Industry Statistics and Trends
Market size and recent performance (2015-2030)
Industry revenue has grown at a CAGR of 1.4 % over the past five years, to reach an estimated $795.7m in 2025.
Trends and Insights
Publishing and the digital transition grow at the expense of traditional revenue streams
- The Canadian music publishing industry is undergoing a significant digital transformation, appreciable as traditional revenue streams decline. The shift from physical media purchases to digital downloads of individual tracks highlights consumer preferences now leaning toward convenience and accessibility. Notably, this shift has been partly balanced by a resurgence in vinyl records, whose tactile and nostalgic appeal has won over certain segments of music enthusiasts.
- Additional trends and insights available with purchase
Source: Alfabank-Adres
Industry outlook (2025-2030)
Market size is projected to grow over the next five years.
Trends and Insights
The industry thrives embracing the shift to digital
- The internet's continued growth as a medium for music distribution will drive future industry performance, offsetting the negative effect of a collapsing market for physical music sales.
Biggest companies in the Music Publishing in Canada
| Company | Market Share (%)
2023 | Revenue ($m)
2023 | Profit ($m)
2023 | Profit Margin (%)
2023 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Sony Music Publishing | 360.7 | 33.5 | 9.3 | |
Warner Music Group Inc. | 103.8 | 13.6 | 13.1 | |
Universal Music Publishing Group | 57.1 | 7.3 | 12.8 |
To view the market share and analysis for all 4 top companies in this industry, view purchase options.
Products & Services Segmentation
Source: Alfabank-Adres
Industry revenue is measured across several distinct product and services lines, including Mechanical royalties, Performance royalties and Synchronization royalties. Mechanical royalties is the largest segment of the Music Publishing in Canada.
Trends and Insights
Performance royalties are derived when a licensed song is played across performances
- Performance royalties include the broadcast of music on TV, radio, cable and satellite, as well as live performances at a concert or other venue. This segment also includes broadcasting music at sporting events, restaurants or bars, online and wireless streaming and music performances in staged theatrical productions.
- More insights available in the full report
Table of Contents
About this industry
Industry definition
The Music Publishing industry in Canada is responsible for acquiring and registering copyrights for the musical compositions of musicians, songwriters and composers. Establishments license the intellectual property of their clients, authorize the use of these compositions through various media outlets and ensure that royalties are paid to the creators of these works. Establishments act on behalf of the copyright owners and generate revenue through various licensing agreements.
What's included in this industry?
Registration and administration of music copyrightsCollection of royalty paymentsSheet music publishingProviding advances against future incomeCompanies
Sony Music PublishingWarner Music Group Inc.Universal Music Publishing GroupPurchase this report to view all 4 major companies in this industry.
Related Terms
LABELMECHANICAL ROYALTIESSYNCHRONIZATION ROYALTIESP2PIndustry Code
NAICS 512230 - Music Publishing in Canada
Performance
Get an indication of the industry's health through historical, current and forward-looking trends in the performance indicators that make or break businesses.
Analyst insights
The diminishing trend in physical album sales, which have historically generated a high-profit margin and royalties, has reverberated across the industry over the past five ye...
In this chapter (4)
- Current Performance
- Outlook
- Volatility
- Life Cycle
Key metrics
- Annual Revenue, Recent Growth, Forecast, Revenue Volatility
- Number of Employees, Recent Growth, Forecast, Employees per Business, Revenue per Employee
- Number of Businesses, Recent Growth, Forecast, Employees per Business, Revenue per Business
- Total Profit, Profit Margin, Profit per Business
Charts
- Revenue, including historical (2015-2024) and forecast (2025-2030)
- Employees, including historical (2015-2024) and forecast (2025-2030)
- Businesses, including historical (2015-2024) and forecast (2025-2030)
- Profit, including historical (2015-2025)
- Industry Volatility vs. Revenue Growth
- Industry Life Cycle
Detailed analysis
- Trends in supply, demand and current events that are driving current industry performance
- Expected trends, economic factors and ongoing events that drive the industry's outlook
- Key success factors for businesses to overcome volatility
- How contribution to GDP, industry saturation, innovation, consolidation, and technology and systems influence the industry's life cycle phase.
