You have received a GEMA statement and your work is classified at 12 points. Is that the right value – or are you entitled to more? And how do you file a request in the first place?

Work classification directly determines how much you receive for performances, broadcasts and other uses of your music. Composers who self-publish – without a publisher to handle administrative tasks on their behalf – need to keep track of this process themselves.

A note for international readers: GEMA is the German collecting society for music authors and publishers, comparable to PRS for Music (UK), ASCAP or BMI (US). If your music is performed or broadcast in Germany, Austria or Switzerland, GEMA distributes your royalties – and the classification of your works determines how much you receive.

Every work registered with GEMA receives a classification that determines how many points it earns in the royalty statement. More points mean higher remuneration directly. The default classification for light music (Unterhaltungsmusik, category U) is 12 points. Under certain conditions, a work can qualify for a higher classification.

In the GEMA portal, work classification is handled technically as a claim (Reklamation) – meaning you request a reassessment of your work if you believe the current classification does not reflect its category correctly.

A claim can only be submitted once the work has actually been used – meaning it has been performed, broadcast or otherwise exploited. GEMA only allows reclassification for works with proven usage, since each classification involves a manual review by the GEMA music service.

The deadlines for filing a claim vary by usage area and run from the relevant distribution date:

18 months – Broadcasting and screening (categories FS, TFS, T, TD, R) and international (category A)

9 months – Live performance of light music (categories U, M, UD, MD) and serious music (categories E, ED, EM, BM)

3 months – Reproduction, distribution and online (categories PHO, BT, MOD, VOD, WEB)

The online deadline is notably short. Composers whose music appears on streaming platforms should check their statements regularly and not wait until the last moment.

ithin the light music category there are ways to go beyond the standard 12 points:

Jazz – Works that can be assigned to the jazz genre qualify for a higher classification. A lead sheet with melody and harmonies is often sufficient as evidence – a full score is not always required. What matters is that the work carries clear jazz characteristics: jazz-specific harmony, swing rhythmics or designated improvisation sections.

Larger ensembles – Works for big band or orchestra can also qualify for a higher classification if the work has at least 10 independent parts. These must be documented with a full score or complete set of parts. If you need help creating the required score, feel free to send us an individual enquiry.

In both cases, including an audio recording alongside the score or lead sheet is recommended.

Category E covers works of serious or classical music. The remuneration system for category E differs fundamentally from light music: royalties are calculated based on the length of the work rather than a fixed point value. This makes category E particularly relevant for longer compositions.

The basis for classification as serious music is a complete score submitted with the application. It serves to document the complexity and scope of the work. An audio recording is recommended as a supplementary document.

GEMA members with a large catalogue can request an overview of the current classifications of all their registered works. A simple email to the GEMA member service is sufficient – costs are calculated at cost price based on the size of the catalogue. For larger catalogues this overview can be worthwhile to identify works that have not yet been optimally classified.

A note for members of AKM (Austria) and SUISA (Switzerland): both societies operate comparable work classification processes. The exact procedures and categories differ in detail – it is worth requesting the relevant guidelines directly from AKM or SUISA.

Work classification is not automatic – it requires an active application with the right documents at the right time. The key steps: monitor the claim deadlines after the first proven usage, identify the right category (standard U, elevated U for jazz or large ensembles, or category E), and submit professional sheet music as evidence. Composers who need help creating the required scores or lead sheets will find all relevant information at soundnotation.com.

Correctly classified works mean noticeably higher royalties over the years – the effort of filing the application is well worth it.