YouTube has announced that it has paid out $8 billion to the global music industry in the 12 months between July 2024 and June 2025. This milestone marks a new record for the platform, with YouTube’s annual music industry payout increasing by $2 billion since 2022.
In a blog post, YouTube’s Global Head of Music, Lyor Cohen, explained that this report signifies more than just numbers; it represents sustained growth and a deep commitment to the global music industry. He stated that the $8 billion payout is a testament to the effectiveness of YouTube's combined advertising and subscription model, which is performing exceptionally well.
“This number is not an endpoint; it represents meaningful, sustained progress in our journey to build a long-term home for every artist, songwriter, and publisher on the global stage,” Cohen added.
Furthermore, YouTube currently boasts over 125 million Music and Premium subscribers worldwide, including those on trial periods. The platform also sees more than 2 billion logged-in viewers engaging with music videos each month. This significant engagement is attributed to the synergy between its advertising and subscription services, driven by user interaction and artist contributions.
YouTube highlighted that the opportunities for artists and songwriters to cultivate long-lasting music careers and dedicated fan bases on the platform continue to expand. This growth is further supported by YouTube's ongoing global expansion efforts.
The latest announcement represents a new record for YouTube. In 2021, the company reported paying out $4 billion to the industry within a 12-month period. A year later, YouTube announced a contribution of $6 billion in revenue to the music industry between July 2021 and June 2022. The 2025 payout has now grown by $2 billion to reach $8 billion.
YouTube is currently accessible in over 100 countries and supports 80 languages. The company also announced last month, at its Made on YouTube event, that it has paid more than $100 billion to creators, artists, and media companies between 2021 and 2025.
Global Music Payout: YouTube vs. Spotify
In the competitive landscape of global music streaming, YouTube continues to contend with major players like Spotify.
YouTube's announcement follows Spotify's earlier declaration of paying out $10 billion to the music industry in 2024, driven by a vast global listener base and the dominance of streaming as the primary mode of music consumption. Spotify reported paying $9 billion in 2023.
It is important to note that artists on Spotify do not receive the entire payout, as funds are also distributed to labels, publishers, songwriters, and other entities. For instance, Spotify stated that it paid over $100 million to podcasters globally in Q1 2025.
Spotify has been actively working to position itself as a primary destination for both music artists and listeners.
In August, Spotify launched a dedicated playlist to support and celebrate the significant rise of Afrobeats streams, recognizing the genre as a powerhouse that attracts substantial global user streams.
For its users, Spotify introduced a new in-app messaging service that allows individuals to send songs, playlists, and podcasts directly to friends within the application. The Messages feature facilitates content sharing and the initiation of conversations with previously connected users on the app.
Meanwhile, YouTube is also experiencing growth in its global user base for Music and Premium services. While it has now surpassed 125 million subscribers, this figure represents a 25% increase from the previous year. In February 2024, the Google-owned company had already exceeded 100 million global users for its Music and Premium offerings.
“As I look forward, I’m foreseeing a renaissance of the music video. It’s not about having the biggest production budget; it’s about sharing authentic hero content that music fans can’t unsee,” Lyor Cohen stated in March.
The report underscores YouTube's enduring appeal and the comprehensive entertainment experience it provides to a worldwide audience, including its vibrant and diverse user base in Nigeria.
Since its launch in 2015, YouTube Music has grown to become one of the most popular music streaming services globally.