Fair remuneration for music creators? New basis for GEMA remuneration in German dance schools

The use of music in dance schools has been the subject of a dispute between GEMA and the German Association of Dance School Owners (DTIV) in recent years. 

📄Flat-rate contracts 

Until 2019, many dance schools paid flat-rate royalties to GEMA through their associations. However, the collecting society wanted to switch to remuneration based on turnover. In May 2025, the Federal Court of Justice confirmed that the turnover of dance schools was, in principle, an appropriate basis for calculating remuneration and had to be disclosed to GEMA. 

🎵 Specific remuneration rate for the use of music

Following the example of the German judge, the Munich Court of Appeal then set a specific remuneration rate: in future, 4.46% of net course revenue must be paid as a royalty for the use of music in dance classes. 

📊Transparency and planning security 

The main advantage of this decision is the increased transparency and the creation of a uniform basis for calculation. Whereas flat-rate models were independent of the size or usage rate of a dance school, remuneration is now based more on the actual economic use of the music. 

⚖️Fair participation for authors 

Like French copyright law, this decision emphasises the fundamental principle of copyright that creators should participate in the economic exploitation of their works. 

Image : Pexels / Cottonbro Studio

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