Tidal Accepts AI Music but Stops Paying Royalties
Tidal will no longer pay royalties for fully AI-generated music but will continue to accept it on the platform, according to a new policy announced Monday.
Category Culture
Culture coverage on film, music, literature, media and events in Germany, Europe and Ukraine.
Water pipe burst paralyzes Elbphilharmonie – concert with Igor Levit postponed
A burst water pipe under the forecourt has brought operations at the Elbphilharmonie to a standstill for the day. Plaza is also closed.
John Oliver Lands Guest Roles on Two US Soap Operas
Comedian John Oliver has secured guest appearances on the daily soaps "Days of our Lives" and "General Hospital" after publicly requesting roles on his show "Last Week Tonight." The scenes have already been filmed.
Homage to Ursula Mamlok: Music Without Boredom at the Konzerthaus
To mark the tenth anniversary of the death of Berlin composer Ursula Mamlok, who escaped the Nazis, violinist Rachel Koblyakov and the Trio Track3 honored her work at the Konzerthaus.
Montreux Jazz Festival: Stars Waive High Fees
For its 60th anniversary, the Montreux Jazz Festival attracts stars like John Legend and Sting, who accept lower fees to perform in an intimate setting.
42 Small Festivals in Schleswig-Holstein: Alternatives to Wacken
Schleswig-Holstein offers a wide range of small festivals this summer as an alternative to the famous Wacken Open Air. According to Schleswig-Holstein, the broadcaster has identified 42 venues that fall into the 'handmade and cozy' category.
Noah Kahan Fans: ‘Please Just Go to the Toilet!’
US singer Noah Kahan has asked his fans to use the restroom during his concerts rather than soiling themselves, after footage emerged of apparent mess in the audience area.
Bears in Thinker Pose: Why Animals on Mountains Are Taking Over Social Media
Images of bears staring pensively at mountain landscapes are spreading rapidly across social networks. Are humans projecting their own thoughts onto a predator, or is there more going on inside those furry heads than some might think?
Lightning Strike: 250-Year-Old Thatched House in Molfsee Burns Down
A historic thatched cottage in the Molfsee Open-Air Museum near Kiel was destroyed by a fire, likely caused by a lightning strike.
“Gut Genug” by KitschKrieg Conquers Billboard Global 200
The German-language hit 'Gut Genug' by KitschKrieg, Blumengarten and Shirin David has entered the Billboard Global 200. The single landed at number 129 in the chart week of June 27, 2026.
Festival in Hamburg: Classical Music Up Close and Interactive
The 16th Festival has begun in Hamburg. According to NDR, the festival focuses on young artists, cultural participation, and intimate concert experiences such as one-on-one concerts.
Lena Schätte wins Ingeborg Bachmann Prize 2025 in Klagenfurt
German author Lena Schätte has won the prestigious Ingeborg Bachmann Prize. The jury awarded her the prize on Sunday in Klagenfurt for her text 'What We Carry.'
Karl-May-Spiele in Bad Segeberg: Premiere amid Scorching Heat
More than 7,000 spectators attended the opening night of this year's Karl-May-Spiele in Bad Segeberg at the Kalkberg. According to NDR, organizers and visitors had prepared for the extreme heat.
East German Fishing Fleet: Documentary Tells of Rescues and Smuggling
A documentary about the last four ships of East Germany's fishing fleet recounts tales of rescues at sea and drug smuggling.
Netflix Now Requires a Separate Email Address for Profile
Netflix is introducing a new requirement: customers must provide a separate email address for each profile within their subscription, as reported by Golem.
Paul Kalkbrenner defies the heat with 20,000 fans in Hamburg
Despite scorching temperatures, DJ Paul Kalkbrenner performed an open-air concert on Hamburg's Heiligengeistfeld. The show was sold out with around 20,000 tickets.
Thunderstorm: Berlin Philharmonic Waldbühne Concert
Due to an approaching thunderstorm, the Berlin Philharmonic shortened their season finale concert at the Waldbühne. The intermission was cut short, and the encore "Berliner Luft" was only played under restrictions.
80 Years of Vespa: Thousands of Fans Celebrate in Rome
Thousands of Vespa riders gathered in Rome over the weekend to celebrate the 80th anniversary of the iconic scooter. They paraded past the Colosseum and across Piazza Venezia.
Madonna Admits Envy of Kylie Minogue in Interview
Madonna confessed during an interview with Graham Norton that she was once jealous of fellow pop star Kylie Minogue. The admission came after Minogue appeared as a bartender in the interview.
Bruno Mars brings Berlin’s Olympic Stadium to a boil
Pop star Bruno Mars is playing three consecutive nights at Berlin's Olympic Stadium. On Friday evening, with the temperature feeling like 70 degrees Celsius, the crowd danced anyway.
