Statistics

At German theatres, non-permanent artistic staff was strongly affected by the pandemic. Figures of other staff groups only slightely decreased.

With only 3,205 opera, operetta, musical and dance performances and 685,000 visits to these events, the consequences of the pandemic on theatre operations in the 2020-21 season are profound.

The 2020-21 season data document the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on orchestra operations. Concert and attendance figures declined significantly.

Pop music achieved the largest share of music industry's turnover in 2023, though significantly less than in the noughties. The hip-hop and rock genres were also strong in terms of turnover.

In 2021 and 2022 the ratio of national and international prductions was balanced. Most recently, national productions dominated the German single charts with a share of 57.6 %.

Almost 239,000 pop and classical recordings were available on the German music market in 2022, 73 % of which were audio albums in the pop segment. About 14,500 titles were new releases.

National productions continue to make up a large part of the German longplay charts. International productions are becoming more popular again.

Public music schools had approximately 1.4 million pupils in the calendar year 2021. Particularly in the younger age groups, pupil numbers declined in the pandemic years.

Most of the cooperation partners of public music schools are schools and kindergartens. In addition, local music groups, churches and retirement homes are networked with public music schools.

Germany's states differ in the number of weekly hours they allot to music lessons. Music can be a mandatory or compulsory elective subject under its own name, or a component of larger learning areas.

Music is anchored in the curricula of Germany's states in almost all grades 5 to 10. However, there are differences in the quantity of music lessons to be taught.

Mozart's ‘The Magic Flute’ was Germany's most performed opera of the 2021-22 season. Overall, peformance figures stabilised after COVID-19 breakout.

‘The Merry Widow’ by Franz Lehár and Johann Strauss's ‘Die Fledermaus’ were Germany's most performed operettas of the 2021-22 season.

Freelance music professionals in the KSK social insurance expect an annual income of 14,191 euros in 2022. Prognoses are higher than in the previous year, but do not yet reach pre-pandemic level.

Germany's 129 publicly financed professional orchestras have 9,771 registered permanent positions for musicians. The number of positions has remained relatively stable in recent years.

In 2022, music programmes accounted for 63% of the total programme of the state-level broadcasters. The airtime for classical music recently dropped.

A total of 28.7 % of the pupils in the two highest grades take music as a subject. The majority of them study in courses with a basic level.

Rock and pop music is the most popular genre in Germany, especially in the age groups up to 59 years. Older people show a strong musical taste for oldies and evergreens.