Songwriter royalties hit record high in 2024 with $13.6 Billion collected
Global songwriter royalties just hit a record $13.6 billion in 2024, find out what’s driving the surge and what it means for the future of music creators.
Songwriters and music publishers saw another strong year in 2024, with global royalty collections reaching an estimated USD $13.6 billion. The figures, released by CISAC, show a 7.2% year-on-year increase and mark a new all-time high for creators represented by the network’s collective management organisations across more than 100 countries.
Music remains the dominant contributor to CISAC’s collections, and digital revenues once again led the charge. Digital royalty income surpassed €5 billion for the first time, growing 10.8% compared with the previous year. The rise was driven largely by expanding streaming subscriptions and price increases across major platforms.
Regional trends tell a more detailed story. The United States remained the single largest market for songwriters and publishers, with collections rising about 10.1% to roughly €3.14 billion. France grew by 7.9%, while the UK posted an 8.2% increase. Central and Eastern Europe was the fastest-growing region in percentage terms, with a 17.9% jump, though it still represents a smaller share of global totals.
By contrast, growth in Asia-Pacific reached just 2.9%, and Latin America rose 3.3%. Lower streaming penetration in these regions continues to shape the pace of expansion.
While 2024’s results reflect a healthy market, CISAC also noted that some revenue categories, like live and background music,are shifting from a rapid post-pandemic rebound toward steadier, more moderate growth.
The report also highlights new concerns. A commissioned study warns that artificial intelligence could significantly reduce creator revenue if rights frameworks fail to keep pace. The research suggests up to 24% of music creator income could be cannibalised by AI-generated content by 2028 without stronger protections and licensing systems.
Still, surpassing the $13.6 billion mark underscores the resilience of the global songwriting ecosystem. As digital revenues continue to grow and emerging regions show increasing potential, the landscape offers opportunity, but also signals the need for continued vigilance around rights, regulation, and technological change.