directly or indirectly resulting from the information obtained by using the online service.
How to use music in films, series and commercials
This is how you register you audio or audiovisual recording in the Online Portal
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Select the option “music storage medium” and determine the fee
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Log on to/register for the Online Portal.
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Enter the details and complete the registration.
License sound carriers online
It’s easy to register your sound carriers online. In our Online Portal, we are with you, step by step, to help you find the right tariff. We also integrated the GEMA Repertoire search into the service. This way, you can acquire a licence in a simple and straightforward manner for all works used.
Register music storage media and much more – in the GEMA Online Portal
The GEMA Online Portal holds a variety of services for you. You can register all your audiovisual and audio recordings under music storage media in our price calculator. Under My products – in My area – you can access an overview of all products registered so far and the respective processing status. You can also amend your customer data in the Online Portal, where applicable, and get all other matters involving GEMA sorted.
My products
My details
Search repertoire
Price
FAQs – frequently asked questions on the new licensing process for sound recordings
- Until now, there has been a multitude of tariffs for individual types of use. The new model is based on a tariff via which music products can be licensed uniformly.
- Instead of individual storage media, music products are licensed. In this case, we differentiate between two categories:
a) Pure music content, e.g. CDs, vinyl and music videos
b) Mixed content, such as audio books, radio plays, films and series - You can license all products via the GEMA Online Portal. All other ways of notification such as forms are no longer required.
A CD is a music product. It contains music only, or music is in the foreground. An audio book, however, is a product with mixed content. It contains, apart from music, other content, in this case spoken word.
Register the manufacture of your product in the GEMA Onlineportal an.If you do not have access yet,register to get an account. When you submit a manufacture notification, some details are mandatory, such as number of units, price, pressing plant and, where applicable, EAN/GTIN Please also provide us with the product title and the performer. The paid invoice is a confirmation for the pressing plant, that your product has been licensed.
A film is a product with mixed content which contains film sequences apart from music. It is therefore important that you stick to the following steps:
- First, you clear the synchronisation rights. This means that you acquire the right to combine music and film. It is possible that you need to clear additional rights; more on this on our pages music in films, series and commercials or music in videos.
- After having cleared the rights, you register your audiovisual production with us in our Online Portal using the AV registration.
- In the previous step, you received a GEMA AV number. This way, you can have your film DVD licensed in the Onlineportal under my Music products.
Mandatory details are, among others: number of units, price, pressing plant, AV number, and, where applicable, EAN/GTIN.If you do not have access to our Online Portal yet, Please also provide us with the product title, the director and the production country.
FIf you do not have access to our Online Portal yet, register to get an account. The paid invoice is a confirmation for the pressing plant, that your product has been licensed.
We have entered into new general agreements with the industry associations. As an industry association member, you benefit from the discounted conditions provided that
- your association offers contractual assistance and has registered you as a member in time;
- and that you adhere to the terms and conditions under the general agreements when you register your product.
In case that your membership with an association is on file in our Online Portal, the discount will be deducted automatically. Please contact your association for information around membership and discounted conditions.
Should you have had an individual/industry contract with GEMA up to the end of 2024, it expired per the end of the year. New provisions cover general agreements in future.
Back in the day, each recording or “carrier” was registered individually, e.g. 2 CDs in a double album. Nowadays, you licence the entire music product with us. It may contain one or several storage media, e.g. 2 audio recordings, or an audiovisual recording and an audio recording.
We are now licensing production-based, irrespective of the number of media in the product. Music products containing only music recordings are categorised as music content. Products containing music recordings and mixed content recordings, are categorised due to their higher music share of the product as music content. Products containing only mixed content recordings, are categorised as mixed content.
For licensing purposes, you can choose between the highest Published Price to Dealer (PPD) or the end consumer price, also referred to as recommended retail price (RRP).
The PPD is usually used by larger manufacturers or labels that sell their music products to retailers via intermediaries. Using the PPD means you need to indicate the EAN/GTIN.
The RRP is often used by smaller manufacturers if they sell their music products directly such as musicians who sell their albums directly to the concert goers during their tours.
If the PPD is not published, the RRP shall apply. If there is no PPD or RRP, a comparable price will be used as a basis, or you can conclude a remuneration agreement with us regarding the applicable price.
If you give your music product away for free, please indicate EUR 0,00 as the sales price for licensing purposes. In such cases, the licence is calculated on the basis of the minimum remuneration. That is the minimum licensing value due for the manufacture of the music product. In accordance with case law / court rulings, it shall provide an adequate remuneration for the creators for the non-cash benefit that arises as a result of this music use.
Access the Login page – this is how you register. Don’t forget: You will get an activation code by post. This may take several days. Please provide for this period when you are planning your registration!
We provide answers to any additional questions regarding the Online Portal on our help centre page Online Portal Services.
How to use music in films, series and commercials
Do you want to use music in a film, a series or in a commercial? We’re glad to hear it! Especially on behalf of the creators whose music you are intending to use. It is important that you obtain the necessary rights from them up front. We tell you how you go about this: check out our overview page for audiovisual productions in general and on our page for music in videos.
Für Künstlerinnen und Künstler ist die GEMA eine starke Partnerin
Jonathan Zelter | Performer and authorI love writing new songs, listening to my music lyrics on the radio, watching them on TV or experiencing them live – each time this happens I am proud as if it were the first time. So that I can live off my music and continue to be creative, I have GEMA on my side.
Fabian Lang | Composer and ProducerEspecially in times where digitisation and streaming has brought about the biggest change for the music industry since the invention of sound recording, a strong GEMA is enormously important to me in order to protect the creators.
ela. | Songwriter and performerNot only does GEMA look after my copyright as a performer; it also takes care of the exploitation rights for my works which is why this institution is one of the most important for me. After all this is exactly what provides the safety net for me to be able to develop myself as a songwriter.
Ambre Vallet | Songwriter & ArtistEspecially in today's digital world, it is important for artists like me that our rights are respected. GEMA gives me this security, is always there for me and I can fully concentrate on my creativity.
Diana Goldberg | Songwriter & ArtistIt's important for me that my social media community grows with me and gets an early glimpse at the creation of my songs. GEMA gives me the assurance that nobody else can claim my music as theirs.
AVAION | Electro-MusicianTo me, GEMA means having a steady and reliable partner on my side who ensures that performers receive their due income. I could not imagine a music industry without GEMA.
Zoé | musicianAs an artist, I can and want to earn money with my music. GEMA is a strong partner in this respect!
Diamonds | rock bandWe are all GEMA members since we want our music to be protected in terms of copyright and receive fair royalty payments for our works. You are really doing a great job. Thank you GEMA!
Gwen Cobain | musician and songwirterI am a member because I want to be able to live well off my music. I also consider copyright to be a very valuable asset and want to protect my songs. On top of that, I would like to increase the currently low proportion of women at GEMA.
Sofia Stark | singer songwriterI have been a GEMA member for half of my life: When I was in the teenage band “Debbie Rockt” back in 2007, GEMA was the only entity thanks to which I got money for my (songwriting) work.
Christin Henkel | composer & songwriterConsidering the multitude of broadcasts and performances, I would have lost the overview long ago. But no matter whether it’s royalties for live concerts, radio or television, GEMA takes care of it. I am glad that my rights as a composer are represented here.
