The organisation in question here, the GEMA, "protects" artists (in a similar way the music industry protects them) and they have special legal privileges (like that they can assume that every music record is protected by them and the other party has to prove otherwise).

We have a public broadcasting service that enchroaches with (redundant) channels (annual budget of 7 bn EUR). You have to pay a monthly fee once you have a TV or radio or computer, next year it's mandatory for every househeld (240 EUR annually). Good place for political friends.

We have chambers of commerce that you're required to "join" once you start a business. They waste money all the time and are unaccountable. Also for good political friends.

I guess you see the pattern... :( I won't go so far to call it a managed democracy or a crony cleptocracy, but often I get this impression.

I hope this will give a boost to free music.