German authors rights society GEMA reports total revenues of €813.61 million ($989.76 million) for 2003, up from €812.511 million ($988.42 million) in 2002.
German authors rights society GEMA reports total revenues of €813.61 million ($989.76 million) for 2003, up from €812.511 million ($988.42 million) in 2002.Total distributions remained relatively constant at €694.163 million ($844.45 million). Costs amounted to 14.68% of total revenues, against 14.6% in the previous year.
The Munich-based body also reports greater contributions from the digital community. Ringtones generated income of €5.4 million ($6.57 million) during the period, a year-on-year surge of about 300%.
GEMA, which formed Jan. 14, 1903, was the first authors' rights society in Germany to be formed as a legal and financial entity. Today, it has some 60,000 members, including composers, lyricists, and music publishers.