Statute

Preamble

Munich Music Labs is founded on the shared conviction of its founding members

Carlos Barberá Domingo, Hüseyin Bartu Can, Kai Chan, Daniel Tomasz Henel, Henri-Maximilian Nemitz, Lucy Mona-Li Strüfing, Nevil Rafael Yepez Salinas

that the future of music emerges where artistic creation, scientific curiosity and technological innovation meet. The association sees itself as a space where sound, ideas and digital tools engage in dialogue and give rise to new forms of expression.

It is grounded in the intention to cultivate an open environment in which individuals from diverse backgrounds collaborate, learn from one another and share responsibility for the thoughtful use of computer-based and AI-supported musical practices. The association’s work follows the belief that creativity and research enrich, challenge and inspire one another.

Munich Music Labs seeks to make knowledge accessible, enable artistic and scientific experimentation and explore the aesthetic, technological and societal dimensions of digital sound. From this interplay emerges a perspective that reflects and advances the development and diversity of contemporary music.

Section 1 — Name, Office, Purpose

§ 1 Name and Registered Office of the Association, Financial Year

(1) The association bears the name “Munich Music Labs”. It is intended to be entered in the register of associations and will thereafter bear the suffix “e.V.”.

(2) The association has its registered office and place of jurisdiction in Munich.

(3) The financial year is from 1. October to 30. September of each year.

§ 2 Purpose and Non-profit Status

(1) The association with its registered office in Munich pursues exclusively and directly charitable purposes within the meaning of the section “Steuerbegünstigte Zwecke” of the Abgabenordnung.

(2) The purpose of the association is the promotion of science and research, of education and vocational training including student support, as well as the promotion of art and culture within the meaning of § 52 para. 2 no. 1, no. 5 and no. 7 of the Abgabenordnung.

(3) The association pursues this purpose in particular through

1. the interdisciplinary research and communication of the interactions between music, technology and artificial intelligence,
2. the organisation of workshops, lectures, research projects, exhibitions, competitions and musical performances,
3. the development and publication of own and collaborative research and art projects in the area of computer- and AI-supported audio processing and music composition.

(4) The association acts selflessly; it does not primarily pursue its own economic purposes.

(5) Funds of the association may only be used for the purposes set out in these Articles.

(6) No person may be favoured by expenditures that are foreign to the purpose of the association or by disproportionately high remunerations.

Section 2 — Membership

§ 3 Acquisition of Membership

(1) The association has community members (“Community Member”), supporting members (“Supporting Member”) and alumni members (“Alumni Member”). Upon proposal of the board, the general assembly may appoint members or other persons who have rendered special services to the association as honorary members for life.

(2) Community membership is open to every natural person. Legal and natural persons may become supporting members without any time limitation.

(3) Admission to the association must be applied for in text form to the secretary. For minors, the application must be submitted by the legal representatives. The secretary decides on the application at his or her own discretion. A rejection does not need to be justified to the applicant. The board determines the details of membership in a membership agreement.

(4) The board may determine the application modalities at its own discretion. These will be announced on the website. They also include the period in which applicants may submit their applications. Upon proposal of a member of the board, an applicant may submit the application throughout the entire year. If the application modalities are not observed at the date of dispatch, the secretary may reject the application.

(5) Members who, at the time of admission to the association, are enrolled or employed at a university or a comparable institution become alumni members after the completion of their studies or PhD, at the earliest at the end of their term of office if they hold an office.

§ 4 Termination of Membership

(1) Membership in the association ends by death (for legal persons with their dissolution), resignation or expulsion.

(2) Resignation must be declared in text form to the board. Resignation may only be declared with at least one month’s notice to the end of the financial year. It does not require justification.

(3) A member may be expelled from the association with immediate effect for special reasons or due to repeated violation of the membership agreement by majority decision of the board. Special reasons include in particular the commission of criminal offences, tortious behaviour towards other members, intentional or grossly negligent harm to the association’s interests, default in membership fees until the beginning of the semester following the default despite reminder. The reminder must be issued in text form no earlier than two weeks after the beginning of default, but no later than three months.

