There is something to celebrate. The state-financed “Initiative Musik” celebrates its 15th birthday as the central institution of the German music industry in the Berlin “Festsaal Kreuzberg” in the former wall strip between East and West. Similar to film funding, the team led by business economist Tina Sikorski supports “the presentation and distribution of music from Germany at home and abroad; more precisely, the young musicians from Germany, musicians with a migration background and live music clubs”.
A kind of subsidy authority for pop that keeps helping numerous (up-and-coming) artists.
Of course, Claudia Roth, the responsible Minister of State for Culture, also gave a congratulatory speech at high speed on this occasion. Roth has to go on soon, she says a little mysteriously into the late afternoon sun. “For another important appointment”. Speed dating and everyday politics in the German capital.
Roth works through a variety of statements in her speech.
For example, on the Ukraine conflict (“war against culture”), support for venues and festivals, the upcoming culture pass for around 750,000 young people who are just 18 years old. She also suspects “violent distribution battles”, which also threaten the culture segment for the upcoming federal budget. Towards the end of her speech, she addresses a topic that floats through the auditorium and beer garden like the famous “pink elephant” on this peaceful, lively Tuesday evening.
It’s about the “Til(l) affairs. Ergo about the “serious allegations in the cases of Tilmann Valentin (“Til”) Schweiger (film) and Till Lindemann music). The minister demanded ex cathedra “quick and comprehensive clarification”. She castigates the “aggressive, malicious reactions” that are currently being experienced on social media by those young women who have publicly denounced the “Row Zero” principle in the Rammstein case since the Rammstein concert in the Lithuanian capital Vilinius – a kind of institutionalized one Groupie system that was by no means unknown in the insider scene for years.
Roth now wants to “implement an action plan at all levels” at the required speed.
Your ministry is already “in talks”.
According to Ms. Roth, Schweiger and Lindemann are not isolated cases. “Let’s work together to ensure that something like this never happens again,” says the head of the culture department, who briefly looks back on her happy management time with the Berlin spontaneous crew Ton, Steine, Scherben! “
The government chauffeur service is already waiting in front of the ballroom with the engine running. On to the next gig.