Latin Music Revenue, SOCAN’s Big Year, and KOMCA’s AI Copyright Restrictions

How The Music Business Works - Issue #6

April 3, 2025

Welcome back to How the Music Business Works, your trusted source for the trends and moves shaping the music biz.

Before we dive into this edition, we’ve got some exciting news to share…

Say goodbye to messy YouTube royalty files! Music Admin’s new tool is here to make your life easier. Our Royalty Report Compressor turns bulky, hard-to-read raw data into clean, lightweight files that are quick to load and easy to work with.

Optimized for YouTube Partner reports—perfect for Music Maestro or any custom reporting tool you use.

• 🚀 One-click CSV upload

• ⚡ Instant compressed download

• 🙌 No logins, no signups, no hassle

• 🔒 Your data stays yours. We don’t store or access any of the files you upload—

everything happens locally in your browser and disappears as soon as you’re 

done.

Try it now—it’s free, fast, and effortless!

Now, onto this week’s updates…

From record-breaking revenues to rising concerns over AI and copyright, there’s a lot happening behind the scenes. While Latin music soars in the U.S., Canada’s SOCAN is celebrating a record-setting year of its own.

And over in Europe, AI’s growing role in music is sparking new policies and legal debates—mirrored by similar moves in Asia. Plus, Merlin steps into the legal ring with Triller over millions in unpaid fees.

Let’s explore the stories driving the global music industry.

​Latin Music Revenue Topped a Record $1.4 Billion in 2024​

In 2024, Latin music’s recorded revenues in the U.S. reached a record $1.42 billion, marking a 5.8% increase from the previous year. This growth, while notable, reflects a slowdown compared to the 16% surge observed in 2023. Streaming continues to dominate the revenue landscape, accounting for 98% of the total income. Paid subscriptions contributed $966.5 million, up 6.1%, while ad-supported on-demand streaming generated $354 million, a 5.4% increase. Physical format revenues nearly doubled to $16.6 million, driven by a 103% rise in vinyl LP shipments. Latin music now represents 7.9% of the overall U.S. recorded music market, up from 7.5% in 2023.

Korean Collecting Society Says AI-Assisted Works Cannot Be Registered​

The Korean Music Copyright Association (KOMCA) has announced that songs and compositions created with the assistance of artificial intelligence cannot be registered with the organization. This means such works are ineligible for royalties. KOMCA stated that until clear legal standards and management guidelines for AI-utilizing music are established, the registration of these works will be suspended. Members must self-declare that no AI was involved in their creations, bearing legal responsibility for any false declarations. KOMCA retains the right to request verification materials and may take measures like payment suspension or work deletion if AI use is confirmed later.  

SOCAN Celebrates Centennial with Milestone Half-Billion Dollars Distributed to Music Creators and Publishers in 2024​

In 2024, SOCAN reported a record CA$559.4 million in revenue and distributed CA$512.4 million in royalties to music creators and publishers—up 17.5% from the previous year. Revenue growth was fueled by a 10.8% rise in digital income, strong general licensing and concert activity, and a 14.9% increase in international collections. Despite this success, SOCAN expressed concern that less than 10% of music streamed in Canada is by Canadian artists, calling for greater support of local talent. In its centennial year, SOCAN also ramped up member initiatives, including education, collaboration, and craft development programs.

European Union’s Latest Draft AI Code of Practice Renders Copyright ‘Meaningless,’ Rightsholders Warn​

A coalition of European authors, performers, and rightsholders has criticized the European Union’s third draft of the General-Purpose Artificial Intelligence (GPAI) Code of Practice, asserting that it undermines copyright protections. The revised draft shifts from requiring AI providers to publish a copyright policy to merely encouraging it, weakening obligations for due diligence in ensuring training data doesn’t infringe on copyrights. The group contends this approach could lead to unauthorized use of copyrighted material, effectively rendering copyright protections meaningless.

Merlin Gears Up for Legal Rumble With Bare Knuckle Fight Championship Owner Triller Over $2.5 Million in Unpaid Fees​

Merlin, the digital rights agency representing independent labels, has filed a lawsuit against Triller, the short-form video platform, seeking $2.5 million in unpaid fees. This amount stems from a “most favoured nation” (MFN) clause in their 2020 licensing agreement, which ensures Merlin receives terms comparable to any more favorable deals Triller makes with other entities. Merlin became aware of a more favorable agreement between Triller and another record company, Sony Music, when Sony sued Triller over unpaid royalties in August 2022. Despite acknowledging the debt during discussions in late 2022, Triller has yet to fulfill the payment. This lawsuit adds to Triller’s history of legal disputes with music companies, including previous cases involving Universal Music and Sony Music.