"By subjecting our external presentation to a contemporary redesign, the advanced strategic change process at GVL becomes visible. This constitutes a further milestone on our way to a comprehensive and profound modernisation," explain Guido Evers and Dr. Tilo Gerlach, GVL's Managing Directors.

The usability of the website has been improved by introducing a menu navigation tailored for our target audience and by implementing latest web standards.

During the portal's development stage, we focussed particularly on the clear arrangement and intuitivehandling/usability. Here are the most important new functions in a nutshell:

The new GVL label research offers an overview of the label codes that have been allocated on a daily updated basis, plus information on the labels linked to the codes. The service is based on modern web technologies. They simplify the way users operate the system and increase the search speed in order to deliver the desired search results much quicker. There are also new and efficient filtering options (e.g. search for archive labels) which improve the quality of the results substantially.

Prof. Ruzicka was appointed to represent the group of conductors and music directors by the associates of GVL, the German Orchestra Association (DOV) and the Federal Association of the Music Industry (BVMI). Reason for this change in Prof. Ruzickas role was the request by our supervisory authority, the German Patent and Trademark Office (DPMA), to end an over-representation of event organisers in the Board by deleting the previous seat for an appointed representative of event organisers and appoint an additional representative for conductors and music directors instead.

GVL staff are happy to help with queries on ARTSYS.GVL and TRISYS.GVL on 4/5 September from 10:00 - 19:00. On 5 September, we hold a workshop from 11:00 - 13:00 called "practical & user friendly:  GVL workshop on online portals TRISYS.GVL and ARTSYS.GVL".

GVL is now preparing the payout to its members; the planned dates are September 2014 (only producers) and December 2014 (producers and artists).

The workshop "GVL - this is how artists and labels can benefit (tips & tricks)" takes place on 18 September from 14:30 to 15:45 in suite no. 616. The event is open to all guests with a conference ticket or a sessions only ticket.

In its annual report 2013, GVL can present a positive economic development: The total returns 2013 amount to EUR 150.5m and are thus EUR 3.5m higher than in the previous year (+ 2.4%). "We look back on a successful financial year 2013 where we were able to increase our total returns again. The positive news is emphasised by the recently received private copying remuneration for PCs that we had to declare as blocked funds in our annual accounts", report Guido Evers and Dr. Tilo Gerlach, GVL's two Managing Directors.

At the workshop "GVL has money for you", the speakers Hendrik Gerstung and Michael Möller explain GVL's activities and the basic principles of the online portal ARTSYS.GVL. After the introduction, participants have the opportunity to try ARTSYS.GVL for themselves and get answers to their questions in the subsequent discussion.

The event takes place on Friday, 07 November 2014 from 11.30 until 13.30 in the "Salon". The workshop is already fully booked, but the speakers are available for questions and answer sessions after the event.

The patron of the event, member of the German Bundestag, Christian Flisek (SPD), stressed in his opening speech that German collective management organisations are active in a well grown, well tried and well functioning legal system. "National regulations which are above the provisions of the Directive remain applicable, but a stricter German law must not lead to any competitive disadvantages. We must acknowledge this and proceed with sound judgement."