(4) Membership fees already paid will not be refunded.

(5) The beginning of the semester is the beginning of the lecture period of the Technical University of Munich.

§ 5 Membership Fees

(1) Members must pay membership fees each semester. These amount to at least 10 € for community members and alumni members and at least 50 € for supporting members.

(2) The membership fee is always paid at the beginning of the semester. The treasurer monitors payment by each member. Members shall, if possible, authorise the association to use SEPA direct debit.

(3) Honorary members are exempt from membership fees.

(4) The general assembly may additionally decide on an admission fee.

Section 3 — Bodies and Assembly

§ 6 Bodies of the Association

The bodies of the association are the executive board, the general assembly and the advisory board.

§ 7 Executive Board

(1) The executive board within the meaning of § 26 sentence 2 BGB consists of two chairpersons (co-chair system), the treasurer and the secretary, as well as further heads of departments. The secretary and the treasurer may also hold the office of chairperson. In total, no more than seven persons may be members of the board, each responsible for certain areas (departments) and managing these independently. Each of the two chairpersons is authorised to exercise alternatively and alone the rights and duties assigned to the chairperson by these Articles. The two chairpersons shall coordinate with each other and, in case of disagreement, submit the disputed issue to the remaining board, which decides by majority vote.

(2) The association is represented jointly by two board members, one of whom must belong to the chair.

(3) The board may, by majority decision, transfer the positions listed in paragraph 1 sentence 1 to other board members. The chair may only be transferred by unanimous decision of the board.

(4) The board is elected by the general assembly before the end of the current financial year for two years starting from the beginning of the following financial year. A new board must be elected before the end of this period. If the general assembly has not elected a new board before the end of the term, the previously elected board remains in office as interim board until a new board is elected.

(5) In the election of the board, the chairpersons are elected first, one after the other. Thereafter, the remaining board members are elected one after the other.

(6) The board may assign specific tasks to certain members of the association for voluntary completion for the duration of one semester. No right of representation is associated with this.

(7) Only those may become board members, who have their habitual residence in Munich.

(8) If the number of board members falls below the required number pursuant to § 7 para. 1, an extraordinary general assembly must be convened no later than four weeks thereafter.

(9) Board members shall be reimbursed for appropriate expenses incurred through association work. Board members may also receive appropriate remuneration for their time spent. Remuneration for time spent requires a prior resolution of the general assembly with respect to basis and amount.

(10) The executive board may initiate removal of individual board members by majority resolution. Such removal becomes effective only upon approval by the general assembly. At the same time, the general assembly may, upon proposal of the executive board, elect a replacement member for the remainder of the term of office.

§ 8 Board Meetings

(1) The board meets as required. The meetings are convened by the chairpersons, in their absence by the secretary. A notice period of one week should be observed. The board has a quorum if more than half of the members with voting rights are present. Resolutions are passed by majority of valid votes cast. In case of a tie, the votes of the chairpersons decide; in their absence, the motion is deemed rejected. If the chairpersons are not in agreement in the event of a tie, the motion is deemed rejected.

(2) Abstentions are not permitted. Members of the board who are biased are excluded from voting. In case of dispute, the remaining board members decide on the bias of a board member by resolution, excluding the person concerned.

(3) The resolutions of the board must be recorded. The minutes must be signed by the minute-taker and by the chairperson, or in his/her absence by the deputy or another board member.

(4) The board may resolve that the board meeting be held as a virtual or hybrid meeting.

§ 9 General Assembly

(1) The general assembly is the supreme body of the association. All members have the right to attend the general assembly.

(2) The general assembly takes place at least once per financial year. Extraordinary general assemblies may be convened by 1/6 of the members in written form to the secretary. The board may unanimously convene extraordinary general assemblies, in particular for new elections.

