GVL (copyright collection society)
The GVL (German: Gesellschaft zur Verwertung von Leistungsschutzrechten mbH) is a German music copyright collection society that represents the interests of performing artists and producers of sound recordings. Its German name translates to English as "Society for the exploitation of ancillary copyrights".
Gesellschaft zur Verwertung von Leistungsschutzrechten mbH | |
| Founded | 1959 |
|---|---|
| Founder | Deutsche Orchestervereinigung e.V. (DOV) and the Deutsche Landesgruppe der internationalen Vareinigung der phonographischen industrie |
| Type | GmbH Company with limited liability |
| Registration no. | Company registration number: District Court Charlottenburg, HRB 92075 |
| Location | |
Area served | International |
| Services | Music copyright collection organisation |
Key people | Guido Evers Tilo Gerlach |
Revenue | €230 million (2019) |
| Website | www |
Incorporated in 1959, the GVL represents 160,000 performers and over 12,000 rights-holders. They have international agreements in place, often referred to as "reciprocal deals" with music copyright collection societies including Phonographic Performance Limited (PPL), the oldest established sound recordings copyright collective. The GVL also collects so-called "secondary exploitation rights" on behalf of its members.
The total income of the GVL in 2014 was €163.4 million. The GVL collected approximately €230 million ($261 million) for members in 2018, a 25.9 percent decline of income compared to the previous year's high of €310 million ($352 million). In May 2020 GEMA and GVL called for a state aid program for all sectors of the music industry in view of the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic.