Australia has dropped out of the highest 10 world music markets for the primary time in practically 30 years, in keeping with the most recent International Music Report from the Worldwide Federation of the Phonographic Trade (IFPI).
The annual report, launched this week, ranks the world’s largest music markets based mostly on recorded music revenues. The United States, Japan, and the UK maintain the highest three positions. Australia however, which has been within the high 10 since a minimum of 1996, has now fallen out. Mexico has overtaken it to assert the ultimate spot.
Regardless of this shift, Australia’s recorded music revenues proceed to develop. The IFPI report reveals that revenues in Australasia reached $629 million in 2024, a 6.4% improve, with Australia itself seeing a 6.1% rise. New Zealand additionally skilled a 7.8% income enhance. Nevertheless, these positive aspects had been outpaced by faster-growing markets like Mexico, which noticed a 15.6% improve. Brazil is now ranked ninth, with a powerful 21.7% development.
Traditionally, Australia has been a robust contender within the world music trade, reaching as excessive as No. 6 within the IFPI rankings in 2004 and sustaining that place from 2007 to 2015. Lately, nonetheless, the nation has hovered close to the sting of the highest 10 earlier than in the end dropping out this previous yr.
This decline raises questions concerning the components influencing Australia’s world place. Whereas development stays regular, the speedy rise of rising markets suggests shifting trade investments and evolving viewers engagement. International locations like Mexico and Brazil have benefited from elevated A&R funding, advertising and marketing efforts, and native expertise growth, boosting their worldwide affect.
Total, the IFPI’s International Market Overview stays optimistic, noting that world music revenues grew for the tenth consecutive yr, rising 4.8% to $29.6 billion.
“The expansion tells a narrative of an trade that continues to evolve and adapt world wide – with each area experiencing development”
For Australia, the problem now could be to strengthen its foothold within the evolving world market. Latest figures from ARIA point out six consecutive years of development in Australia’s recorded music sector, however trade leaders might have to undertake new methods to regain their aggressive edge. Elevated funding in native artists, a stronger push for worldwide market penetration, and improvements in streaming and digital distribution may very well be key to reclaiming a high 10 place.
High 10 International Music Markets 2025
- USA
- Japan
- UK
- Germany
- China
- France
- South Korea
- Canada
- Brazil
- Mexico
The total IFPI International Music Report offers additional insights into the tendencies shaping the trade in 2025.
