2025 Music Publishers Industry Report

Industry Overview

This industry comprises establishments primarily engaged in acquiring and registering copyrights for musical compositions in accordance with law and promoting and authorizing the use of these compositions in recordings, radio, television, motion pictures, live performances, print, or other media. Establishments in this industry represent the interests of the songwriter or other owners of musical compositions to produce revenues from the use of such works, generally through licensing agreements. These establishments may own the copyright or act as administrator of the music copyrights on behalf of copyright owners. Publishers of music books and sheet music are included in this industry.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau

Market Size and Industry Forecast

The Music Publishers industry report contains historical and forecasted statistics used by leading private equity firms and consultants. Market sizes from 2020 to 2030 reflect industry trends and growth patterns. Revenues include both public and private companies in the Music Publishers industry.

	Historical					Forecasted
	2020	2021	2022	2023	2024	2025	2026	2027	2028	2029	2030
Market Size (Total Revenue)
% Growth Rate
Number of Companies
Total Employees
Average Revenue per Company
Average Employees per Company

Source: U.S. government financial data



Advanced econometric models forecast five years of industry growth based on short- and long-term trend analysis. Market size includes revenue generated from all products and services sold within the industry.

Geographic Breakdown by U.S. State

Market size by state reveals local opportunity through the number of companies located in the region. Each state's growth rate is affected by regional economic conditions. Data by state can be used to pinpoint profitable and nonprofitable locations for Music Publishers companies in the United States.

Distribution by Company Size

Company Size	All Industries	Music Publishers
Small Business (< 5 Employees)
Small Business (5 - 20)
Midsized Business (20 - 100)
Large Business (100 - 500)
Enterprise (> 500)

Music Publishers Industry Income Statement (Average Financial Metrics)

Financial statement analysis determines averages for the following industry forces:

• Cost of goods sold
• Compensation of officers
• Salaries and wages
• Employee benefit programs
• Rent paid
• Advertising and marketing budgets

The report includes a traditional income statement from an "average" company (both public and private companies included).

	Industry Average	Percent of Sales
Total Revenue
Operating Revenue
Cost of Goods Sold (COGS)
Gross Profit
Operating Expenses
Operating Income
Non-Operating Income
Earnings Before Interest and Taxes (EBIT)
Interest Expense
Earnings Before Taxes
Income Tax
Net Profit

Financial Ratio Analysis

Financial ratios allow a company's performance to be compared against that of its peers.

Financial Ratio	Industry Average
Profitability Ratios
Profit Margin
ROE
ROA
Liquidity Ratios
Current Ratio
Quick Ratio
Activity Ratios
Average Collection Period
Asset Turnover Ratio
Receivables Turnover Ratio
Inventory Conversion Ratio

Music Publishers Industry Product Mix

Product Description	Description	Revenue ($ Millions)
Industry total
Licensing of rights to use musical compositions
In broadcast performances (i.e., broadcast performance rights)
To reproduce & distribute recordings (i.e., mechanical rights)
Licensing of international rights to pub dom musical compositions
Print music
In television programs (i.e., television synchronization rights)
Print music - sheet music, folios, & electronic musical text
In other works
To record/reproduce for com use, ex for distr as phonorecords

Music Publishers Industry Compensation and Salary Surveys

Title	Percent of Workforce	Bottom Quartile	Average (Median) Salary	Upper Quartile
Management Occupations	12%
Top Executives	5%
Chief Executives	0%
General and Operations Managers	5%
General and Operations Managers	5%
Business and Financial Operations Occupations	12%
Business Operations Specialists	10%
Arts, Design, Entertainment, Sports, and Media Occupations	43%
Entertainers and Performers, Sports and Related Workers	11%
Actors, Producers, and Directors	9%
Producers and Directors	8%
Media and Communication Equipment Workers	25%
Broadcast and Sound Engineering Technicians and Radio Operators	24%
Audio and Video Equipment Technicians	6%
Sound Engineering Technicians	17%
Sales and Related Occupations	6%
Office and Administrative Support Occupations	20%
Other Office and Administrative Support Workers	6%
Office Clerks, General	5%
Office Clerks, General	5%

Government Contracts

The federal government spent an annual total of $204,144 on the music publishers industry. It has awarded 34 contracts to 14 companies, with an average value of $14,582 per company.

Top Companies in Music Publishers and Adjacent Industries

Company	Address	Revenue ($ Millions)