Insurance for recording studios, podcasters and radio stations in Germany
A mixing desk that goes silent after a leak, a podcast remark that gets you sued by a company, a session whose tracks have vanished. In a studio everything depends on equipment, files and words. This page shows which of these should be insured and what it costs.
Often yes, because German courts are quick to treat whoever publishes a statement as having adopted it. If a guest makes false claims about a company, the injunction and damages claim are aimed at you. Professional indemnity that includes personality rights and media law checks the claim and pays justified demands; standard public liability does not cover this.
What goes wrong in this trade
01
Water and power
Air conditioning, heating and pipes run above expensive kit. One leak or power surge hits desk, converters and computers all at once.
02
Other people's instruments
Bands bring guitars, amps and keyboards. If a vintage amp falls off its flight case, you are liable for its collector's value.
03
Lost sessions
A drive fails before backup and an expensive recording with session musicians has to be done again.
04
Statements and rights
Critical remarks about companies, unlicensed music in a jingle, quotes from other people's work: podcasts and stations receive warning letters.
05
Hearing and voice
Engineers and voice artists live off their ears and voices. Sudden hearing loss or tinnitus can end a career.
06
Burglary
Microphones, interfaces and laptops are small and sought after. Studios in back courtyards or basements are often poorly secured.
Protects your income if your hearing or voice is no longer up to the job.
What it costs: example prices
Studio premiums depend mainly on the value of the equipment and whether it stays put or goes out on productions. Liability cover is cheap as long as no live events are involved.
Insurance
Example
Typical range
Business liability
Small studio or podcast production, €3 million limit
about €100 to €300 a year
Electronic equipment
Fixed studio equipment worth €30,000
about €200 to €500 a year
Electronic equipment
Mobile recording kit worth €10,000, worldwide, €250 excess
about €200 to €330 a year
Professional indemnity
Podcast or web radio with media law cover, €100,000 limit
about €250 to €600 a year
Business contents
Fit out, instruments and furnishings worth €40,000
about €120 to €300 a year
For comparison: Liability and studio equipment cover cost about as much a year as two days' studio hire with an engineer.
Guide prices excluding German insurance premium tax, as of September 2026.
The mobile kit figure is derived from publicly quoted rates;
the other values are guide figures from our own quoting work.
Six things that really happen in studios, all on one Wednesday. Tap through and see who pays.
Damage so far€55,000
A heating pipe in the control room burst overnight. Desk and converters have taken on water.
€24,000 · Paid by: Business contents
A guitarist sets up his amp, the case tips over and the old valve amp is damaged.
€3,800 · Paid by: Business liability
A power surge at switch on: two monitor speakers and an interface are dead.
€4,200 · Paid by: Electronic equipment
A company sends a warning letter over a podcast episode in which a guest accused it of fraud.
€7,500 · Paid by: Professional indemnity
Drying out takes the control room out of use for three weeks, and booked sessions have to be cancelled.
€9,000 · Paid by: Business interruption
A break in via the courtyard: microphones and a laptop are gone.
€6,500 · Paid by: Business contents
Which package would you have had?
Paid by insurance: €0
Out of your own pocket: €55,000
Illustrative amounts before any excess.
What is paid depends on the policy terms.
Practical tips from your broker
Have damage to clients' instruments and equipment expressly included in your public liability.
Insure studio equipment under an electronics policy; contents insurance does not pay for power surges without a lightning strike or for operating errors.
Include the acoustic fit out as fixtures in the sum insured; it is often worth more than you think.
Podcasters and stations should have media law and personality rights named expressly in their professional indemnity.
For location recording and live productions, the kit must also be covered outside the studio.
Off site backups are the cheapest insurance against lost sessions and often reduce the cyber premium too.
Why NAMMERT for your business
We compare what really protects your kit
Fixed or mobile, new for old or current value, clients' instruments or not: as a broker we show you how several insurers differ.
We know claims from handling them ourselves
In boat insurance we handle claims ourselves. We know which invoices and photos are needed after water damage.
One contact for studio and private life
Studio, van, instruments and your own income protection are arranged together.
Family run since 1989
Free for you; the insurer pays our commission. You reach people who know your policies.
Frequently asked questions
Questions and answers
Is studio equipment adequately protected by contents insurance?
Against fire, escape of water, storm and burglary, yes.
For power surges, short circuits,
operating errors and damage on location you need electronics insurance.
What does insurance for a small recording studio cost?
Liability, equipment, contents and loss of income usually come to €600 to €1,400 a year for a
small studio.
Do I need insurance as a podcaster?
If you earn money from your podcast or talk about companies and people,
you should have professional indemnity with media law cover.
It starts at a few hundred euros a year.
Who pays if a client's instrument gets damaged in the studio?
If clients damage it themselves, usually nobody but them.
If you or your staff were at fault, public liability pays,
provided third party property in your care is included.
Are music rights covered?
Warning letters over music rights can be handled under professional indemnity with copyright cover,
but only if there was no intent.
Fees to GEMA, Germany's music royalties society, are never insured.
Which Berufsgenossenschaft is responsible?
For studios usually the VBG, the statutory accident insurer for this sector.
Membership becomes compulsory once you employ staff; owners can insure themselves voluntarily.
NAMMERT insurance broker
Request quotes for Recording studio
The recommended covers are ticked.
Change what does not fit; we compare quotes, in English.
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