The Popakademie Baden-Württemberg and GEMA invite you to an evening dedicated to the future of musical diversity in Germany.
GEMA has been supporting its members for many years through various programs. It is now realigning the largest area of its cultural funding. The goal of this restructuring is to create a funding model that—unlike today’s—reaches all genres, promotes equal opportunity, and strengthens the diversity of the music scene—from contemporary art music to pop, jazz, rock, metal, and electronic music. At this joint event with the Popakademie Baden-Württemberg, the key pillars of the current and future funding structure will be presented in a concise format, and their contribution to regional and national scenes will be discussed with voices from artistic practice and education.

Panelists:
• Michelle Leonard, GEMA Supervisory Board member, multi-platinum-award-winning songwriter, and lecturer at the Popakademie Baden-Württemberg
• Dr. Monika Staudt, GEMA Director of Funding Structures and Distribution, and Managing Director of the GEMA Foundation
• Moderator: Kathrin Greven, GEMA Director of Communications

• How will access to GEMA’s cultural funding be structured in the future, and what contribution does it make to the diversity of the music scene?
• To what extent does the realignment of cultural funding help to fulfill GEMA’s cultural mission in a spirit of solidarity?
• How do emerging creators benefit from GEMA’s grants and programs?

Experience the current generation of Bandpool and take a look behind the scenes of our program for promoting new artists. LIVE & LOUD!

Admission to the concert is free!

In the “Popakademie Talks” series, guests from the music and culture sector discuss various current topics. In the 2026 summer semester, three talks will be held in cooperation with the University of Mannheim and the Marchivum on the topic of “Music in Mannheim.”

The Popakademie Talks will kick off on Tuesday, April 14, 2026, at 6 p.m. with Angie Taylor and Gagey Mrozeck.

Participation is free of charge.

On 20.04.2026 the final concert of Pop macht Schule will take place at the Capitol in Mannheim.

Celebrate with us the conclusion of this year's round of the “Pop macht Schule” support program. This spring, around 400 pupils were able to gain experience and know-how in the wide-ranging field of pop and world music. This included singing, writing lyrics, trying out different instruments, making their own beats and writing their own songs. Be there when the students present their results to a large audience at the final concert. Popakademie students will also perform with their bands.

Popakademie bands live on stage!

At the "Work in Progress Club" the students of the Department of Popular Music present their current projects.

Admission is free.

For Girls' Day 2026, the Popakademie Baden-Württemberg and the Mannheim Municipal Music School are joining forces and inviting girls and young women interested in music from grades 5 to 10 (typically between the ages of 10 and 15) to a joint action day. The event will take place on the nationwide Girls' Day, April 23, 2026, starting at 2 p.m. at the Popakademie in Mannheim.

As part of the cooperation, the two Mannheim educational institutions will offer hands-on workshops on various instruments and fields of activity in music. The workshops cover drums, bass, guitar, keyboard, producing, and the wind instruments trombone, trumpet, and saxophone. The aim is to provide insights into musical training and career prospects and, in particular, to inspire girls to pursue musical and music-related careers or simply to play an instrument. Girls' Day concludes at 5 p.m. with a joint concert, where participants present the results of the day and make music together.
Advance registration is required to participate in Girls' Day 2026. Further information on the schedule and registration will be announced in due course.

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Beats & Sound of the producing students! The line-up of the Producer's Club consists of students from the Pop Music Design bachelor's programme and the Popular Music master's programme with a focus on Producing/Composing Artist.

Admission is free.

On Saturday, May 09th 2026, the final of SONGS, the Popakademie Baden-Württemberg's songwriting competition for students, will take place. At the final concert of the tenth round of SONGS, selected participants will present their submitted songs live in front of a jury of experts. Two special guests will perform at the SpardaWelt Eventcenter in Stuttgart to mark the 10th anniversary of the competition. The “SONGS” competition is sponsored by the Stiftung Bildung und Soziales der Sparda-Bank Baden-Württemberg.
Admission to the concert is free

Experience the best newcomers from German-speaking countries live on stage at the Popakademie!
The “LIVE&LAUT” concert presents the current acts of the renowned BANDPOOL newcomer support program, whose best-known allumni include acts such as CLOCKCLOCK, PROVINZ, MAX GIESINGER, LOTTE & REVOLVERHELD.

Admission free!

In the “Popakademie Talks” series, guests from the music and culture sector discuss various current topics. In the 2026 summer semester, three talks will be held in cooperation with the University of Mannheim and the Marchivum on the topic of “Music in Mannheim.”

On Tuesday, May 19, 2026, the Popakademie Talks will take place at 6 p.m. at the University of Mannheim.

Further information to be confirmed.

Participation in the talk is free of charge.

Popakademie bands live on stage!

At the "Work in Progress Club" the students of the Department of Popular Music present their current projects.

Admission is free.

The FSJ volunteers at the Popakademie Baden-Württemberg are organizing a FLINTA* concert as part of their FSJ project. Under the title “FOKUS FLINTA*,” they aim to raise awareness and provide information on the topic. The concert, taking place on Friday, May 22, 2026, at 8 p.m., is a joint event organized by the Popakademie Baden-Württemberg and the forum Youth Cultural Center.

FOKUS FLINTA* - Concert
Youth Culture Center forum
Neckarpromenade 46, 68167 Mannheim
Doors open: 7 p.m., show starts at 8 p.m.
Tickets: €5, Tickets, at the door €8

In the “Popakademie Talks” series, guests from the music and culture sector discuss various current topics. In the 2026 summer semester, three talks will be held in cooperation with the University of Mannheim and the Marchivum on the topic of “Music in Mannheim.”

On Tuesday, June 10, 2026, the Popakademie Talks will take place at 6 p.m. at the Marchivum.

Further information to be confirmed.

Participation in the talk is free of charge.

Experience the current generation of the band pool and look behind the scenes of our newcomer support program. LIVE & LOUD! Admission to the concert is free!

Popakademie bands live on stage! At the “Work in Progress Club,” students from the Popular Music department present their current projects.

Admission is free.

Before the summer break begins after an eventful semester, there will be a week of live music at the Popakademie from July 20 to 23, 2026.
From Monday morning to Thursday evening, the students of the Popakademie will take their live exams. Everything is open to the public and admission is free!

More information to follow.

Experience the best Popakademie bands and solo artists from the current courses live at the big end-of-semester concert on July 24, 2026.
Bands and musicians from the Popakademie will be on stage live that evening to present a varied mix of music from all genres.

PROGRAM to follow

Come by the final concert of the International Summer Camp.

Band rehearsals, creative songwriting and music production are the focus of the summer course. There are also topic-relevant master classes, workshops and specials. Individual and group lessons in singing, songwriting, music production and various instruments complete the program. At the end of the week, all participants will present their results at a public final concert in the Popakademie.

Free admission