What is GVL and why is it important for artists?

GVL is a collecting societywhich specializes in the administration of ancillary copyrights specialized. In contrast to GEMA, which manages copyrights to compositions and texts, GVL looks after the rights of the performers themselves.
 

GVL collects royalties when works are used publicly - for example on radio, television, streaming services or at public performances - and distributes this income to the rightholders. It is therefore a central source of income for all performing artists in Germany.

GVL registration as an artist: Who is eligible?

All performers who were actively involved in an artistic performance or recording are eligible. This includes, among others:

• Solo artists and music groups: singers, instrumentalists and bands
• producers: Record producers and labels
• Session musicians: studio musicians involved in recordings
• Conductors and choirmasters

The prerequisite is that your music has already been released on recordings or is regularly performed in public. With FEIYR as a distribution platform, you automatically fulfill these requirements.
 

Important: Only artists who actually contribute are entitled to distributions. GVL therefore checks the activity for corresponding proof, such as production certificates or contracts.

How the GVL registration works: step by step

Registration with GVL is necessary for all rights holders in order to receive income. The process is completed in just a few steps:

1. Provide proof of publications: Make sure that you have already published and distributed sound recordings, as GVL requires proof of existing productions without a label code.
2. Conclude a rights administration agreement: Register as a producer of sound recordings in the online portal label.gvl and fill in the required information in order to receive and conclude the rights administration agreement.
3. Apply for a label code: Once you have successfully concluded the contract, use the label.gvl portal to apply for the label code, a unique, currently six-digit number that is permanently assigned to your label.
4. Register repertoire: As soon as you have received your label code, register your music productions in the label.gvl portal to ensure correct billing of royalties for public use.
5. Check status: You can check the processing status of your registered repertoire at any time via the label.gvl portal.

The GVL label code: What you need to know about it

The label code is issued by GVL and is used to clearly assign sound recordings to labels or producers. It is particularly important for the settlement of ancillary copyrights as it ensures that distributions flow correctly to the performers and producers of sound recordings. 
 

For example, radio and television stations can clearly assign the tracks played to the respective label using the label code and the ISRC codes.

Understanding neighbouring rights and distributions by GVL

GVL collects revenue from various sources:

• Radio and television: Fees from broadcasters for the use of recordings
• Streaming services: Charges for the public performance of music or performances
• Public performances: Concert events, theater performances or festivals

This income is then distributed to the entitled artists - depending on how often your music is played.

Advantages of a GVL membership

GVL membership offers performers numerous advantages:

• Securing income, even without direct contracts with event organizers or broadcasters
• Legal certainty in the use of your own performances
• International settlement via GVL partner societies

For artists, this means that no source of income is lost when works are used publicly.

FEIYR and GVL: Efficient process for independent artists

As a FEIYR user, you benefit from:

• Automatic ISRC code assignment upon publication
• Correct metadata transfer to GVL for distribution
• Support with GVL questions from the FEIYR team
• Optimized processes between distribution and rights exploitation

The combination of FEIYR as a distribution platform and GVL as a collecting society ensures that your income from all public uses of your music is reliably recorded and correctly distributed.

Tip:

Register with GVL as early as possible, as distributions are only made for registered artists and are not paid retroactively.