Empirical study of music streaming revenues and their distributionAbstract
This report analysed how UK music creators earn from streaming and why their revenues are often flat or declining despite overall market growth. It showed that without international data harmonisation and advanced survey methods, it is impossible to measure the earnings of a typical rights-holder. The study highlighted exchange rate effects, falling per-stream values, and the limits of current remuneration schemes. It contributed to UK and EU policy debates on equitable remuneration and transparent distribution in the streaming era.
This report was commissioned by the Music Creators’ Earnings Project to provide an empirical analysis of music streaming revenues in the UK.
It showed that:
- total market growth often hides flat or declining individual earnings,
- exchange rate effects played a major role in sustaining incomes during 2015–2019,
- and current remuneration schemes and pro-rata distribution systems do not adequately reflect the value of music for most rightsholders.
The study argued for international data harmonisation, better survey methods, and policy coordination to make earnings more transparent and equitable.
📄 Full report PDF
📄 Zenodo record