Some thousand demonstrators joined this anti-GEMA and pro-fun event last Saturday in Kiel, Schleswig-Holstein.
Demonstration against the reform of GEMA's fee tariffs - mid-town Kiel, Holtenauer St
Even Halloween celebrations face extreme fee hikes beginning in 2013 when the new tariffs' structure is implemented by royalties' organization, GEMA.
The organization for collecting copyright-based 'music' royalties in Germany, GEMA, is planning incredible hikes for their fees that are designed to compensate composers, musicians and artists. Up to 1000 pc more, pubs, bars and discos shall be paying for playing music. 15 pc of the entry-fee, a quasi "fun busting tax", shall be levied on party-goers for listening to the "copyright-protected" tunes.
This obvious rip-off has been causing a counter-reaction by the owners of these facilities who fear to cease business under these unbearable circumstances soon. The counter-movement is nationwide.
Yesterday, some thousand people demonstrated in Kiel, capital of the northernmost German federal state of Schleswig-Holstein. "Love Parade"-like, mostly young people peacefully uttered their disagreement about this incomprehensible grip into their pockets when they marched behind some disco music cars from the Kiel Town Hall via Dreiecksplatz along the Holtenauer St in midtown Kiel.
"GEMA should return to the negotiation table" was one of their demands - other slogans were a lot less GEMA-friendly.
This planned GEMA rip-off is the second blow to pubs and bars where turn-overs have shrunk to lowest levels since the introduction of mandatory non-smoking areas.
(Photos provided by courtesy of Ms. Jasmine Hamurcuoglu, Kiel)