YouTube paid out $8B to the music industry in 12 months

In a remarkable achievement, YouTube has revealed that it disbursed over $8 billion to the music industry in the year spanning July 2024 to July 2025. This announcement was made on Thursday by Lyor Cohen, YouTube's Global Head of Music, who stated, "Today's $8 billion payout is a testament to the fact that the twin engine of ads and subscriptions is firing on all cylinders." Cohen emphasized that this payout not only marks a significant milestone but also reflects ongoing progress in creating a supportive platform for artists, songwriters, and publishers worldwide. This latest figure sets a new record for YouTube, showcasing an increase of $2 billion compared to the previous year, when the platform reported a contribution of $6 billion to the music sector between July 2021 and June 2022. Notably, in 2021, YouTube had announced a payout of $4 billion within a similar timeframe. The announcement coincides with Spotify's earlier claim of paying out $10 billion to the music industry in 2024, following a $9 billion payout in 2023. It is important to note that the total payouts do not go directly to artists alone; a portion is allocated to labels, publishers, songwriters, and various stakeholders in the industry. YouTube's dual revenue model appears to be gaining traction, with the platform reporting over 125 million Music and Premium subscribers worldwide, including trial users. Additionally, it boasts two billion logged-in viewers who engage with music videos each month. As YouTube continues to expand its global reach across more than 100 countries and supports 80 languages, the opportunities for artists and songwriters to cultivate successful careers and loyal fan bases on the platform grow exponentially. In a blog post, the company highlighted its commitment, revealing that it has paid over $100 billion to creators, artists, and media companies in the last four years.