Freibank collects mechanicals “more & faster”
Maximizing the writers income is one of the key targets of Freibank Music Publishing, a Hamburg company that has originally been incorporated in 1986 to administer the copyrights of German avantgarde artists Einstürzende Neubauten as effectively as possible. They had come to the conclusion that the traditional ways of collection and distribution of copyrights are too slow and cost too much. To improve this, they introduced the system of direct collection of mechanicals from record companies in Germany and became direct members in the copyright collecting societies in Europe. “More & faster” is their motto. Very soon Freibank offered this service as well for buddy-musicians.
During the 80s and 90s Freibank broadened it’s services to consultancy in legal, licensing and marketing questions and promotion and set up editions and label deals for several local and international independents. Meanwhile they handle copyright matters for a catalogue of about 25.000 works with a broad variety of musical styles, with an emphasis on alternative bands, drum´n´bass, techno, house, hip-hop, ambient and world music.
CEOs of Freibank are currently Klaus Maeck and Mark Chung. Mark Chung, who had been a member of the Einstürzende Neubauten from 1982 until 1994 and had established Freibank, had been Senior Vice President of Sony Music Entertainment International in London from 1996 till 2005. He then returned to the board of Freibank and opened it’s second office in Berlin. Klaus Maeck, co-founder of Freibank and it’s managing director, is a filmmaker and so he channels his activities towards music for films, TV and all new media.