Three Galleries Open Pop-Up Art Market in Münster
Three galleries from Düsseldorf and Hamburg are setting up a temporary art market on the Fischmarkt in Münster from July 3 to 5.
Rapper Finch Album Release with Free Concert at Berlin Gas Station
Rapper Finch celebrated the release of his sixth album with a free concert at a gas station in Berlin-Hellersdorf on Friday evening. Hundreds of fans showed up despite the intense heat, forcing police to close roads and reroute buses and trams.
Uwe Boll Asks Elon Musk for Help – Film Denied Age Rating
Director Uwe Boll accuses Germany's film rating board (FSK) of censorship after his film "Citizen Vigilante" was denied an age rating. As Tagesspiegel reports, Boll turned to Elon Musk for support – Musk subsequently released the film on X.
German Charts: Olivia Rodrigo Defends Number One
Olivia Rodrigo remains at number one in the official German album charts. According to Entertainment, the pop singer holds the top spot with her album "You Seem Pretty Sad For A Girl So In Love."
Dieter Nuhr defends controversial joke about violence against women
Comedian Dieter Nuhr is facing heavy criticism after a joke about femicides in his ARD show 'Nuhr im Ersten'. In a statement on Facebook, he said the punchline was misunderstood and was not directed against women, but against sweeping newspaper articles.
Bayreuth Festival Reinstates Holocaust Memorial Event
The Bayreuth Festival has reinstated a planned memorial concert featuring Jewish author and broadcaster Michel Friedman after sharp criticism over its initial cancellation.
The Weeknd in Munich: Three Concerts at the Arena
Canadian pop star The Weeknd will perform three concerts at Munich's Arena in June 2026. They are the final shows of his tour before he plans to radically reinvent himself, according to his own statements.
Chiemsee Reggae Summer Comeback at Lake Chiemsee
After a ten-year hiatus, the Chiemsee Reggae Summer festival returns to its traditional location in Übersee, Bavaria, from June 26 to 28, 2026.
Baroque Opera “Cefalo e Procride”: Simple Poetry in Potsdam
Michiel Dijkema stages Giovanni Battista Bononcini's rediscovered Baroque opera "Cefalo e Procride" at the Musikfestspiele Potsdam Sanssouci. The production is praised for its simplicity and poetic quality.
Rapper Haftbefehl Cancels Shows – ‘I Fight Every Day’
Rapper Haftbefehl has announced a break from concerts after canceling a performance at the World Club Dome in Frankfurt. In an Instagram post, he said the 'whole hype' following his Netflix documentary has taken an additional toll on him.
Zuse Computer Museum ZCOM in Hoyerswerda Faces Closure
The Zuse Computer Museum ZCOM in Hoyerswerda could close at the end of the year due to the loss of financial support.
Philippe Sands receives Peace Prize of the German Book Trade
The Franco-British lawyer and author Philippe Sands is being honored with the Peace Prize of the German Book Trade.
Lionel Richie Abandons Opening Concert After Just One Hour
Lionel Richie had to cut short his opening concert in St. Paul, Minnesota, after only one hour. The 77-year-old musician felt unwell.
JazzBaltica 2025: IB.SH Jazz Award for Ben Prechtl
The JazzBaltica festival on the Baltic coast has awarded the IB.SH Jazz Award to saxophonist Ben Prechtl. The prize, worth 5,000 euros, will be presented on June 25 on a stage in Timmendorfer Strand.
RAW site in Berlin: District politicians pass resolution to preserve it
The cultural venues on Berlin's RAW site are under threat, with the club Cassiopeia facing eviction. The district assembly in Friedrichshain-Kreuzberg has now passed a resolution to save the site.
Protest on Ku’damm: Berliners Fight to Save RAW-Gelände
Dozens of people protested on Kurfürstendamm with live music and impassioned appeals to preserve the RAW-Gelände in Friedrichshain. The future of the cultural site remains uncertain.
Fusion Festival 2026 kicks off in Lärz with tens of thousands of visitors
The alternative culture festival transforms a former Soviet military airfield into a festival city with music, theater, and performance until June 28.
Bachfest Leipzig reviews Gardiner collaboration after incident
The Bachfest Leipzig is reviewing its collaboration with star conductor John Eliot Gardiner after a new incident. According to Kultur, the 83-year-old allegedly tried to tuck a certificate of thanks into the neckline of a colleague's T-shirt after a concert.
Zah1de: 16-Year-Old Rapper to Perform at Tollwood Festival
The 16-year-old rapper Zah1de, known from TikTok, will perform at Munich's Tollwood Festival on Sunday evening. She takes the stage at 6 p.m. in the Music Arena.
Elbphilharmonie Plaza: Entry to Cost Money from October
Visiting the viewing platform of Hamburg's Elbphilharmonie will cost five euros from October, according to the budget deliberations of the red-green Senate.