Global music publishing collections rose to nearly €14.6 billion ($15.89 billion) in 2025, an 11.9% increase from €12.6 billion the previous year, according to CISAC’s latest Global Collections Report. The organization’s director general, Gadi Oron, said the growth reflected the resilience of collective management and continuing demand for creative works.
More than half of the reported increase came from the first-time inclusion of revenue collected by the U.S. Mechanical Licensing Collective (MLC). Organic growth accounted for about 5.3 percentage points, a rate that exceeded the 4.8% increase in record-label revenue reported by IFPI for 2025.
Digital was the largest source of music publishing royalties, contributing 45.6% of the total. Collections from digital reached €6.41 billion, up 28% from €5.01 billion in 2024, although CISAC’s report noted that the MLC’s inclusion had a significant effect on this category.
Background music and concerts ranked second, generating €3.624 billion, or 25.8% of publishing revenue, a 7.2% rise from the previous year. Other reported categories declined: television and radio revenue fell 3.1% to €3.315 billion, while CDs and video dropped 8.9% to €326 million. Private-copying royalties decreased 6.7% to €252 million, synchronization revenue slipped to €58 million from €62 million, and other licensing sources fell 24.1% to €70 million.
CISAC also highlighted uncertainty around artificial intelligence and its effects on the economic model for creative work. Oron described AI, new business models and changing consumption patterns as the confederation’s “largest test,” adding that the question is whether systems protecting creators’ rights can adapt quickly enough. He said CISAC and its member organizations are participating in consultations and policy processes around the world.
CISAC president and ABBA co-founder Björn Ulvaeus said human creativity should be valued and protected. He expressed hope that AI could inspire a new chapter for human creativity rather than diminish it.
By region, Western Europe generated the largest share of publishing royalties, with 45.2% of the total, followed by North America at 31.6% and Asia-Pacific at 13.3%. Latin America accounted for 5.6%, Central and Eastern Europe for 3.8%, and Africa for 0.5%. The United States was the largest country market, followed by France, the United Kingdom, Germany and Japan.
Including royalties from literature, drama, visual arts and audiovisual works, CISAC reported total collections of €15.5 billion in 2025, up 11.3% from the previous year. CISAC represents 225 collective management organizations across 110 countries and territories.
Sources: Billboard.