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German Amateur Music Spending Estimated at €22.4 Billion a Year
A national study highlights the financial contribution of non-professional music-making, most of it funded by musicians and ensembles themselves.
Amateur music-making in Germany generates at least €22.4 billion in annual direct spending, according to a study commissioned by the Bundesmusikverband Chor & Orchester and conducted by ZiviZ.
Published on 12 October, the research draws on responses concerning 2025 from more than 3,000 amateur musicians, almost 900 ensembles and 66 associations.
Average annual expenditure was estimated at €1,516 for musicians aged 16 and above, and €1,288 for children aged six to fifteen, with ensemble spending added separately. Purchases include instruments, lessons, scores, travel and other musical activities.
Ensembles largely finance themselves through membership fees, earned income and donations. Public support covers an average of 11% of their expenditure.
The findings strengthen the case for recognising amateur music's economic role alongside its cultural and social contribution. The headline figure measures spending, however, and should not be treated as equivalent to GDP contribution or compared uncritically with differently defined industry turnover figures.