IFPI’s Global Music Report 2026 highlights another year of growth for the recorded music industry, with global revenues increasing 6.4% in 2025 to reach US$31.7 billion, marking the 11th consecutive year of growth. Paid streaming continued to drive this momentum, accounting for more than half of global recorded music revenues for the first time.
At the report’s launch in London, the conversation centered on what’s fueling this trajectory—and what the industry must prioritize next—from subscription growth and artist‑label partnerships to how emerging technologies can responsibly expand opportunity for creators.
Growth Continues Across Established and Emerging Markets
The Global Music Report 2026 identifies paid subscriptions as the primary driver of industry growth, with the global market adding 54 million new paid subscriber accounts over the past year. As discussed during the launch panel, this growth reflects more than consumer demand; it stems from a licensing marketplace that has shaped the relationship between technology and music for decades.
“It’s that foundation that builds healthy business models and allows us to invest in artists and help them grow their careers,” Dennis Kooker, President of Sony Music’s Global Digital Business, adds. “It accelerates growth for artists, engages fans even more, and ultimately both the music and tech industries win.”
He later acknowledged that while streaming remains the largest contributor, growth across the industry is increasingly diversified. Physical sales, synchronization, public performance, and broadcasting continue to play an important role. Notably, 57 of the 58 global markets experienced revenue growth in 2025, underscoring how artists who succeed locally are increasingly unlocking new opportunities on a global scale.
Labels Remain Central to Sustainable Artist Careers
Both the report and conversations throughout the day underscored that long‑term growth begins with strong partnerships between artists and record labels. These relationships rely on sustained investment, creative trust, and the ability to evolve in a rapidly changing environment.
Kooker referenced Sony Music artists Tate McRae and Rosalía as examples of how these partnerships work in practice, as highlighted in the Global Music Report 2026. For Tate McRae, the focus has centered on deeply understanding her creative vision and investing at the right moments to help build her career over time. In Rosalía’s case, the strategy emphasized developing her story locally—beginning in Iberia, expanding across Europe and Latin America, and ultimately reaching global audiences—while preserving her authenticity and creative identity.
Together, these examples reflect how artist‑label partnerships serve as engines for both creative and commercial growth. Innovation and investment are proactive commitments essential to supporting artists and enabling long‑term success.
“Good” AI Starts With Placing Artists at the Center
Emerging technologies, including artificial intelligence, present significant opportunities for the music industry when implemented responsibly and with artists at the center. AI can help expand the global music market by enabling deeper, more meaningful connections between artists and fans as audience engagement continues to evolve.
“Over the last three decades, every major wave of disruptive technology has ultimately driven growth in demand, growth in engagement, and new creative possibilities for artists,” Kooker explained. “All of that is why you’d look at AI and see a real opportunity. The technology revolution should enhance the artist–fan relationship, not replace the emotional and human connection that makes music so special.”
Getting AI “right,” he added, requires strong foundations: clear licensing, defined products, transparent reporting, and fair compensation models that ensure artists are paid. Without these guardrails, rogue activity—including unauthorized training on copyrighted material, deepfakes, and market dilution—poses real risks to creator value.
When developed responsibly, however, AI can move from being perceived as a threat to becoming a powerful creative tool that supports artists, deepens fan relationships, and drives sustainable industry growth.
Combating Streaming Fraud Is Essential to Ecosystem Integrity
The report also highlights the growing threat of streaming fraud and the damage it causes across the music ecosystem. Fraudulent activity ultimately steals value from the system, harming the very artists and creators who are meant to benefit from it.
“New technology can be incredibly beneficial, but it can also be incredibly dangerous. The scale of streaming fraud can grow exponentially because of technology developments,” Kooker explained. “That’s why we have to be more deliberate about addressing it, fixing it, and eliminating it. There should be a zero‑tolerance policy—it’s that simple.”
Read the full Global Music Report to get an in‑depth look at these themes and the evolving dynamics of the recorded music business.
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