With the recent news of slowing streaming growth in the U.S. and declining global revenue growth in recorded music, one might think the trends could have a negative impact on the market for publishing and recorded music catalogs.
Think again. For a handful of reasons, industry insiders who spoke to Billboard don’t believe the slowdown will have much — if any — effect on the continually brisk business in music intellectual property rights. Subscription revenue, which accounted for roughly 66% of U.S. revenue and approximately 51% of global revenue in 2024, according to the RIAA and IFPI, respectively, will continue to grow in mature markets and elsewhere.

– Glenn Peoples, Billboard

A wide coalition of creative industries’ international organisations have joined forces to express their opposition to the third draft of the European Union’s General-Purpose AI (GPAI) Code of Practice, which they describe as “fundamentally flawed.”

– Emmanuel Legrand, Creative Industries News

A group of European authors, performers and other rightsholders have issued a joint statement slamming the third draft of the European Union’s GPAI (General-Purpose Artificial Intelligence) Code of Practice.
The statement comes as the EU continues to refine guidelines for its AI Act, which seeks to create a regulatory framework for AI systems operating within the bloc. The proposed rules include transparency and copyright-related rules, particularly for AI models deemed to pose “systemic risks.”

– Mandy Dalugdug, Music Business Worldwide

Over the past year, there has been increasing attention on the flailing state of young men in Western societies. While many conversations have centred on the radicalisation of young men through misogynistic influencers like Andrew Tate (as outlined by the BBC), there is an emerging evidence base around the declining salaries, participation in higher education and the workplace, and life outcomes of young men (per the Financial Times).

– Kriss Thakrar, Midia

While some industry observers looking back on 2024 may see a half-empty cup due to slowing music industry revenue growth, a lackluster stock performance from the publicly traded major music companies and slightly declining valuation multiples in private catalog deals, Shot Tower Capital says it sees the “half-full” side of things.

– Ed Christman, Billboard

Latin Music has evolved from a regional phenomenon to a powerhouse recorded music revenue generator in the United States. New data published by the RIAA today (April 1) shows that total revenues generated by Latin recorded music in the US reached a record $1.423 billion on a retail basis in 2024, surpassing the $1 billion mark for the third consecutive year. That was up 5.8% YoY, outpacing the wider US music market’s growth. The US recorded music industry as a whole was up 3.3% YoY in 2024, to $17.67 billion.

– Murray Stassen, Music Business Worldwide

The Korean songwriter collecting society KOMCA has issued guidance to its members about logging new works that have been created using AI. Basically, in the short term at least, it will not be possible to register any works in which AI has played any role.
“As clear legal standards and management guidelines for AI-utilising music have not been established”, a notice to members states, KOMCA “is suspending the registration of AI-utilising music”. If AI has been used as part of the songwriting process, members can still “submit a report of the work”, but “registration of the work will be withheld”, meaning it won’t be eligible for royalties.

– Chris Cooke, Complete Music Update

“Luminate’s study found that more than a quarter (28%) of all weekly podcast listeners are music superfans, a +40% greater likelihood to hold this distinction when compared to the general population.”
It added that 52% of weekly podcast listeners pay for music streaming services, and that they’re 27% more likely to buy physical music; 62% more likely to attend live-music events; and 30% more likely to seek out new and emerging artists than the general population.

– Stuart Dredge, Music Ally

IMPF has launched the fifth edition of its Global Market View for independent music publishing at the organisation’s 2025 General Assemblies & Conference, a two-day event hosted in Athens.
IMPF’s Global Market View breaks down the independent music publishing industry and its international impact and position. The latest report provides insight into the value of the independent music publishing business and the sector’s influence on the global modern music ecosystem.

– Andre Paine, Music Week