Industry Statistics and Trends
Market size and recent performance (2016-2031)
Industry revenue has grown at a CAGR of 4.4 % over the past five years, to reach an estimated £4.8bn in 2026.
Trends and Insights
Streaming platforms drive industry expansion
- Online music streaming has been the primary driver of growth over the past decade. The British Phonographic Industry (BPI) figures reveal that in 2024, streaming services delivered an unprecedented £1 billion to the UK music sector, accounting for the majority of the UK’s music earnings. Official Charts Company statistics indicate that British audiences listened to 199.6 billion audio streams in 2024, a 11% year-over-year increase. The market has fundamentally shifted from consumers owning music to an access-based model powered by subscription and ad-supported platforms.
- Additional trends and insights available with purchase
Source: IBISWorld
Industry outlook (2026-2031)
Market size is projected to grow over the next five years.
Trends and Insights
AI poses a threat and an opportunity for music labels
- The rapid rise of AI in music creation poses a major threat to established labels and has forced them to rethink their strategies. As AI tools become more capable of producing convincing compositions, these companies are working hard to position themselves as the trusted curators of authentic, human-made music. According to a 2025 survey by the British Phonographic Industry (BPI), over 80% of UK consumers believe AI-generated tracks should be clearly identified as such, showing that audiences still favour transparency and human artistry.
Biggest companies in the Sound Recording & Music Publishing in the UK
| Company | Market Share (%)
2026 | Revenue (£m)
2026 |
|---|---|---|
Universal Music Group NV | 935.2 | |
Warner Music Group | 685.4 | |
Sony Corporation | 642.7 |
To view the market share and analysis for all 4 top companies in this industry, view purchase options.
Products & Services Segmentation
Source: IBISWorld
Industry revenue is measured across several distinct product and services lines, including Music publishing , Recorded music and Sound recording. Music publishing is the largest segment of the Sound Recording & Music Publishing in the UK.
Trends and Insights
Recorded music achieves record revenues as streaming dominance solidifies market position
- Recorded music, also known as master rights, encompasses all monetary exploitation of a recorded musical performance.
- More insights available in the full report
Table of Contents
About this industry
Industry definition
Businesses in this industry produce original sound master recordings and promote and distribute them to wholesalers, retailers and consumers. Music publishers acquire and register copyrights for compositions; promote, authorise and use compositions in recordings, TV and various other media; and publish music and sheet music. Publishers either own the copyright or act as an administrator of the music copyrights on behalf of the copyright owners. Amateur recording is excluded.
What's included in this industry?
Products and services covered in the Sound Recording & Music Publishing industry in the United Kingdom include Music publishing, Recorded music and Recording studios.Companies
Companies covered in the Sound Recording & Music Publishing industry in the United Kingdom include Universal Music Group NV, Warner Music Group and Sony Corporation.Purchase this report to view all 4 major companies in this industry.
Related Terms
Related terms covered in the Sound Recording & Music Publishing industry in the United Kingdom include synchronisation royalties, mechanical royalties and public performance licence.Industry Code
SIC 59.20 - Sound Recording & Music Publishing in the UK
Performance
Get an indication of the industry's health through historical, current and forward-looking trends in the performance indicators that make or break businesses.
Analyst insights
UK surges in the global digital music space. As physical media sales declined, the UK turned towards digital consumption, standing second globally, with revenue from streamin...
In this chapter (4)
- Current Performance
- Outlook
- Volatility
- Life Cycle
Key metrics
- Annual Revenue, Recent Growth, Forecast, Revenue Volatility
- Number of Employees, Recent Growth, Forecast, Employees per Business, Revenue per Employee
- Number of Businesses, Recent Growth, Forecast, Employees per Business, Revenue per Business
- Total Profit, Profit Margin, Profit per Business
Charts
- Revenue, including historical (2016-2025) and forecast (2026-2031)
- Employees, including historical (2016-2025) and forecast (2026-2031)
- Businesses, including historical (2016-2025) and forecast (2026-2031)
- Profit, including historical (2016-2026)
- Industry Volatility vs. Revenue Growth
- Industry Life Cycle
Detailed analysis
- Trends in supply, demand and current events that are driving current industry performance
- Expected trends, economic factors and ongoing events that drive the industry's outlook
- Key success factors for businesses to overcome volatility
- How contribution to GDP, industry saturation, innovation, consolidation, and technology and systems influence the industry's life cycle phase.
