Statement from the Management on the year 2025
GVL can once again look back on a financially successful financial year: with total revenue of 257.9 million euros, earnings in 2025 were once again well above expectations and even slightly higher than the previous year’s level. In their statement, the managing directors Dr Tilo Gerlach and Guido Evers emphasise: “We are delighted with this strong result in challenging times. GVL stands on a stable footing and is able to consistently fulfil its mission of contributing to the economic livelihoods of performers and producers.”
Key figures for 2025
Total revenue year-on-year*
GVL closed the 2025 financial year with total revenue of 257.93 million euros. This meant that Collections were slightly higher than the previous year’s figure (2024: 257.88 million euros).
The distribution amount remained at a stable, high level of 219.8 million euros.
There was a significant increase in the amounts paid out: in total, GVL paid out around €242 million in 2025, which is €58 million more than in the previous year.
* To view the figures, please hover your mouse pointer over the chart.
Revenue structure in 2025
Broadcasting remuneration for radio, TV and retransmission totalled 117 million euros in 2025, significantly exceeding the previous year’s level (+18 per cent). This was driven primarily by higher remunerations in the radio and TV sectors, which rose by 19.1 million euros. This was due to newly negotiated collective agreements and back payments.
Revenue from public performance, known as the ‘pub licence fee’, grew by €3.1 million (+6.4 per cent) to €51.4 million. A back payment of €0.9 million for previous performance periods also contributed to this.
In the area of reproduction rights, GVL generated revenue of 65.8 million euros. Compared with the previous year, this represents a decrease of 22.2 million euros (-25.2 per cent). The main reason for this is a back payment received in the previous year for earlier performance periods.
Collections from foreign collecting societies amounted to 9.8 million euros in 2025. This represents an increase of 0.6 million euros, or 6.3 per cent, compared with the previous year.
GVL rights holders: year-on-year comparison
GVL is growing steadily, with an increase of around 47,000 rights holders in the last 15 years alone. By the end of 2025, over 185,021 direct rights holders (2010: 137,953) had entrusted GVL with the management of their rights: these included 169,597 performers, 15,351 Producers and 73 event organisers.
Through more than 80 representation agreements with international sister societies, GVL represents over one million performers and over 100,000 producers worldwide.
This makes GVL one of the largest collecting societies for neighbouring rights worldwide.
Our rights holders ‘In the Spotlight’
Over 180,000 performers and producers have entrusted their neighbouring rights to GVL. But who are the people and organisations behind this figure? The social media series “In the Spotlight” (link to Instagram) puts them in the spotlight. Each week, the series features a rights holder from GVL. The posts showcase the diversity of creative careers and highlight the importance of GVL to those who create music, films, recordings and stage performances.
The series is complemented by a video series on LinkedIn: “We support the act." (link). Under the guiding principle from our slogan “The world is a stage. We’re behind it.”, the series gives a voice to the people at GVL who work every day to ensure that performers and labels are fairly remunerated for the use of their recordings. These short profiles offer insights into the roles and dedication of the staff working behind the scenes at GVL.
“Modern licensing requires simple processes.”
Interview with Christoph Gruschwitz, Head of Finance at GVL
In 2025, GVL continued to drive forward key initiatives for the future: the digital licensing service was further developed with ‘lizenz.gvl’, and the organisation published its first-ever sustainability report. In this interview, Head of Finance Christoph Gruschwitz explains the role played by the Finance department in these and other strategic projects.
New online portal lizenz.gvl: Licensing further expanded
With lizenz.gvl, GVL 2025 has expanded its range of digital services and launched its own portal for licence holders for the first time. The new platform complements the established rights holders’ portals, my.gvl and label.gvl, and creates a one-stop shop for digital licence management. Following its launch for private radio stations, lizenz.gvl was also opened up to web radio operators in 2026.
Sustainability at GVL: A commitment to culture and the environment
GVL has published its first report, ‘Sustainability at GVL’ (download). In it, the collecting society sets out its understanding of sustainability and the objectives and measures it is pursuing in this area.
You can find out more about the background to the report here.
BV2025: A look back at the premiere of ‘GVL Live’
To mark the conclusion of the Rights Holders' Assembly, GVL invited rights holders, newly elected delegates and industry representatives to Berlin in June 2025. A varied programme focusing on GVL and issues affecting the creative scene awaited the more than 200 performers and label representatives at the Festsaal Kreuzberg. (Music in the video: “Up & Down” by Nina “Miu” Graf)
GVL out and about in the industry
During the past financial year, GVL was once again present at numerous industry events and sought direct dialogue with its rights holders and partners in the creative sector. Whether at the Reeperbahn Festival in Hamburg, c/o pop in Cologne, Most Wanted: Music or the PRC Meeting in Berlin – GVL used these events to provide information about its work, answer questions, gather insights from the industry and represent the interests of creatives and labels.
Photos: Juliane Fiedler, Thomas Kasper, Marcus Lieder, Christoph Mangler, Thekla Merchert, Jonas Neugebauer, Roman Obst, Jaime Peralta, Bernhard Schinn, Stefan Wieland
Support for the arts through the GVL
The cultural sector thrives on its creative diversity and the multitude of artistic forms of expression. To ensure that this cultural diversity endures into the future, reliable and sustainable funding structures are essential. With grants totalling just under 4 million euros in 2025, GVL has once again made a significant contribution to strengthening these foundations.
In addition to providing targeted funding for selected individual projects, GVL deliberately supports established funding organisations such as the Initiative Musik and the German Music Council. For years, both organisations have made a significant contribution to promoting a diverse, vibrant and sustainable music and cultural landscape in Germany. Furthermore, in 2025, GVL supported numerous other projects and organisations, including, amongst others:
Way say thank you!
