[1] It represents over 14 million music-loving citizens who, for professional reasons or as amateurs, are affiliated with the Musikrat and its member organizations.

With more than 100 member associations, institutions and numerous personalities, it acts, together with its projects and support measures, as an advisor and competence centre for politics and civil society.

Shortly afterwards, at the General Assembly of the International Music Council, the German section was recognised as a "National Committee".

The "Jugend musiziert" (Youth make music) competition project was founded in 1964 to promote young musicians in Germany.

It was mainly dedicated to the development of international relations while the Verband Deutscher Komponisten und Musikwissenschaftler (Association of German composers and musicologists) took over the tasks within the GDR.