Independent music publishing sector's value up 5.7% YoY in IMPF's Global Market View

03 April 2025 - Press release

 Independent music publishing market share as a whole remains ahead of the largest major company

Read the 5th edition of IMPF's Global Market View here.

  

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 is the only report that looks exclusively at the independent music publishing industry and its international impact and position. It provides in-depth, authoritative insight into the value of the independent music publishing business and the sector's influence on the global modern music ecosystem.

The latest report finds, based on the last full year of data available, that the global independent music publishing business continued to grow in 2023, with a total value of €2.57 billion - up 5.7% year-on-year, and up 105.6% since 2018.

The sector's global market share was 26.3%, slightly down from 26.7% in 2022, but still enough to maintain its status as the biggest combined music publishing entity in the world, ahead of the largest major company.

IMPF President Annette Barrett said: "I'm pleased to present the fifth edition of IMPF's Global Market View, which reveals continued growth in the value of independent music publishing worldwide, and that our combined market share remains greater than that of the largest major corporate organisation. This demonstrates the enduring influence and importance of independent music publishers, their songwriters and their repertoire around the world, and the value they deliver on both a local and international level. IMPF is proud to support this vibrant, diverse and powerful community, advocating for our members, helping them to foster new opportunities and tackle emerging challenges head on."

This edition of the Global Market View puts a spotlight on independent music publishers' contribution to the creative eco-system, as important partners, key agents of cultural diversity and custodians of songs.

Whilst overall, there is good reason to be optimistic, the report also raises some of the biggest issues facing independent music publishers around the globe. Amongst those, generative AI will have a considerable impact on the music business.

Elisa Amouyal, CEO & Owner of Talit MuZic Publishing and chair of the IMPF AI Working Group, said: "Publishers are constantly seeking new revenue streams for composers and songwriters, but AI-generated music presents an unprecedented challenge. Calling this competition unfair is an understatement — AI songs are created at virtually no cost, bypassing the studio time, rehearsals and human creativity that define the recording process. As AI-generated content floods the market, we need clear transparency and guardrails. While AI can enhance royalty management and offer creative tools, we must ensure it empowers rather than replaces songwriters and composers."

IMPF is active in all cross-industry discussions on these key issues and makes sure that the voice of the independent music publishing community is heard.