After protests over Gema’s fees last year, there were almost no choir performances at the Koblenz Christmas market this year. There are exceptions to the opening of Christmas markets, said a spokesman for Koblenz-Touristik GmbH. Separate Echo rates apply there.
Otherwise, there will be no choir performance. Because although the original songs are royalty-free, the choral arrangements are often younger and therefore subject to more royalties. Instead, there will be so-called “open singing” on four dates, where four to five singers will sing royalty-free songs and motivate people to sing along.
protests last year
Last year, the choir’s originally planned performance was canceled at short notice. The reasons given were the organizers and regional choir associations Koblenz the high fees charged by Gema at that time. There was a protest against this: the choir took to the stage at the Christmas market with plaster over their mouths.
The Echo announced in September that it had agreed new Christmas market rates with the Federal Music Organizers Association. “This new tariff reduces remuneration for people’s use of music at Christmas markets by 35 percent and comes into effect in the 2025 season,” he wrote. In Germany, Gema represents the copyrights of composers, lyricists and music publishers.
In Mainz this problem was handled in the same way. Due to the cost, there will be no music – except for the opening – as it will cost at least 20,000 euros. The city announced this.
© dpa-infocom, dpa:251123-930-328186/1