Products and Markets
Learn about an industry's products and services, markets and trends in international trade.
Analyst insight
Music publishers navigate changing industry dynamics. As the revenue from music publishing relies heavily on royalty payments, publishers have shown adaptability by securing ...
In this chapter
- Products & Services
- Major Markets
Key metrics
- Largest market segment and value in 2026
- Product innovation level
Charts
- Products & services segmentation in 2026
- Major market segmentation in 2026
Detailed analysis
- Trends impacting the recent performance of the industry's various segments
- Innovations in the industry's product or service offering, specialization or delivery method
- Key factors that successful businesses consider in their offerings
- Buying segments and key trends influencing demand for industry products and services
Geographic Breakdown
Discover where business activity is most concentrated in an industry and the factors driving these trends to find opportunities and conduct regional benchmarking.
Analyst insights
London is a melting pot of music talent. This refers to the capital's supremacy in the music industry, due to its rich historical background and its ability to attract musici...
In this chapter (1)
- Business Locations
Charts
- Share of revenue, establishment, wages and employment in each region
- Share of population compared to establishments in each region in 2026
Tables
- Number and share of establishments in each region in 2026
- Number and share of revenue each region accounts for in 2026
- Number and share of wages each region accounts for in 2026
- Number and share of employees in each region in 2026
Detailed analysis
- Geographic spread of the industry across Europe, and trends associated with changes in the business landscape
- Key success factors for businesses to use location to their advantage
Competitive Forces
Get data and insights on what's driving competition in an industry and the challenges industry operators and new entrants may face, with analysis built around Porter's Five Forces framework.
Analyst insights
Differentiation and labour intensity hinder market entry. Gaining credibility against established, reputable companies and delivering superior products is challenging, while ...
In this chapter (4)
- Concentration
- Barriers to Entry
- Substitutes
- Buyer & Supplier Analysis
Key metrics
- Industry concentration level
- Industry competition level and trend
- Barriers to entry level and trend
- Substitutes level and trend
- Buyer power level and trend
- Supplier power level and trend
Charts
- Market share concentration among the top 4 suppliers from 2021-2026
- Supply chain including upstream supplying industries and downstream buying industries, flow chart
Detailed analysis
- Factors impacting the industry’s level of concentration, such as business distribution, new entrants, or merger and acquisition activity.
- Key success factors for businesses to manage the competitive environment of the industry.
- Challenges that potential industry entrants face such as legal, start-up costs, differentiation, labor/capital intensity and capital expenses.
- Key success factors for potential entrants to overcome barriers to entry.
- Competitive threats from potential substitutes for the industry’s own products and services.
- Key success factors for how successful businesses can compete with substitutes.
- Advantages that buyers have to keep favorable purchasing conditions.
- Advantages that suppliers have to maintain favorable selling conditions.
- Key success factors for how businesses can navigate buyer and supplier power.
Companies
Learn about the performance of the top companies in the industry.
Analyst insights
Universal Music Group pivots to AI collaboration. UMG secured its first strategic licensing agreements with AI music platform Udio in October 2025, settling previous copyrigh...
