Music Economy and Media
From Creative Work to Live Events and Production to Making Musical Instruments
With its products and services, the music economy is at the heart of the significant cultural and creative industries sector. Revenue for 2023 was estimated at 17.4 billion euros, with gross value added totaling 6.6 billion euros. It encompasses not only the music industry—that is, the production and distribution of sound recordings and digital music products—but also sectors such as music education, the musical instrument trade, and, in particular, the organization of live concerts.
In recent years, the Internet - alongside radio and television - has become the most important platform for the distribution and consumption of music. Over the past decade, the range of offerings has multiplied thanks to digital channels and platforms, adapting to increasingly specific target audiences and needs. Artificial intelligence now also holds the promise of many new - and sometimes exciting - possibilities for the music economy. However, these developments are putting pressure on the traditional cultural and creative industries, including from a copyright perspective.
We are committed to:
improving the competitiveness of companies and projects in the music industry, for example by ensuring a reliable legal framework, but also through targeted public support for emerging artists as well as in the areas of digitization and exports
greater coverage of the key aspects of musical life in Germany — and thus also of the diversity of cultural life, particularly in the regions — through cultural radio stations and the preservation of these stations as linear programming as well
reduced taxation on cultural goods and the harmonization of existing regulations in this area
support and protection for curated music clubs — which the Bundestag has already recognized in principle as cultural venues — for example, by strengthening commercial lease laws that accommodate cultural activities and by amending the Building Use Ordinance to ensure equal treatment of music clubs and cultural venues with regard to the Technical Instructions on Noise (TA Lärm)
the protection of authors, performing artists, and their rights management partners, so that the exploitation and monetization of creative human works, performances, and recordings through unauthorized AI training can be effectively prevented
pushing forward an amendment to the Working Hours Act in line with the expansion of daily and weekly working hours—in accordance with European law—as is already the practice in Austria
Further Informations
The German Music Information Center (miz), an institution of the German Music Council, published the results of a representative survey on music and artificial intelligence on September 15, 2026. The survey focuses on listening experiences, attitudes, and public acceptance of the use of AI.
The study „Musikwirtschaft in Deutschland 2024“,published in October 2024, shows that the music industry — with 155,900 employees, revenue of 17.4 billion euros, and gross value added of 6.6 billion euros — is a significant and rapidly growing economic sector in Germany. Despite the music economy’s significant influence, however, many artists and music industry businesses are facing increasing pressure on their livelihoods, partly due to inflation. To strenghten the music economy the „Music Economy Forum“ formulated eleven key demands in a joint position paper with the German Music Council.
About 1,800 music festivals take place regularly in Germany, often transforming entire towns into a state of artistic and social excitement. Sometimes hundreds, sometimes tens of thousands of fans gather here for concerts and, often, a supporting program. The musical spectrum is as diverse as the venues where the events take place — from early music to techno, from concert halls to open fields. The „Festivalstudie - Musikfestivals in Deutschland“ provides a comprehensive overview of this cultural diversity. It highlights the artistic and social significance of the festivals as well as their economic and structural challenges.
As part of the symposium „Künstliche Intelligenz und Musik“, the Living Paper „Künstliche Intelligenz und Musik – Hilfe oder Konkurrenz?“ was drafted and subsequently adopted by the General Assembly of the German Music Council. After the European Union’s „AI Regulation“ was approved in March 2024, the German Music Council, in collaboration with its federal committees on media, the music industry, and law, presented a follow-up to the Living Paper.
At the Musikdialog Hamburg on September 18, 2024, the new study „Musikwirtschaft in Deutschland 2024" was presented. The study’s objective was to assess and present the economic significance of the German music economy as a whole. Methodologically, it builds on the previous studies from 2015 and 2020 and allows for a comparison over time.
Öffentlich-rechtlicher Rundfunk (ÖRR)
The German Music Council is deeply committed to preserving and strengthening the öffentlich-rechtlicher Rundfunk (ÖRR) as a key partner for the music scene in Germany. In recent years, it has closely monitored the reform process as a „critical friend“. Its commitment to music policy focuses on the cultural and educational mission of public broadcasting — particularly with regard to jazz, amateur and folk music, and the presence of migrant music cultures — as well as on the preservation of broadcast ensembles.
Symposium „Künstliche Intelligenz und Musik“ (2023)
On October 20, 2023, as part of the public session of its general meeting, the German Music Council held a conference titled „Künstliche Intelligenz und Musik – Hilfe oder Konkurrenz?“ at the Catholic Academy in Berlin.
The conference provided a platform for discussing future prospects in cultural and economic policy as well as copyright law. What is the current state of artificial intelligence in music and the music economy? How is the music landscape changing, and how are people listening to music differently? How are professional fields evolving, and what new ones are emerging? What opportunities exist for attracting a larger or even new audience? What do project ideas specifically look like when it comes to hybrid soundscapes, participation, and immersion? Experts presented exciting insights, case studies, and practical examples on these topics in a wide range of thematic modules.
Topic Portals of the German Music Information Center (miz)
Here you will find numerous expert articles, the latest news, documents, and a broad overview of institutions in these fields.
Music and Media in our Funding Projects
Podium Gegenwart promotes the visibility and professional development of outstanding young artists who push boundaries and bring fresh perspectives. To date, the Edition Zeitgenössische Musik has featured over 125 composers from Germany through portrait albums available on CD and online. Additional information is provided by detailed booklets, the educational series Abenteuer Neue Musik (e.g., in school projects), and video portraits.
Our Committees on this Topic
Contact
Immanuel Beyreuther
Speaker
Regarding Öffentlich-rechtlicher Rundfunk:
Dr. Anna Vogt
Speaker
E-Mail: generalsekretariat@musikrat.de