the music bar of the year
There are bars where music is an integral part of the experience. Here, music isn't just something playing in the background; it's an integral part of the concept. People come together, listen to songs they love, and spend wonderful evenings. We have been honoring these places since 2025 with the “Music Pub of the Year” award. In doing so, we recognize the commitment of the pub owners and show how important music venues are for our society.
AROUND 1,000 PUBS NOMINATED
We nominated almost 1,000 music pubs from all over Germany. The decisive factor for nomination was a lively musical scene, such as regular music events. The participating pubs were presented online. Between September 10 and October 15, 2025, we called on people to vote for their favorite pub.
NEARLY 100,000 VOTES – A PROUD WINNER
Almost 100,000 music fans from all corners of the country supported their favorite pub, underscoring how important a vibrant music culture is to them. The winning pub was honored in mid-November at a festive award ceremony in Munich with the title “Music Pub of the Year” and prize money of €5,000. The proud winner is “Töpfla – Die Kultkneipe” from Höchstadt an der Aisch!
prominent supporters: THE MUSIC SPONSORS
We were able to secure renowned music patrons for the “Music Bar of the Year” award. With their voices and attitudes, they promote music and make it heard. They support the award because they know the influence that places with music have—on the music scene, people, and culture.
HIGH IMPACT – STUDY ON BACKGROUND MUSIC
Music has an impact—a positive one on sales. At the same time, it increases employee satisfaction, creates a pleasant atmosphere, and promotes the image of companies. This was confirmed by the Music Impact Study, a large-scale scientific investigation conducted on behalf of GEMA. The representative study examined the influence of background music in retail and catering establishments.
milestone in music research
The Music Impact Study represents a milestone in music research because it is the first scientifically sound and statistically valid proof that background music creates directly measurable economic benefits for companies. Experts consider this study an important step toward understanding the influence of music on purchasing behavior.
8 % INCREASE IN RETAIL SALES
Music in retail stores can have a big impact. The right music not only lifts the mood of customers and employees, but also increases sales—by an average of 8 percent.
5.5 % INCREASE IN REVENUE IN THE RESTAURANT INDUSTRY
In restaurants, cafés, and bars, music creates a pleasant atmosphere, encourages guests to stay longer, and increases consumption. With the right music, restaurants and bars can increase their sales by an average of 5.4 percent.
SIGNIFICANCE OF THE STUDY
With around €100 million annually, the retail and catering sectors contribute significantly to GEMA's revenue. This underscores the strategic relevance of the study—for GEMA, but also for our customers. They receive tangible proof of the value that music from the GEMA repertoire has for them.
integral part of the business
As part of the study, decision-makers were asked whether they consider music to be an integral part of their business. These are the percentages in the restaurant and retail sectors.
the most used genres
The study also asked what kind of music businesses use. It became clear that most rely on pop and chart music. In other words, well-known and personal hits that customers and guests recognize.