In this chapter
- Market Share Concentration
- Companies
- Company Spotlights
Charts
- Industry market share by company in 2022 through 2026
- Major companies in the industry, including market share, revenue, profit and profit margin in 2026
- Overview of Universal Music Group NV's performance by revenue, market share and profit margin from 2020 through 2026
- Overview of Warner Music Group's performance by revenue, market share and profit margin from 2020 through 2026
- Overview of Sony Corporation's performance by revenue, market share and profit margin from 2020 through 2026
- Overview of revenue, market share and profit margin trend for one additional company
Detailed analysis
- Description and key data for Universal Music Group NV, and factors influencing its performance in the industry
- Description and key data for Warner Music Group, and factors influencing its performance in the industry
- Description and key data for Sony Corporation, and factors influencing its performance in the industry
- Description, key data and performance trends for one additional company
External Environment
Understand the demographic, economic and regulatory factors that shape how businesses in an industry perform.
Analyst insights
Copyright Law ensures creators' control over their work. Essentially, creators of any form of content, from musical compositions to literary endeavours, earn automatic rights...
In this chapter
- External Drivers
- Regulation & Policy
- Assistance
Key metrics
- Regulation & policy level and trend
- Assistance level and trend
Charts
- Regulation & Policy historical data and forecast (2016-2031)
- Assistance historical data and forecast (2016-2031)
Detailed analysis
- Demographic and macroeconomic factors influencing the industry, including Regulation & Policy and Assistance
- Major types of regulations, regulatory bodies, industry standards or specific regulations impacting requirements for industry operators
- Key governmental and non-governmental groups or policies that may provide some relief for industry operators.
Financial Benchmarks
View average costs for industry operators and compare financial data against an industry's financial benchmarks over time.
Analyst insights
Profit in music publishing is rising thanks to streaming's growth. High royalties from catalogue music has supported profit growth over the past few years.
In this chapter
- Cost Structure
- Financial Ratios
- Key Ratios
Key metrics
- Profit margin, and how it compares to the sector-wide margin
- Average wages, and how it compares to the sector-wide average wage
- Largest cost component as a percentage of revenue
- Industry average ratios for days' receivables, industry coverage and debt-to-net-worth ratio
Charts
- Average industry operating costs as a share of revenue, including purchases, wages, depreciation, utilities, rent, other costs and profit in 2026
- Average sector operating costs as a share of revenue, including purchases, wages, depreciation, utilities, rent, other costs and profit in 2026
- Investment vs. share of economy
Data tables
- Liquidity Ratios (2020-2024)
- Coverage Ratios (2020-2024)
- Leverage Ratios (2020-2024)
- Operating Ratios (2020-2024)
- Assets (2020-2024)
- Liabilities (2020-2024)
- Cash Flow & Debt Service Ratios (2016-2031)
- Revenue per Employee (2016-2031)
- Revenue per Enterprise (2016-2031)
- Employees per Establishment (2016-2031)
- Employees per Enterprise (2016-2031)
- Average Wage (2016-2031)
- Wages/Revenue (2016-2031)
- Establishments per Enterprise (2016-2031)
- IVA/Revenue (2016-2031)
- Imports/Demand (2016-2031)
- Exports/Revenue (2016-2031)
Detailed analysis
- Trends in the cost component for industry operators and their impact on industry costs and profitability
Key Statistics
Industry Data
Data Tables
Including values and annual change:
- Revenue (2016-2031)
- IVA (2016-2031)
- Establishments (2016-2031)
- Enterprises (2016-2031)
- Employment (2016-2031)
- Exports (2016-2031)
- Imports (2016-2031)
- Wages (2016-2031)
Top Questions Answered
Unlock comprehensive answers and precise data upon purchase. View purchase options.
What is the market size of the Sound Recording & Music Publishing industry in the United Kingdom in 2026?
The market size of the Sound Recording & Music Publishing industry in the United Kingdom is £4.8bn in 2026.
How many businesses are there in the Sound Recording & Music Publishing industry in the United Kingdom in 2026?
There are 4,845 businesses in the Sound Recording & Music Publishing industry in the United Kingdom, which has grown at a CAGR of 5.0 % between 2021 and 2026.
How may import tariffs affect the Sound Recording & Music Publishing industry in the United Kingdom?
