Archive notice: This article was originally published on July 1, 2008. Links and embedded videos are preserved as part of the historical record.
Klaus Werner Voß, Chairman of the German Association of Film Authors (BDFA), is delighted with EMI Production Music’s new offering: “At last, professionally produced music is also available for scoring private and hobby films. The rights package assembled jointly with GEMA provides legal certainty for private use,” the national chairman explained. “The selection of music is impressive; every genre really is represented among the more than 100,000 available tracks.”
With the BDFA, established in 1927 and representing more than 4,000 members, an institution of Germany’s amateur filmmaking community is supporting the portal. Christian Reinecke, General Manager of EMI Production Music: “With the BDFA, we know we have professional support. Very high-quality films regularly emerge from the association’s membership.” In 1990, one member of the association even won one of the coveted Academy Awards—also known as an Oscar—in Hollywood for the animated short film “Balance.” “There are probably few associations that support their members more extensively and effectively, especially on legal issues,” Christian Reinecke explained. This naturally includes the use of music to score films, which in this new form is so far unique to the Filmersclub.
Whereas the simplest solution for filmmakers previously was to use GEMA-free music, http://www.filmersclub.de now offers a service developed in close cooperation with GEMA that, for the first time, grants comprehensive rights for private use: “By purchasing a subscription, users receive the right to download a certain number of music tracks—the licenses for private and non-commercial use are included,” Reinecke said. This covers private, non-commercial screenings as well as up to 20 copies of audiovisual media, although those copies may only be distributed free of charge.
“Because private filmmakers are naturally especially important to us, we are also pleased with the costs users will face,” explained Voß of the BDFA. Various plans with different terms are available. The least expensive option is the annual subscription, which costs a one-time fee of only €50 and permits the download of 75 tracks per month. Even lower prices currently apply to BDFA members, and other subscription terms can also be selected.
