Music councils of Germany, Austria, and Switzerland call for policy reform

The national music councils of Germany, Austria, and Switzerland (D-A-CH) held their 20th annual retreat in Leipzig, Germany, to discuss cross-border music policy. The European Music Council also participated in the meeting, which was hosted by the German National Library.

In a joint concluding statement, the councils emphasized that investments in musical life are investments in the future. They called on policymakers and society to secure the framework for musical education, a strong music economy, and diverse musical practices. The councils highlighted that artistic freedom is a constitutional right in their respective countries and should serve as the foundation for all funding policies.

Additionally, the councils addressed the need for binding frameworks in the digital market. They stressed that the creative industry's growth depends on the protection and enforcement of intellectual property. Specifically regarding artificial intelligence, they called for regulations that balance artistic freedom with entrepreneurial activity, ensuring fair and transparent value distribution for rights holders.