The global electronic music industry experienced significant growth last year, reaching a total value of $12.9 billion as reported by the IMS Business Report 2025. Released at the International Music Summit in Ibiza, the report highlighted key insights on revenues, genre trends, audience behaviors, and artist contributions within the electronic music sector.
In 2024, the electronic music business expanded by 6%, surpassing its previous value of $12.5 billion in 2023. The surge was predominantly driven by revenues from festivals and clubs. Notably, the live music industry saw a remarkable recovery, exceeding double its pre-COVID revenues, with major entities like Live Nation and HYBE reporting substantial income.
Despite the overall growth, the rise in live music revenue was attributed more to an increase in ticket prices rather than ticket sales. This trend has placed strain on smaller music venues, many of which are still grappling with closures and financial challenges post-pandemic.
Recorded music, streaming, and publishing sectors displayed varying growth rates in 2024. While recorded music revenue growth slowed to 6% from 10% in 2023, the industry’s value stands at approximately $36.2 billion. Independent labels increased their market share to 30%, although self-releasing artists faced a decline due to changes in streaming royalty thresholds.
Similarly, publishing revenues decelerated from 10.2% in 2023 to 9% in 2024, amounting to an estimated $11.1 billion. Streaming revenues climbed by 6%, reaching $83.5 billion, with a significant influx of new subscribers, particularly from emerging markets.
The IMS Business Report highlighted that Germany, the US, the UK, and Australia remained key markets for electronic music consumption. However, Mexico witnessed a substantial 60% growth in Spotify listenership. Tech-house and house genres maintained their popularity on platforms like Beatport, while genres like drum ‘n’ bass and Afro house experienced notable growth in 2024.
Drum ‘n’ bass ascended to become the third most popular genre on Beatport, while Afro house surged from 23rd to fourth place in the platform’s chart rankings. The electronic music genre attracted 566 million new fans across various social media platforms in 2024, with TikTok reporting a significant uptick in electronic music-related content.
Electronic music’s presence in the festival circuit also expanded, with DJs and electronic acts accounting for 18% of line-ups on the world’s top 100 festivals in 2024. This marked a 2% increase from the previous year, signifying the genre’s growing influence and appeal in the live music scene.
The evolving landscape of the electronic music industry underscores its resilience and adaptability amidst changing consumer preferences and market dynamics. As the sector continues to innovate and diversify, it is poised for further growth and expansion in the coming years.