GVL closes the 2025 financial year with stable earnings performance

Gesellschaft zur Verwertung von Leistungsschutzrechten mbH (GVL) closed the 2025 financial year with total collections of €257.927 million. This represents a slight increase on the previous year’s figure (2024: €257.876 million). The main drivers were the broadcasting and public performance revenue segments, which together increased by €20.9 million, or 14.2 per cent. By contrast, GVL recorded declines in certain areas, including private copying and reproduction, due to one-off special payments in the previous year.

GVL’s managing directors, Guido Evers and Dr Tilo Gerlach, commented: “GVL’s rights holders rely on us to effectively manage their rights and ensure reliable distribution of remuneration. We are therefore particularly pleased that we have been able to maintain our revenue levels even in a challenging economic climate. The 2025 financial year demonstrates that 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 at a glance:

• Broadcasting remuneration for radio, TV and retransmission amounted to €117.0 million in 2025, significantly exceeding the previous year’s level (+18.0 per cent). This was driven primarily by higher remunerations in the radio and TV sectors, which rose by €19.1 million. This was due to newly negotiated collective agreements as well as back payments for past performance periods totalling €20.1 million (2024: €99.9 million).
• Revenue from public performance, the so-called “pub licence”, grew by €3.1 million (+6.4 per cent) to €51.4 million. A back payment of €0.9 million for earlier performance periods also contributed to this.
• In the area of reproduction rights, GVL generated revenue of €65.8 million. Compared with the previous year, this represents a decrease of €22.2 million (-25.2 per cent). The main reason for this is a supplementary payment received in the previous year for earlier performance periods. Adjusted for one-off effects, revenues from private copying in 2025, at €63.1 million, were higher than the previous year’s figure of €61.3 million. Higher revenues in the tablet and PC categories contributed to this in particular.
• Collections from foreign collecting societies amounted to €9.8 million in 2025. This represents an increase of €0.6 million, or 6.3 per cent, compared with the previous year.
• Administrative expenses amounted to €23.7 million in 2025. The administrative cost ratio is thus 9.2 per cent (2024: 9.8 per cent).
• At 4.0 million euros, grants are roughly on par with the previous year (2024: 3.9 million euros). 

The 2025 year-end accounts were approved on 10 June 2026 at the GVL Associates’ and Delegates’ Assembly. 

Exchange and networking at “GVL Live”

Following the Associates’ and Delegates’ Assembly, around 200 guests gathered at the Harnack-Haus in Berlin for “GVL Live”. With this format, GVL creates a personal setting for exchange and networking. The focus was on discussions with rights holders and industry representatives.

Dr Tilo Gerlach and Guido Evers give a positive assessment of the second edition of GVL Live: “The evening demonstrated just how valuable face-to-face dialogue is and will continue to be. For us, GVL Live is a key element in ensuring we remain visible and approachable in the years between Rights Holders' Assemblies. The event provides a setting in which we can listen, offer insights into our work and discuss the issues that matter to our rights holders and partners.”

Image credits:

• Dr Tilo Gerlach and Guido Evers, GVL Managing Directors (Photo: Stefan Wieland)
• “GVL Live” on 10 June 2026 (Photos: Sven Serkis)

About GVL: Anyone who creates artistic works or provides the financial basis for such works must receive remuneration for the use of their works. Gesellschaft zur Verwertung von Leistungsschutzrechten mbH (GVL) records this use. GVL passes on the funds collected in trust – including those from radio and television broadcasters and for public performance (e.g. in restaurants or cafés) – to its rights holders as remuneration. Over 180,000 performing artists, producers of visual and audio recordings, music and video clip producers, and event organisers place their trust in GVL – making it one of the largest collecting societies for neighbouring rights worldwide. GVL’s associates are unisono Deutsche Musik- und Orchestervereinigung e.V., Bundesverband Musikindustrie e.V. (BVMI), Bundesverband Schauspiel e.V. (BFFS) and Verband unabhängiger Musikunternehmer*innen e.V. (VUT).