Performance rights account for 14% of global revenues

Performance Rights

The performance rights sector illustrates how music plays a vital part in driving a much broader range of economic activity. IFPI works with music licensing companies across the world to help ensure that those who produce and perform music used for public performance and broadcast are fairly rewarded for their work.

In most countries, broadcasters are required to pay a royalty to the artists, producers and songwriters that created the music they play. In countries where full performance rights are not granted – such as the US, Japan and China - the IFPI and its partners continue to campaign.

Recorded music is also used by a wide range of businesses — from bars to retailers, gyms to nightclubs — to attract customers, drive spending and motivate employees. These businesses are also required in most countries to pay a royalty fee for the music they use

Music licensing companies, licensed by record labels, collect revenue from these companies and distribute it to the relevant artists and producers

Revenue from the use of sound recordings in broadcast and public performance increased by 9.8 per cent in 2018 to US$2.7 billion, up from US$1.9 billion in 2014.

Despite strong growth in recent years, there is still plenty of untapped potential in the performance rights market.

A global glance at performance rights

Despite strong growth in recent years, there is still plenty of untapped potential in the performance rights market. The three largest economies in the world — the US, China and Japan — still lack a public performance right. Rates paid by third-party businesses are still too low in many countries, not compensating artists and producers fairly for their music. Elsewhere in the world, performance rights income continues to provide a vital revenue stream for artists.