GEMA: The Triumph of Stupidity
"Loosely translated, a medium-sized club with 2 dance floors that has an average of 10 events per month with a cover charge of €8 would see its GEMA fees rise from €21,000 year to over €147,000 year.” Posted by Ocirats on ToytownGermany.com. What a year it's been for Berlin's club scene. First, Klaus Wowereit pledges 1 million Euros to help clubs displaced by Mediaspree with their relocation (cue gasps of surprised delight throughout the scene). Then the government-legislated GEMA decides to raise its fees to those same clubs by a factor of 10 (cue outraged ranting throughout the scene). Now two of the city's biggest independent venues, Berghain and Watergate, are threatening to close in protest of the fee hikes (cue disbelieving snorts throughout the scene). Just what exactly is GEMA? Ask around in Berlin’s club scene and you'll get an emotive response: “GEMA sucks.” “GEMA's bad.” “GEMA's evil.” Like so many other big political issues, GEMA has been r...