Germany backs musicians in fight for fairer streaming pay from YouTube Music

A historic meeting at the Chancellery could change the game for artists. Why Germany’s push against YouTube Music’s pay model matters for every musician.

, and Administrator

2025 December 18 . 5:13 PM

1 min read

In the picture there is a music concert,group of people are playing music with different... — In the picture there is a music concert,group of people are playing music with different instruments. There are audience standing in front of a dais and enjoying the music. In the left side there is a big black speaker and in the background there is a green color banner.

Weimer promises musicians help for fair streaming royalties - Germany backs musicians in fight for fairer streaming pay from YouTube Music

Germany’s Minister of State for Culture, Wolfram Weimer, has pledged government backing for musicians seeking fairer pay from streaming platforms like YouTube Music. The move follows a historic meeting at the Federal Chancellery, where industry leaders and artists discussed long-standing concerns over low earnings and opaque revenue systems. The first-ever pop music conference at the Chancellery brought together key figures, including pop star Herbert Grönemeyer. While no specific musicians were named in official reports, Grönemeyer openly criticized the current YouTube Music model as 'stupid' and highlighted risks like click fraud through darknet schemes. The government’s involvement, backed by Weimer, marks a shift in addressing streaming pay disparities. With Weimer’s support, musicians now have a clearer path to push for reforms in early 2026. The outcome could reshape how revenue is shared across the music industry, potentially impacting platforms like YouTube Music and PayPal.