African Music Revenues Surge, Led by Streaming, Says IFPI Report

Africa’s music industry experienced the highest growth globally in 2024, with revenues in Sub-Saharan Africa soaring by 22.6% and surpassing $100 million for the first time, according to the International Federation of Phonographic Industry (IFPI).

The IFPI’s Global Music Report 2025, released in London by CEO Victoria Oakley, highlighted the significant impact of streaming services in driving this growth. South Africa remains the dominant market in the region, accounting for 75% of Sub-Saharan Africa’s total revenue.

Globally, recorded music revenues reached $29.6 billion, a 4.8% increase. Subscription streaming was the primary driver, with a 9.5% rise in revenue and a 10.6% increase in subscribers, reaching 752 million worldwide. Streaming revenues exceeded $20 billion for the first time, representing 69% of total recorded music revenue.

Key findings include:

• Streaming Dominance: Subscription streaming revenues grew by 9.5%, while ad-supported streaming saw a more modest 1.2% increase.
• Physical Format Decline: Physical format revenues decreased by 3.1%, though vinyl sales continued to grow for the 18th consecutive year, rising by 4.6%.
• Performance Rights Growth: Performance rights revenues increased by 5.9%, reaching $2.9 billion.
  Regional Growth: Every region experienced revenue growth. The Middle East & North Africa (MENA) led with a 22.8% increase, followed closely by Sub-Saharan Africa and Latin America (22.5%).
• Major Market Performance: The US, the world’s largest market, saw a 2.2% increase. Europe remained the second-largest region, with growth in the UK, France, and Germany. Asia, the third-largest region, saw a 1.3% increase, impacted by a decline in physical format sales. China experienced a 9.6% increase.
• Latin America’s Surge: Latin America’s strong 22.5% growth was fueled by streaming, which accounted for 87.8% of the region’s revenues. Brazil was the fastest-growing top ten market, with a 21.7% increase.
  MENA’s Streaming Focus: The MENA region’s 22.8% growth was almost entirely driven by streaming, which represented 99.5% of its total revenue.