Music and video streaming accounted for over a third of the world's total copyright revenue in 2024, and is the main driver of revenue growth. At the same time, the growing threat from artificial intelligence is pointed out.
/ 07/11/2025 / Kristian DugstadThe world's total royalty income to creators reached a new record of 13,97 billion euros in 2024, equivalent to almost 167 billion kroner. This is according to CISAC's Global Collections Report 2025, which was published on Thursday, November 6.
The report shows a growth of 6,6 percent from the previous year and marks a decade of continuous progress. Overall, creators' income has increased by more than 70 percent since 2014. At the same time, the report points out that developments in artificial intelligence could have major consequences for the future of the artist economy.
The main driver of growth in 2024 will be digital revenues, which increased by 11,2 percent and exceeded €5 billion for the first time. Streaming and subscription services now account for more than a third of total global revenues.
For the music sector alone, revenues increased by 7,2 percent to €12,59 billion, accounting for a full 90 percent of all royalties across CISAC's five artistic areas: music, audiovisual works, literature, drama and visual arts.
Revenue from concerts, events and background music also increased, by 9,6 percent to over 3,5 billion euros.
Europe still accounts for half of the world's total remuneration revenue, with €7,6 billion in 2024, an increase of 6,7 percent.
Growth is driven particularly by France, the UK and Germany, while North America shows the strongest progress with a 10 percent increase, driven by digital use and a strong concert market.
Asia and the Pacific region increased by 3 percent, while Latin America and the Caribbean stabilized after several years of strong growth. Africa had the largest percentage increase of 14,2 percent, particularly in broadcasting and live performance.
Despite record revenues, CISAC warns of new threats that could undermine the value of human-made content. Director Gadi Oron points in particular to the challenges posed by generative artificial intelligence (AI).
"Creators deserve clarity, protection, and above all, a fair share of the value their work generates,"
says Gadi Oron, CISAC Director General.
According to CISAC, unregulated use of generative AI could lead to up to 25 percent of creators' revenues, equivalent to 8,5 billion euros annually, disappearing into unpaid AI systems if clear rules for licensing and transparency are not introduced.
CISAC is now calling on governments around the world to require transparency in training data and ensure that creators are paid when their works are used to develop AI.
"What we truly need now are political champions to ensure that respect for human authorship is not pushed aside in the race for innovation,"
says Björn Ulvaeus, CISAC President and ABBA founder.
CISAC (Confédération Internationale des Sociétés d'Auteurs et Compositeurs) is a global network of 228 collective management organizations in 111 countries, including TONO in Norway.
Together, the organizations represent the rights of over five million creators in music, audiovisual works, literature, drama and visual arts.
CISAC's annual report provides the most comprehensive overview available of developments in global copyright revenues.