CISAC Reports 11.9% Growth in Global Music Publishing Royalties for 2025 Global music publishing collections reached 14.6 billion euros in 2025, driven by digital growth and the inclusion of the Mechanical Licensing Collective, while AI policy debates intensify. Global music publishing collections surged to nearly 14.6 billion euros, equivalent to $15.89 billion, during 2025. This figure represents an 11.9% increase from the previous year's total of 12.6 billion euros ($13.62 billion), according to data published in CISAC's latest Global Collections Report. Mechanical Licensing Collective Drives Statistical GrowthThe significant rise in reported revenue is largely attributable to structural accounting changes rather than pure market expansion. More than half of the total increase, specifically 6.6 percentage points, resulted from the first-time inclusion of revenue from the Mechanical Licensing Collective (MLC), the U.S. collection agency. The remaining growth reflects only about 5.3 percentage points of genuine organic expansion within the sector.This 5.3% organic growth rate for music publishing outpaced the 4.8% increase recorded by the International Federation of the Phonographic Industry (IFPI) for the record label side of the music business in 2025. The divergence highlights distinct operational dynamics between publishing rights holders and recorded music distributors in the current market environment.Digital Revenue Dominates Royalty SourcesDigital channels have firmly established themselves as the largest generator of publishing royalties, accounting for 45.6% of the total revenue in 2025. Digital royalties reached a total of 6.41 billion euros, or $7.25 billion, marking a substantial 28% increase over the 5.01 billion euros ($5.42 billion) collected in 2024. The addition of the MLC data has amplified this digital growth metric significantly compared to previous reporting periods.Background music and concerts ranked as the second-largest category, contributing 25.8% of music publishing revenue. This segment generated a total of 3.624 billion euros ($4.1 billion), representing a 7.2% increase over the prior year when that category totaled 3.38 billion euros ($3.66 billion). The resilience of live and background performance rights indicates steady demand for musical works in physical and ambient settings.Traditional Media and Physical Formats DeclineTelevision and radio brought in another 23.6% of total publishing revenue in 2025, with a total of 3.315 billion euros ($3.75 billion). However, this figure represents a 3.1% decline from the prior year's total of 3.42 billion euros ($3.67 billion), signaling a continued shift away from traditional broadcast metrics. Other categories of publishing royalties also experienced declines in 2025 compared to 2024.Physical media and other niche licensing sources faced steep drops. CDs and video produced 326 million euros ($358.6 million), an 8.9% drop from the 358 million euros ($387.3 million) garnered in 2024. Private copying assessments brought in 252 million euros ($285 million), a 6.7% decrease from the previous year's total of 270 million euros ($292.1 million). Sync licensing also declined slightly to 58 million euros ($65.6 million) from 62 million euros, while all other licensing sources generated 70 million euros ($79.15 million), a sharp 24.1% decline from 92.25 million euros.Regional Performance and Geographic DistributionWestern Europe brought in the most revenue, accounting for 45.2% of total revenue with 6.353 billion euros ($7.2 billion) emanating from these territories. North America followed as the second-largest region, comprising 31.6% of total revenue with 4.442 billion euros ($5.02 million). The United States alone accounted for 4.073 billion euros ($4.61 billion) of these collections.Asia-Pacific ranked as the third-largest region, contributing 1.87 billion euros ($2.12 billion), or 13.3% of royalties. Japan was the largest contributor within this region, generating 907 million euros ($1.025 billion). Latin America contributed 785 million euros ($887.6 million), or 5.6%, while Central and Eastern Europe generated 529 million euros ($598 million), or 3.8%. Africa accounted for a smaller share with 77 million euros ($87.1 million), which was one half a percent of the global total.Artificial Intelligence and Future Policy ChallengesThe Confederation Internationale des Sociétés d'Auteurs et Compositeurs (CISAC) acknowledges that its members now face their largest test regarding artificial intelligence. The organization represents 225 collective management organizations located in 110 countries and territories. Oron, in the forward to the CISAC annual report, notes that the confederation is contributing to numerous consultations, policy debates, and legislative processes around the world. The goal is to ensure that creators' rights remain at the heart of AI policy making.Oron emphasizes that human creativity is not something to be replaced or bypassed, but rather something to be valued, protected, and celebrated. The concern is whether systems that protect creators' rights are evolving quickly enough to keep pace with technological change. CISAC and its member societies are at the center of the debate around new laws, aiming to ensure that artificial intelligence helps inspire the next chapter of human creativity rather than diminishing it.