Dear GVL rights holders
and other valued readers,
2024 was a very good year for GVL – on multiple fronts. Not only were we able to increase our revenue to over a quarter of a billion euros, but the number of creatives and labels benefiting from our work has now reached a record high of over 180,000. Worldwide, the figure is well over one million.
Stable revenue in a complex environment
Total revenue of 257.9 million euros represents a strong result for our rights holders and demonstrates that we continue to move in the right direction. In an increasingly complex licensing environment and changing markets, increased revenue is not a given. It is the result of continuous strategic work and joint efforts in pursuit of our mission to sustainably strengthen the financial foundation of creatives and their partners through remuneration.
At GVL, we are proactively dealing with profound changes in media usage patterns and their impact on the market environment—private copying is increasingly shifting to the cloud, while the use of media libraries is replacing linear television. As a result, relevant usage contexts are tending to move away from GVL’s rights administration remit. At the same time, new opportunities are emerging—such as the direct remuneration claim for performers.
But it is not only technological developments that present challenges for fair remuneration. Ongoing legislative and market imbalances are also having a significant negative effect on performers and labels. One of the most significant issues in this regard has persisted for years in the field of public performance—compared to authors, performers and labels receive only a fraction. On average, authors receive 4.5 times as much as the performer and label side—amounting to over 200 million euros each year that is withheld from our rights holders. Our demand is clear—fair remuneration on an equal footing, as has long been common practice internationally.
Efficient Distribution, Professional Service, International Presence
We also set out in 2024 to pass on the highest possible share of revenue to our performers and labels as remuneration. That’s why we are making targeted investments in powerful IT systems and efficient data-processing workflows, accompanied by user-friendly services and first-class support. Thanks to a range of digitalisation initiatives, it is now easier than ever to receive payments from GVL—whether via the straightforward online rights administration agreement, automated verification of contribution notifications, or self-service tools in our online portals.
Our mission remains unchanged—to ensure fast and streamlined payouts to you, our rights holders. The results speak for themselves—our customer satisfaction levels are consistently high. Regular surveys of our service offerings report around 90% positive feedback—and that keeps on driving us!
GVL also plays a key role in shaping remuneration and data exchange internationally. Thanks to our own technological advances in recent years, GVL has taken on a pioneering role in the implementation of global standards. In this way, we are actively contributing to the improvement of global rights management.
Investing in the Future
Since 2024, our work has been guided by a focused AI strategy aimed at enhancing the quality of our distributions. We see artificial intelligence as a supportive tool—both in our day-to-day operations and as a driver of innovation in our core processes. To unlock its full potential, we are entering into close partnerships with leading AI experts from business and research.
Successfully shaping the future means combining innovation with experience. Last year, GVL celebrated its 65th anniversary. We deliberately chose to mark this milestone in a low-key manner. It was more important to us to look ahead and focus, among other things, on the upcoming Rights Holders' Assembly in 2025. This key event marks an important milestone for us—the delegates elected in June 2025 for a four-year term will bring fresh perspectives from their practical experience in the industry to our committees. We are particularly pleased to have been able to significantly increase the proportion of women among the delegates—an important step towards greater diversity and representation. Together with all committee members, we look forward to continuing our work in the interests of all rights holders and further strengthening GVL.
We would like to express our sincere thanks to all rights holders, shareholders, and partners for the trust they have placed in us and for the excellent cooperation over the past year. A special thanks also goes to our staff. Their daily commitment is the foundation of our success.
Even in changing times, our mission remains unchanged—we ensure the remuneration of creative achievements, thereby continuing to contribute to a vibrant, diverse, and enriching culture in the future.
Yours sincerely
Guido Evers & Tilo Gerlach