GEMA reform: New targeted funding approved

At the GEMA general meeting held in Berlin in early May, the planned reform of cultural funding was approved. The existing ‘classical music funding’ scheme will be replaced in future by a new ‘focused funding’ scheme. The aim is to provide greater support for innovation and emerging artists, and to distribute funds more widely.

For many established artists from smaller genres such as jazz, classical or avant-garde, however, this could mean lower funding allocations. This will alter the financial basis of many cultural and live programmes.

This funding affects booking agencies, festival organisers and cultural events in particular. In future, higher fee demands could arise, as some artists will have to offset the loss of funding more heavily through their performance fees.