Photo by energepic.com
The 10th Music Industry Forum, held on June 6 in Beijing, unveiled the 2025 China Music Industry Development Annual Report, highlighting significant advancements in China’s music sector. The report indicates that the total scale of China’s music industry reached approximately ¥492.9 billion (US$68.59 billion) in 2024, marking a year-on-year growth of 4.97%.
A notable contributor to this growth is the live performance sector, which saw a substantial increase of 46.6% year-on-year, with ticket revenues from large and medium-sized concerts and music festivals rising by 66.5%. This surge underscores the growing demand for live music experiences in China.
In the digital realm, China’s music industry reached a scale of ¥102.7 billion in 2024, reflecting a 15% year-on-year growth. The number of online music users is projected to reach 729 million, with paid users continuing to increase. This growth is driven by the popularity of online music platforms, music short videos, and livestreaming services.
The forum also addressed the evolving landscape of music copyright ecology, emphasizing the importance of content production and distribution, and the pathways to success for emerging musicians. Discussions highlighted the need for a balanced approach to copyright in the face of challenges posed by artificial intelligence and the digital transformation of the music industry.
Over 100 industry experts from both domestic and international backgrounds attended the forum, exchanging insights on various aspects of the music industry, including technological innovation, copyright management, live music performances, and professional talent development.
These findings echo global trends outlined in the 2025 IFPI Global Music Report, which revealed that the global recorded music industry has more than doubled in value since 2014, reaching US$29.6 billion. According to IFPI, streaming now accounts for 69% of global revenue, with continued investment in artist development and marketing reaching an all-time high of US$8.1 billion in 2023. Growth in emerging markets such as Latin America, Sub-Saharan Africa, and the Middle East and North Africa is helping drive this expansion, supported by robust copyright frameworks and strategic licensing.
This forum marks a significant milestone in China’s music industry, reflecting its dynamic growth and the sector’s adaptation to the digital age – one that increasingly blends local innovation with global transformation.
