BERLIN, DE (VIP NEWS) — German collection society GEMA earned €893.6 million euros in 2014, a 4.8% increase over the previous year.
There were three sectors that performed particularly well – music licenses, TV and radio syncs and streaming, which earned €340.6m, €287.3m and €44.8m respectively.
Streaming revenue in 2013 was €26.4, with the massive uplift owed to new contracts with streaming services.
According to Billboard, many are dissatisfied with the division and distribution of payments to publishers, songwriters and master rights holders.
Said Dr. Rolf Budde, president of the German Music Publishers Association (DMV) and member of the GEMA advisory board: "Publishers are decidedly uncomfortable with the fact that the holders of master rights are receiving more than fifteen times the amount that authors and music publishers are given.
"The massive imbalance between the payouts, which Spotify and its peers issue to labels on the one hand, and to authors and publishers on the other, is horrific. Considering that, following a slump in CD sales, the download market, which has so far been relatively stable, is now also sagging, it is even more important for this disparity to be addressed. To this end, we will be taking the necessary action."
Spotify will be a primary point of focus for the DMV annual meeting from April 21-22, said Budde. –According to MusicWeek
