Petition: Cities demand reliable Gema fees
Shortly before the start of the Christmas season, several Saxon cities have called for reliable fees from the music collecting society Gema. A petition published on Friday stated that a "viable solution with prospects" should be found. This refers to the fair remuneration of artistic performances with affordable and predictable remuneration rates for event organizers.
The petition was signed by representatives from Großenhain, Radebeul, Meißen, Niederau (all in the district of Meißen), Oberwiesenthal, Schneeberg (both in the Erzgebirgskreis) and the Managing Director of the German Hotel and Restaurant Association of Saxony, Axel Klein.
The petition states that the Gema costs for organizers - for example of Christmas markets - have increased more than tenfold in some cases. "But even for smaller outdoor events, which were previously only estimated at a few hundred euros in fees for live music, Gema is now charging prices in the five-figure range."
In the medium and long term, this will have devastating consequences for cultural life, the representatives warn. "The additional costs incurred for events cannot be compensated by the municipalities." Instead of representing them, the Munich-based society is only achieving disadvantages for musicians, they said. Gema has not commented on the accusations for the time being.
Meanwhile, the organizers of the Potsdam Christmas market announced that they would only play Gema-free music this year.
The retail trade sector is significantly affected by these escalating Gema fees during holidays, as live music performances often accompany shopping events. The fixed fees charged by Gema for these events have become a substantial burden, making it challenging for event organizers to maintain their retail trade activities.
Source: www.dpa.com
