Christmas markets will not play music this year in Germany. At issue: the copyright management company GEMA has revised its price scale upwards.
Mulled wine, gingerbread and carols spring to mind when we think of Christmas markets.
But this year, the nights will remain calm in Germany.
Christmas markets will not play music.
At issue: The copyright management company GEMA has revised its price scale upwards.
Sweet night
On the ground, the atmosphere at the Berlin Christmas market is very different this year. For many, songs are missing from the festivities.
Some have banned all Christmas singing, while others ignore complex rules.
Many retailers fear that the absence of music will lead to a reduction in visitor time and expenses.
The Gesellschaft für musikalische Aufführungs- und mechanische Vervielfältigungsrechte (GEMA) or “society for rights to musical performance and mechanical reproduction”, is a German copyright management society.
This represents the rights of different players in the music industry, such as composers, lyricists and music publishers.
“Each visitor to the Christmas market generates around 18 euros in turnover,” says GEMA on its website. “On the other hand, a few cents are charged per visit for the GEMA license”, or “around 2.5 cents for the Striezelmarkt in Dresden”, she explains.