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By Monica MUEMA
Recorded music revenues in Sub-Saharan Africa grew 22.6% last year according to IFPI, the organisation that represents the recording industry worldwide. For the first time revenues in the region surpassed US$100 million (reaching US$110 million).
Commenting on the developments, IFPI Regional Director of Sub-Saharan Africa, Ms Angela Ndambuki, said:
“The continued growth in recorded music revenues in Sub-Saharan Africa is a clear testament to the strategic actions the record companies undertake to create opportunities in the region not only for artists but also for fans of recorded music.
The region has over the past few years registered significant growth in digital revenues, especially subscription streaming. Without a doubt, technology is an important driver of this success and, therefore, it is crucial for the region to prioritise the improvement in national policies and regulatory environments so as to attract further investment in the wider recorded music business.”
Figures released today in IFPI’s Global Music Report 2025 also reveal that total global revenues grew for the 10th consecutive year and reached US$29.6 billion in 2024, up by 4.8%.
Working within a highly competitive market, record companies’ long-term investment into the careers of artists, alongside the development and licensing of engaging and exciting ways for fans to experience music, continues to drive the growth of the global market – with every region experiencing an increase in revenue in 2024.
Commenting on the release of the Global Music Report, Victoria Oakley, CEO, IFPI said: “The essential role music plays in so many parts of our lives is evidenced in the continued growth of the global industry.
What is so exciting is that there is still great potential for further development, through innovation, emerging technologies, and investment in both artists and the evolving parts of the growing global music ecosystem.
“These positive developments don’t happen by accident. They reflect the brilliant creativity, vision and hard work of artists and songwriters around the globe, powered in part by the work, investment and passion of record companies and their teams. In the case of record labels, returning revenues enable them to be patient, long-term, consistent investors in artists, innovation and culture.
“One of the key issues we’ve looked at in this report is the role of AI in music. Record companies have embraced its potential to enhance artist creativity and develop new and exciting fan experiences.
However, it is very clear that the developers of generative AI systems “ingesting” copyright-protected music to train their models without authorisation from the rightsholders poses a very real and present threat to human artistry.
“We are asking policymakers to protect music and artistry. We must harness the potential of AI to support and amplify human creativity, not to replace it.”
Growth in the world’s regions:
There was a positive story of growth across other regions in the world:
USA & Canada +2.1%
Representing the greatest share of global recorded music revenues (40.3%), there was a gain of 2.1% in 2024 in the USA and Canada.
The USA, the world’s single largest recorded music market posted growth of 2.2%. Canada, the world’s eighth largest market, saw revenue growth of 1.5%, however this was set against a 2023 figure which included a one-off payment included in performance rights revenues.
Europe +8.3%
Representing more than a quarter of global revenues (29.5%) after revenue growth of 8.3%, Europe remained the second largest region in the world for recorded music revenues in 2024.
The region’s three largest markets all generated revenue growth in 2024: UK (+4.9%), Germany (+4.1%) and France (+7.5%). The region added more revenue growth than any other.
Asia +1.3%
The third largest region globally, revenues in Asia rose by 1.3% in 2024. This was set against a strong performance in 2023 across both physical and digital formats, where revenues jumped 14.4%.
However, Asia maintained its status as the largest physical market and accounted for 45.1% of global physical revenues in 2024.
A decline in physical (-4.9%) as therefore impacted the region’s overall growth rate. The world’s second largest market, Japan, was flat year-on-year (-0.2%) [due to decline in physical], whilst China, ranked #5 globally, increased revenues by 9.6%.
Latin America +22.5%
Recorded music revenues in Latin America rose steeply in 2024 by 22.5%, once again outpacing the global growth rate and marking its fifteenth consecutive year of growth. Streaming remained the key driver and accounted for 87.8% of recorded music revenues in the region.
Brazil grew by 21.7% which made it the fastest growing top ten market, and Mexico increased revenues by 15.6%. Mexico climbed to become the tenth largest global recorded music market.
Australasia +6.4%
Recorded music revenues in the region reached US$629 million and grew by 6.4% in 2024. Australia increased revenues by 6.1%, however dropped out of the top ten markets and was replaced by Mexico, whilst New Zealand grew recorded music revenues by 7.8%.
Middle East & North Africa +22.8%
Middle East & North Africa (MENA) was the fastest growing region and saw recorded music revenues increase by 22.8% in 2024. The region remained dominated by streaming and those revenues accounted for 99.5% of the total.