(3) The general assembly is chaired by one of the chairpersons (meeting chair). For elections, the general assembly appoints an election supervisor and election assistants who conduct the election and count the votes.

(4) The agenda is determined by the board. It is sent with the invitation and must be approved by those present at the beginning of the meeting and may be supplemented by them. The meeting chair supplements the agenda at the beginning of the meeting accordingly.

(5) The general assembly elects up to three, but at least one auditor, who presents the audit of finances for the previous financial year at the next general assembly. This office may not be held by the current treasurer.

(6) The general assembly decides on the discharge of the board.

(7) The right to speak for supporting members is granted by the meeting chair and may only be refused for important reasons.

(8) The board may resolve that the general assembly be held as a virtual or hybrid meeting. In the case of an extraordinary general assembly convened by the members, they decide upon convening on the form.

§ 10 Invitation to the General Assembly

Members are invited to the general assembly with a notice period of two weeks in text form, in particular by e-mail. The period begins upon sending the invitations to the members. The postal or e-mail address last provided is deemed the place of delivery.

§ 11 Resolutions of the General Assembly

(1) The general assembly decides by resolution. Motions are decided by majority of votes cast. Ordinary motions require a simple majority of the “yes” and “no” votes cast.

(2) The General Assembly has a quorum, if 1/3 of all members are present.

(3) Amendments to the Statute require 3/4 of the votes cast; amendments to the purpose require 4/5 of the votes cast. Abstentions are not permitted in amendments to the Articles or purpose.

(4) Each member who has paid the membership fee for the current semester has one vote. Supporting members have no voting right.

(5) Elections are secret. Voting may be held secretly by resolution of the board upon the request of any member.

(6) Ballots are to be destroyed after the expiry of the statutory retention period.

§ 12 Minutes

The general assemblies are recorded by the secretary, or in his/her absence by a person determined by the assembly by majority vote. In particular, all resolutions and elections must be recorded. The minutes are signed by the secretary or the person determined by the assembly and by the meeting chair. A copy of the completed minutes must be sent electronically to all members within 14 days after the general assembly.

§ 13 Advisory Board

(1) The association establishes an advisory board consisting of natural persons who support the purpose of the Association. The advisory board supports the board in the substantive organisation of the association’s work. Details are set out in an advisory board agreement.

(2) Admission occurs by declaration to the board, which decides on the admission. § 4 of the Articles applies accordingly to resignation from the advisory board.

(3) The advisory board is exempt from the membership fees pursuant to § 5.

Section 4 — Final Provisions

§ 14 Language

The working language of the association is English. General assemblies are generally held in English.

§ 15 Dispute Resolution

(1) All disputes regarding the association shall undergo an internal dispute resolution procedure before resorting to ordinary legal remedies. Upon entering the dispute resolution procedure, the decision of the arbitrators is binding.

(2) The claimant and the respondent each appoint one arbitrating person. The two arbitrators select a third person as chair of the arbitration procedure. The arbitrators may not be members of the association.

(3) The arbitrators issue a written summary of the facts, a reasoning and the decision. The arbitration issues an equitable decision. German law serves as orientation.

(4) The arbitrators may agree upon their own procedural rules or use existing procedural rules.

§ 16 Dissolution of the Association

(1) The association may be dissolved by 4/5 of the votes cast at the general assembly. The dissolution is announced in the electronic Federal Gazette.

(2) In the event of dissolution of the association, the assets of the association fall to a legal person under public law or another tax-privileged corporation for use in promoting science and art in the field of computer-based music, algorithmic composition and the sound aesthetics of digital systems.

§ 17 Rounding of Numbers in Ratios

For ratios of the board or members expressed in fractions or percentages, the result of the fraction shall always be rounded up to the next whole number.

§ 18 Severability Clause

Should any Article of this Statute be invalid, this shall not affect the validity of the remaining Articles.