Music for the gym - what does GEMA say?

Music and Fitness - two components that belong together. A strenuous workout is much easier to complete with the right songs than without. In fact, several studies have shown that music has a positive effect on physical performance. For operators of sports and fitness facilities, however, there are a few things to consider. Which playlist suits my members? Am I even allowed to play the music via Spotify or other providers? And what does GEMA have to say about music in the gym?

What is GEMA?

GEMA stands for "Society for Musical Performing and Mechanical Reproduction Rights". It is an administrative society and its members include composers, music publishers and lyricists. It plays an intermediary role between them and the music users. The members hand over the copyright of their works to it and GEMA makes it available to the users for a fee.

Where in the studio should music be played?

Every studio owner should first decide where in his or her studio the music is to be played. It should be noted that not every playlist is suitable for every area. In the wellness area different melodies should resound through the loudspeakers than in the course room. course room during the Zumba training or on the training area during the weight training. The choice of songs and which playlist is played differs depending on the studio and target group. It makes sense to play background music in the changing rooms and entrance area and motivating songs to enhance the mood on the training floor or in the course room. In this way, members can carry out their training under the best possible conditions or relax in an appropriate atmosphere. No matter if classic fitness workout, cardio training or fitness course - with the right music on your ears, working out becomes an experience.

What fees do I have to pay?

Since sports and fitness studios play songs that are subject to public licensing, they are subject to the GEMA obligation. Music from providers such as Spotify, Deezer and Co. is also bound by this. Not paying attention to these or ignoring them can be extremely expensive. But how high are the fees of GEMA in the gym? GEMA fees vary and depend on the size of the rooms in which music is played and whether a TV programme is shown in addition. With music for fitness courses it is even more complicated. Here, the fees depend on the number of participants and the membership fee. A small example:

You have an annual contract with GEMA and the area in which the music is played is up to 200 square meters. Then you pay 432,60 EUR per year in fees.

Courses per month with 15 participants, who pay a membership fee of up to 30 EUR, cost 2.25 EUR per hour. With 40 course hours per month the costs would amount to 90 EUR.

Here you can find more information about the rates.

How can I save on fees?

In order to save costs, you should first get an exact overview of the circumstances in the studio. This way you can avoid a faulty tariff registration and don't pay an unnecessarily higher sum. Furthermore, there are providers who offer GEMA-free music. Although one pays these money, but the costs are usually lower than the GEMA fees. To avoid mistakes in this area, it is a good idea to hire a service provider. They check your current contracts and help you to optimize them and save money.

We at fitnessmarkt.de are happy to advise you and, if you are interested, help you to establish contact with suitable service providers. You can reach our team under +49 911 521919-10 or by e-mail to service@fitnessmarkt.de.

You can read more about this topic in the following article: Playing music at the gym: what are the fees?

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Published on: 24 October 2018