Deutsche Musik

Deutsche Musik — literally German music — is an umbrella category encompassing the many forms of German-language musical production: popular Schlager, German folk, contemporary songwriting, German-language hip-hop, electronic pop, and much more. Germany boasts an exceptionally rich musical tradition, from the great classical composers to the pioneers of electronic music. Düsseldorf's Kraftwerk, formed in the early 1970s, laid the foundations of a sonic modernity whose influence is still felt across the globe today.

Musically, Deutsche Musik spans an enormous spectrum. Schlager, with its jovial melodies and accessible lyrics, remains an institution in Germany, Austria, and Switzerland. Meanwhile, German-language hip-hop — Deutschrap — exploded in the 2010s to become one of the most-streamed genres in Germany. The German rock and metal scene is equally vibrant, alongside a growing wave of melancholic German-language pop artists reaching ever-wider audiences.

Among the scene's key figures, Lorenz Büffel embodies festive, no-frills Schlager, while Darkwood explores darker folk territories. Isi Glück represents contemporary German-language pop, and Lostboi Lino the new wave of rap in German. Mart Hoogkamer illustrates the genre's popularity across the neighbouring Dutch-speaking world.

On the festival front, Germany hosts some of Europe's greatest musical events: Wacken Open Air for metal, Fusion Festival for electronic music, and Rock am Ring for rock. Browse our full selection of Deutsche Musik festivals and discover the full diversity of the German-language music scene.