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Music and talk programmes from ARD radio broadcasters

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

Music pupils in final two years of grammar school (Gymnasium)

A total of 30 % of the pupils in the two highest grades take music as a subject. The majority of them study in courses with a basic level.

Operas most frequently performed in Germany

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

Operettas most frequently performed in Germany

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

Percentage of national and international LP releases in top 100 charts

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

Percentage of national and international single releases in top 100 charts

In 2019 and 2020, national productions dominated the German singles charts. Most recently, the ratio of national and international productions was balanced.

Overall offerings and new releases of pop and classical recordings (physical)

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.

Percentage of repertoire segments in overall turnover of physical sound recordings and digital music products

Pop music achieved the largest share of music industry's turnover in 2022, though significantly less than in the noughties. The hip-hop and rock genres were also strong in terms of turnover.

Hours allotted to Music at Primary Schools (2018)

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.

Hours Allotted to Music at Secondary School Level I (2018)

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.

Pupils enrolled at public music schools, by subject

Public music schools offer a variety of instrumental and vocal subjects. Piano, guitar, violin, recorder, percussion and flute have the highest numbers of pupils.

Age distribution at public music schools in the Association of German Music Schools (VdM)

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.

Partnerships of public music schools with primary and secondary schools and other institutions

With almost 6,200 schools and 5,100 kindergartens, most of the cooperation partners of public music schools are educational institutions. Many music clubs are also partners.

Concerts and attendance of publicly financed orchestras

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

Events and attendance at publicly financed music theatres

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.

Staff at publicly financed music theatres

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

Expenses of publicly financed theatres (music and spoken theatres)

The total expenses of publicly financed theatres in Germany amounted to approximately 3.2 billion euros in 2020. 68.5 % of the expenditure was for staff.

Number and average income prognoses of freelance artists insured in the KSK (music section)

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.

Professional Music-making in Germany

All income sources totalled, the average monthly net income of professional musicians is 2,660 euros. 70% are not exclusively working as artists. Freelancers and women earn below-average.

Amateur Music-making in Germany

19% of the population aged 6 and above make music in their free time, i.e. 14.3 million people. There are clear differences between the age and socio-demographic groups.

Gender ratios in professional orchestras

In Germany's 129 publicly funded orchestras, four out of ten musicians are female. In section leader and soloist positions of highly remunerated orchestras, the share of women is only 22%.