Hamburg Label Funding

The Hamburg Label Funding program targets music-producing companies with a registered office or branch in Hamburg that are classified as micro-enterprises. The program aims to strengthen Hamburg as a music hub, preserve jobs in the creative industries, and promote artist development. The funding is regionally limited to Hamburg and is intended, in particular, to improve musical diversity and earning opportunities.

The funding covers music productions, which relate either to the production process itself or to marketing and promotion activities. There is no preference for specific music genres. Certain costs, such as the production of sound carriers or GEMA fees, are excluded from funding. Projects should be in the product development or market release phase.

The Hamburg Label Funding is granted as a non-repayable grant covering up to 50 percent of the eligible costs. The maximum funding amount is EUR 10,000 per project. The minimum grant amount is EUR 3,000, and the project duration must be specified in the application.

Specific conditions apply to the application for Hamburg Label Funding regarding the start of the project, cumulation with other funding, and compliance with the de minimis rule. Applicants must also prove proper business management and be able to ensure the proper use of funds. After the project ends, reports on the implementation and economic development of the label, as well as its significance for Hamburg, must be submitted.

The application for Hamburg Label Funding must be submitted in writing to the Ministry of Culture and Media in Hamburg. Applications are submitted on specific deadlines using specific forms and the online application procedure. Applications are formally and substantively reviewed and, if they meet the criteria, submitted to an advisory expert committee for assessment. The approving authority makes the funding decision within the framework of available budget funds.

The Hamburg Label Funding is based on specific guidelines of the Ministry of Culture and Media of the Free and Hanseatic City of Hamburg. These guidelines define the framework conditions and requirements for granting subsidies to support music productions. They are also subject to the general budgetary provisions of the state and EU regulations for de minimis aid.