FREO welcomes new remuneration rules for music streaming

The Joint Remuneration Rules set out, on the basis of the Copyright Act, the entitlement of performing musicians to fair remuneration. For members of PRO MUSIK and VUT, they establish binding minimum remuneration thresholds and clearer rules for sharing in the commercial exploitation of sound recordings. Of particular relevance is the success-based share, laid down for the first time, for non-featured artists – including studio musicians – when a recording achieves commercial success via streaming.

“Ensuring that musicians receive a fair share of the economic exploitation of their work must not be left to chance. The new remuneration rules establish, for the first time, concrete common standards between musicians and independent music companies. This is an important step on which we must now build further,” says Lena Krause, Managing Director of FREO e.V.

From FREO’s perspective, the agreement is a starting point. The streaming market as a whole remains characterised by significant distribution problems. Fair rules within the independent music industry can therefore only be part of the solution. At the same time, the agreement demonstrates that binding standards can be jointly negotiated between the various stakeholders in the music industry. PRO MUSIK and VUT also expressly regard the agreement as a basis for the further development of fair remuneration structures.

The remuneration rules will come into force on 10 September 2026, initially for a period of two years, and are to be evaluated for the first time no later than the end of this period. Among other things, market conditions, technical developments and the economic situation of the parties involved are to be taken into account.

Further information is available at: https://www.promusikverband.de/gvr/

About FREO

FREO – Freie Ensembles und Orchester in Deutschland e.V. is a network and political voice for independent ensembles and orchestras in Germany. The association brings together the concerns of independent musical ensembles and advocates for visibility, planning security, structural support and fair framework conditions. Further information can be found at www.freo-netzwerk.de.