Press and Media

Die Popakademie Baden-Württemberg untersucht gemeinsam mit dem Fraunhofer-Institut für Digitale Medientechnologie IDMT im zweijährigen Forschungsprojekt »Perspektive 2036 – Musikwirtschaft in der Zukunft«, wie generative Künstliche Intelligenz Musikproduktion, Distribution, Rechteklärung, Lizenzierung und Verwertung bis zum Jahr 2036 verändern kann. Ziel ist es, mögliche Zukunftsbilder der Musikwirtschaft und Musikkultur zu entwickeln und daraus konkrete Empfehlungen und Handlungsbedarfe für politische Entscheidungsträgerinnen und -träger abzuleiten. So sollen frühzeitig die Voraussetzungen für einen rechtssicheren, fairen und kulturell verantwortungsvollen Umgang von KI im Musikbereich geschaffen werden. Im Rahmen des Programms Insight II wird das Vorhaben vom Bundesministerium für Forschung, Technologie und Raumfahrt gefördert.In a two-year research project entitled ‘Perspective 2036 – The Future of the Music Industry’, the Popakademie Baden-Württemberg, in collaboration with the Fraunhofer Institute for Digital Media Technology IDMT, is investigating how generative artificial intelligence could transform music production, distribution, rights clearance, licensing and exploitation by the year 2036. The aim is to develop possible visions of the future of the music industry and music culture, and to derive concrete recommendations and areas requiring action for policymakers. The goal is to establish, at an early stage, the conditions for the legally sound, fair and culturally responsible use of AI in the music industry. The project is funded by the Federal Ministry of Research, Technology and Space as part of the Insight II programme.

New research project PADSE: Fraunhofer IDMT, Deutsche Welle, and Bauhaus University Weimar are developing novel methods for detecting audio deepfakes, using a person-centric approach for detecting synthetic and manipulated speech content.

During the AES Europe Convention in Copenhagen Professor Thomas Sporer was honored with the Fellowship Award from the Audio Engineering Society (AES). With this award, the AES recognized his outstanding contributions to perception-based audio quality evaluation as well as his long-standing commitment to the international standardization of audio engineering methods.

What does our brain reveal about us? Recording brain activity via electroencephalograms (EEGs) provides important insights for science and medicine. For example, modern AI systems can identify early signs of disease in these signals. However, the individual data patterns also allow conclusions about specific individuals. Experts refer to these as “brainprints”. The “NEMO” project, coordinated by Fraunhofer IDMT, has researched technologies to enhance data protection while simultaneously improving the availability of EEG data for scientific research. The researchers’ approach aims to significantly reduce the risk of reidentification in recorded EEG data, while preserving relevant information for data analysis. The research results have already been successfully demonstrated using sleep phase analysis as an example.

The Fraunhofer Institute for Digital Media Technology IDMT has successfully completed its work on the research project “Neuroadaptivity for Autonomous Systems” (NAFAS). The experts from Oldenburg played a key role in the development of a mobile EEG system for brain-computer interfaces as part of the project, which in total received 30 million euros in funding from the Cyber Agency. In doing so, they made a significant contribution to achieving the project’s first milestones.

Artificial intelligence, advanced sensor technologies and immersive simula tion are opening new possibilities for law enforcement and public security agencies. From May 20 to 22, 2026, the Fraunhofer-Gesellschaft will present new internal security solutions at the GPEC General Police Equipment Exhibi tions & Conference in Leipzig. These will include technologies for analyzing digital evidence, identifying threats at an early stage and training personnel in realistic environments. Under the theme “Internal Security Made by Fraunhofer—Forensics · Surveillance · Training,” four Fraunhofer institutes will demonstrate how their developments can be applied in practice at Hall 2, Booth J32. Also participating are the audio forensics experts from Fraunhofer IDMT in Ilmenau.

Researchers from Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität München, the University of Hamburg, Freie Universität Berlin and the Fraunhofer Institute for Digital Media Technology IDMT show in a recent publication in the journal Nature Climate Change that television in Germany remains one of the most important media for engaging with the issue of climate change. Moreover, television can contribute to societal consensus-building. The study finds that climate-related television content primarily reaches news-oriented audiences, while disengaged and sceptical groups rarely encounter the topic due to their preferred TV formats.

The 3D audio technology SpatialSound Wave, developed by Fraunhofer IDMT, now delivers an impressive spatial sound experience in all Mercedes-Benz vehicles equipped with the latest generation of the Mercedes-Benz User Experience (MBUX) infotainment system. Music, voices and sound events no longer appear close to the loudspeakers, but unfold as an immersive, three-dimensional soundscape throughout the entire vehicle interior. Even conventional stereo music content becomes spatially perceptible. The intensity of this spatial sound can be individually adjusted. With the integration of Fraunhofer technology, Mercedes-Benz is introducing an innovative approach to spatial audio reproduction in vehicles equipped with the 4th generation of the MBUX infotainment system. The launch starts with the new models Mercedes-Benz CLA, Mercedes-Benz GLC, Mercedes-Benz GLB and Mercedes-Benz S-Class; additional model series will follow.

Music rights can be a real problem for figure skaters, as recent headlines surrounding the 2026 Olympics have shown. Spanish figure skater Tomàs-Llorenç Guarino Sabaté, known for his free skate to music from the Minions film series, became embroiled in a rights controversy shortly before his Olympic debut in Milan-Cortina: The music he had used in many competitions throughout the season was initially not allowed to be used at the Olympic Games because the necessary copyright approvals were not confirmed in time – just a few days before the start of the competitions.

In film, television, streaming, or live productions, ensuring good speech intelligibility is one of the biggest challenges for professional sound engineers. Algorithms developed by Fraunhofer IDMT in Oldenburg, Germany analyze listening effort in real time and provide recommendations for adjustments. In addition, the digital assistant ”YourSound” enables users of audio devices and infotainment systems to playfully adapt audio to their personal preferences. But the researchers not only focus on software: Fraunhofer IDMT brings AES67 to DSP hardware for audio over IP. Visit us at The NAMM Show in Anaheim, USA, from January 22-24, 2026, at our booth 14916/5 (German Pavilion) or at www.idmt.fraunhofer.de/hsa.