Initiatives of theHamburg Kreativ Gesellschaft
Together with the Ministry of Culture and Media, we support cross-genre releases by small Hamburg music labels.
The realisation of creative projects is often associated with great difficulties, especially for small labels. The label funding programme is intended to provide a remedy: With it, we give operators of Hamburg music labels more planning security in the preparation and realisation of music releases. Artistic productions in particular, whose realisation fails due to commercial considerations, are given the chance to be produced.
Label funding is a subsidy from the Ministry of Culture and Media. Applications are submitted via an online application portal and we will support you with the application process.
The funding round started on 15 December 2025. The online application process will be open for two months during the funding round and will close on 15 February 2026. Submit an application
Andreas was managing director of VUT-Nord (Association of Independent Music Companies) for many years and then of Jazzbüro Hamburg e. V. Since 2015, he has been in charge of label promotion for Hamburg Kreativ Gesellschaft. He is also responsible for the pool of coaches and experts as well as consultations at Hamburg Kreativ Gesellschaft.
Applications can be submitted by music-producing companies with their registered office or branch in Hamburg. They must be micro-enterprises as defined by EU regulations (less than ten employees, less than two million euros annual turnover or balance sheet total). Affiliated companies are to be treated as one company.
GEMA costs and running costs (e.g. for rent) are not funded.
Funding is provided in the form of a grant of 2,000 to 10,000 euros per funding case. The own contribution is at least 50 per cent. As a rule, projects with a requested funding amount of less than 2,000 euros are not considered. The total costs of the project must therefore amount to at least 4,000 euros. Production and marketing/promotion are considered separate, independent projects. Since the production costs for sound carriers and GEMA costs are not eligible for funding in the production process, they may not be added to the total costs.
Essential documents are the signed application, the presentation of the project, information about the company and the artist as well as audio sample(s). With the exception of the written application, the application procedure takes place online. The details of the required information and documents can be found in the steps to be carried out within the framework of the online procedure.
In principle, the project to be funded must not have been started at the time of the funding decision. The funding decision is regularly made within 6 weeks after the closing date for the funding round. The deadline can be found on the Hamburg Label Funding website. The application must therefore be submitted in good time before the start of the project so that these deadlines can be met.
Applications received are examined according to formal and content-related aspects. The Authority for Culture and the Media is supported in its decision on funding by an advisory panel of experts. The members of the panel are industry representatives from the areas of distribution/trade, media/press, labels/VUT and the live sector. They are bound to confidentiality. If the applications meet the criteria of the pre-selection, they will be submitted to the expert panel for assessment.
In principle, the project to be funded must not have been started at the time of the funding decision. The funding decision is regularly made within 6 weeks after the closing date for the funding round. The deadline can be found on the Hamburg Label Funding website. The application must therefore be submitted in good time before the start of the project so that these deadlines can be met.
Yes. Individual projects are funded in each case.
No, cumulation with other funding aids/programmes used/applied for (in particular federal funding from the Initiative Musik gGmbH) is not permitted.