The Sound Recording & Music Publishing industry in the United Kingdom is unlikely to be materially impacted by import tariffs with imports accounting for a low share of industry revenue.
How may export tariffs affect the Sound Recording & Music Publishing industry in the United Kingdom?
The Sound Recording & Music Publishing industry in the United Kingdom is unlikely to be materially impacted by export tariffs with exports accounting for a low share of industry revenue.
Has the Sound Recording & Music Publishing industry in the United Kingdom grown or declined over the past 5 years?
The market size of the Sound Recording & Music Publishing industry in the United Kingdom has been growing at a CAGR of 4.4 % between 2021 and 2026.
What is the forecast growth of the Sound Recording & Music Publishing industry in the United Kingdom over the next 5 years?
Over the next five years, the Sound Recording & Music Publishing industry in the United Kingdom is expected to grow.
What are the biggest companies in the Sound Recording & Music Publishing industry in the United Kingdom?
The biggest companies operating in the Sound Recording & Music Publishing industry in the United Kingdom are Universal Music Group NV, Warner Music Group and Sony Corporation
What does the Sound Recording & Music Publishing industry in the United Kingdom include?
Music publishing and Recorded music are part of the Sound Recording & Music Publishing industry in the United Kingdom.
Which companies have the highest market share in the Sound Recording & Music Publishing industry in the United Kingdom?
The company holding the most market share in the Sound Recording & Music Publishing industry in the United Kingdom is Universal Music Group NV.
How competitive is the Sound Recording & Music Publishing industry in the United Kingdom?
The level of competition is high and increasing in the Sound Recording & Music Publishing industry in the United Kingdom.
Methodology
How are IBISWorld reports created?
IBISWorld has been a leading provider of trusted industry research for over 50 years to the most successful companies worldwide. With offices in Australia, the United States, the United Kingdom, Germany and China, we are proud to have local teams of analysts that conduct research, data analysis and forecasting to produce data-driven industry reports.
Our analysts start with official, verified and publicly available sources of data to build the most accurate picture of each industry. Analysts then leverage their expertise and knowledge of the local markets to synthesize trends into digestible content for IBISWorld readers. Finally, each report is reviewed by one of IBISWorld’s editors, who provide quality assurance to ensure accuracy and readability.
IBISWorld relies on human-verified data and human-written analysis to compile each standard industry report. We do not use generative AI tools to write insights, although members can choose to leverage AI-based tools within the platform to generate additional analysis formats.
What data sources do IBISWorld analysts use?
Each industry report incorporates data and research from government databases, industry-specific sources, industry contacts, and our own proprietary database of statistics and analysis to provide balanced, independent and accurate insights.
Key data sources in the UK include:
- Office for National Statistics
- Office for Budget Responsibility
- Bank of England
Analysts also use industry specific sources to complement catch-all sources, although their perspective may focus on a particular organization or representative body, rather than a clear overview of all industry operations. However, when balanced against other perspectives, industry-specific sources provide insights into industry trends.
These sources include:
- Industry and trade associations
- Industry federations or regulators
- Major industry players annual or quarterly filings
Finally, IBISWorld’s global data scientists maintain a proprietary database of macroeconomic and demand drivers, which our analysts use to help inform industry data and trends. They also maintain a database of statistics and analysis on thousands of industries, which has been built over our more than 50-year history and offers comprehensive insights into long-term trends.
How does IBISWorld forecast its data?
IBISWorld’s analysts and data scientists use the sources above to create forecasts for our proprietary datasets and industry statistics. Depending on the dataset, they may use regression analysis, multivariate analysis, time-series analysis or exponential smoothing techniques to project future data for the industry or driver. Additionally, analysts will leverage their local knowledge of industry operating and regulatory conditions to impart their best judgment on the forecast model.
IBISWorld prides itself on being a trusted, independent source of data, with over 50 years of experience building and maintaining rich datasets and forecasting tools. We are proud to be the keystone source of industry information for thousands of companies across the world.
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