Rammstein on Schalke: Why the reporting is stalling

Rammstein on Schalke: Why the reporting is stalling

The current restrictions for journalists at major events make a lightly on the tensions between artists, their managers and the press. A current example is the reporting on the five concerts of Rammstein in Gelsenkirchen, which take place between 26 and 31 July 2024. Although these events are almost sold out and a total of around 300,000 fans are attracted, the press is faced with serious hurdles.

rammstein and the refused accreditations

Ruhr24, a news portal for the North Rhine-Westphalia region, originally wanted to report in detail about one of the concerts of Rammstein. But the hope of comprehensive accreditation was not fulfilled. Instead, the portal was granted a restricted 'photo pass' just one day before the first concert. This limits the reporting to the last part of the concert, which makes creative and complete reporting significantly more difficult.

The problem of reporting

The behavior of Rammstein and the responsible agency has led to a considerable displeasure among press representatives. Ruhr24 was only allowed to photograph during the last three songs of the concert, which builds up an article publication of only 15 minutes of concert time. In comparison, the situation at a earlier concert by Taylor Swift was much more relaxed, which raises the question of why such restrictions exist at Rammstein.

burdened relationships between artists and journalists

These incidents are not isolated. As early as 2023, there were reports of similar problems with concerts by Rammstein frontman Till Lindemann. At that time, the German Journalist Association (DJV) expressed sharp criticism and pointed out that it was unacceptable that the reporting is restricted by the moods of artists and their managers. The DJV chairman Mika Beuster suspected that the strict requirements were a “return carriage” for critical media reports on Lindemann.

The requirements for image journalists

Another critical point is the need to use professional photo equipment because smartphones are not considered sufficient. This restriction was enforced by the responsible agency, although it remains questionable why the latest smartphones are not tolerated, while they are standard in many other reports. In addition, the photos taken during the concert may only be used for a maximum of one year, which significantly limits the possibilities for journalistic work.

demands for more transparency

The current situation around Rammstein illustrates a growing problem in the relationship between artists and journalists. The DJV has already appealed to the federal states in the past to create a clear regulation for photographers and journalists to ensure access to public events. The incident underlines the need for a dialogue between the media and event organizers in order to strengthen the rights of the press at a time when access to information and freedom of expression are increasingly under pressure.

- Nag