The global electronic music industry has hit a new record, reaching $15.1 billion in value, up 7% from the previous year, according to the International Music Summit. The figures, drawn from the latest IMS Business Report and presented during IMS Ibiza, show continued growth across nearly every major revenue stream, from live events to streaming and creator tools.
It is the latest milestone in a long post-pandemic recovery that has turned electronic music into one of the fastest-growing corners of the wider music business. Below is a breakdown of where the money is coming from, who is listening, and where the cracks still show.
Where the Money Comes From
The industry’s revenue is spread across recordings, publishing, streaming platforms (DSPs), festivals, clubs, creator tools, merchandise, sponsorships and brand deals. Festivals and clubs remain the single largest source of income, but the report highlights especially strong growth in publishing and in hardware and software, the creator tools that artists use to make music. That spread underlines how broad and resilient the industry’s foundations have become.
A Streaming-Fueled Fan Boom
Streaming is expanding the audience faster than ever. The report counted roughly 566 million new electronic music fans added across Spotify, YouTube, TikTok, Instagram and Facebook, with the genre continuing to outperform rivals like rock and indie. Just as important is where that growth is coming from: Mexico, India and Brazil are now major drivers of new listeners, with Mexico’s Spotify base surging around 60% year on year. The shift signals that electronic music’s center of gravity is widening well beyond its traditional European and North American strongholds.
Festivals Back at Full Strength
Live music remains the engine of the sector. With clubs, festivals and tours fully back in action, ticket sales have rebounded strongly, and electronic acts accounted for roughly 18% of the lineups across the top 100 festivals, up on previous years. Marquee events such as Tomorrowland, EDC and Sónar have reported some of their strongest attendance figures yet, reinforcing live’s central role in the industry’s valuation.
Ibiza Still Setting the Pace
On the ground, Ibiza continues to dominate as a nightlife capital. According to the report, club ticket revenues on the island reached an all-time high of around €160 million, even as the average number of events per venue slightly declined. The pattern suggests fewer but larger, higher-value events are increasingly shaping the island’s economy.
Genre Trends: Tech-House Dominates, Afro-House Rises
On the dancefloor, tech-house remains the most dominant genre for the fourth consecutive year, followed by house and melodic house. Afro-house, meanwhile, has seen a rapid rise in popularity, climbing sharply in producer searches and DJ sets and signaling shifting tastes within the global scene.
A Mixed Outlook Across the Industry
The record valuation does not mean everyone is thriving. Independent venues, particularly in the UK, continue to face serious pressure, with a large share reportedly operating without profit. The contrast points to a widening divide between large-scale global growth at the top of the industry and the grassroots clubs and promoters that feed it. Sustaining that base, the report implies, will be one of the sector’s defining challenges in the years ahead.
You can download the full IMS Business Report here.