Track title: "The Boldness Seeking Its Equivalent"
Artists Criticize Low Pay and Lack of Travel Reimbursement on ZDF's "Fernsehgarten"
In the world of Schlager music, some artists are expressing dissatisfaction with the financial arrangements of ZDF's long-running variety show, "Fernsehgarten."
Roberto Blanco, a well-known Schlager singer, stopped appearing on the show more than twelve years ago due to contract changes he did not want. His colleague, Markus Becker, interpreter of "Das Rote Pferd," sees "Fernsehgarten" as a "promo platform" rather than a lucrative opportunity.
Ikke Hüftgold, a 48-year-old Schlager star, has been vocal about the show's remuneration policies. He claims that the ZDF-"Fernsehgarten" does not pay party Schlager acts well, offering a reimbursement of just 750 euros per performance. This includes rehearsals and the show itself. In contrast, Hüftgold earns up to 20,000 euros per live show in Mallorca's party scene.
Huftgold is not alone in his criticism. He mentions that other party Schlager acts also have to pay for their own travel expenses to rehearsals and performances. Roland Kaiser and Matthias Reim are said to stay away from "Fernsehgarten" for similar reasons, according to Becker.
Becker states that TV appearances generally don't bring much money, but are more about reimbursements. Huftgold believes that despite bringing the highest ratings of the year, party Schlager acts are not adequately compensated. He suggests that other artists from different genres receive several thousand euros for their performances.
Huftgold claims that the ZDF writes off party Schlager acts as newcomers and sells the show as a great promo opportunity. Becker also states that established stars like Maite Kelly or Beatrice Egli reportedly receive higher fees, though exact amounts are not public.
In comparison to other TV genres or shows, "Fernsehgarten" tends to treat many artists—especially those seen as newcomers—as promotional acts rather than paid professionals, leading to relatively modest fees. Established stars may command better terms due to higher market value and drawing power, but generally, the show’s fee policy favors promotional exposure over substantial pay.
Despite these criticisms, the ZDF has not made any statements regarding the fees and reimbursements mentioned by Huftgold. They have asked for understanding that they cannot make any statements about the contracts with the acts. Blanco, however, stated that he is always paid for his performances and would not return if not paid.
| Aspect | ZDF-"Fernsehgarten" | Other Live/Commercial Shows (e.g., Mallorca concerts) | |------------------------|--------------------------------------|-------------------------------------------------------| | Typical fee (newcomers/lesser-known) | ~750 euros per appearance (2 days) | Up to 20,000 euros or more per performance | | Fee (established stars) | Higher than newcomers, unspecified | High, reflecting market draw | | Travel/accommodation | Paid by artist | Usually covered or accounted in fee | | Overall pay philosophy | Seen as promotional exposure, low pay| Market-based professional earnings |
This discrepancy between pay and reimbursement in "Fernsehgarten" and other performance settings has sparked debate within the Schlager community, with some artists calling for fairer compensation and travel reimbursement.
More celebrities within the Schlager community are advocating for increased entertainment and fairer compensation in the ZDF-"Fernsehgarten" show, citing lower pay compared to lucrative opportunities in other live event and commercial settings, such as Mallorca concerts.
Pop-culture discussions within the Schlager scene highlight a gap in reimbursement policies between ZDF-"Fernsehgarten" and other performance platforms, with established stars receiving higher payments and newcomers often footing their own travel expenses.