Products and Markets
Learn about an industry's products and services, markets and trends in international trade.
Analyst insight
Performance royalties are bouncing back thanks to live events and streaming. As live events make a comeback post-pandemic and with the prominence of streaming, there's a rene...
In this chapter
- Products & Services
- Major Markets
Key metrics
- Largest market segment and value in 2025
- Product innovation level
Charts
- Products & services segmentation in 2025
- Major market segmentation in 2025
Detailed analysis
- Trends impacting the recent performance of the industry's various segments
- Innovations in the industry's product or service offering, specialization or delivery method
- Key factors that successful businesses consider in their offerings
- Buying segments and key trends influencing demand for industry products and services
Geographic Breakdown
Discover where business activity is most concentrated in an industry and the factors driving these trends to find opportunities and conduct regional benchmarking.
Analyst insights
Music publishers concentrate in metropolitan areas where entertainment companies are located. Therefore, Ontario, Quebec and British Columbia account for over 90.0% of total ...
In this chapter (1)
- Business Locations
Charts
- Share of revenue, establishment, wages and employment in each province
- Share of population compared to establishments in each region in 2025
Tables
- Number and share of establishments in each province in 2025
- Number and share of revenue each province accounts for in 2025
- Number and share of wages each province accounts for in 2025
- Number and share of employees in each province in 2025
Detailed analysis
- Geographic spread of the industry across North America, and trends associated with changes in the business landscape
- Key success factors for businesses to use location to their advantage
Competitive Forces
Get data and insights on what's driving competition in an industry and the challenges industry operators and new entrants may face, with analysis built around Porter's Five Forces framework.
Analyst insights
Despite the quick transition to new digital revenue sources, publishers nonetheless encounter considerable obstacles. The industry previously endured significant competition ...
In this chapter (4)
- Concentration
- Barriers to Entry
- Substitutes
- Buyer & Supplier Analysis
Key metrics
- Industry concentration level
- Industry competition level and trend
- Barriers to entry level and trend
- Substitutes level and trend
- Buyer power level and trend
- Supplier power level and trend
Charts
- Market share concentration among the top 4 suppliers from 2020-2025
- Supply chain including upstream supplying industries and downstream buying industries, flow chart
Detailed analysis
- Factors impacting the industry’s level of concentration, such as business distribution, new entrants, or merger and acquisition activity.
- Key success factors for businesses to manage the competitive environment of the industry.
- Challenges that potential industry entrants face such as legal, start-up costs, differentiation, labor/capital intensity and capital expenses.
- Key success factors for potential entrants to overcome barriers to entry.
- Competitive threats from potential substitutes for the industry’s own products and services.
- Key success factors for how successful businesses can compete with substitutes.
- Advantages that buyers have to keep favorable purchasing conditions.
- Advantages that suppliers have to maintain favorable selling conditions.
- Key success factors for how businesses can navigate buyer and supplier power.
Companies
Learn about the performance of the top companies in the industry.
Analyst insights
Three major labels, Warner Music Group, Universal Music Group and Sony Music Entertainment, dominate the industry. In 2020, COVID-19 significantly reduced revenue generated f...
In this chapter
- Market Share Concentration
- Companies
- Company Spotlights
Charts
- Industry market share by company in 2021 through 2025
- Major companies in the industry, including market share, revenue, profit and profit margin in 2025
- Overview of Sony Music Publishing's performance by revenue, market share and profit margin from 2019 through 2025
- Overview of Warner Music Group Inc.'s performance by revenue, market share and profit margin from 2019 through 2025
- Overview of Universal Music Publishing Group's performance by revenue, market share and profit margin from 2019 through 2025
- Overview of revenue, market share and profit margin trend for one additional company
Detailed analysis
- Description and key data for Sony Music Publishing, and factors influencing its performance in the industry
- Description and key data for Warner Music Group Inc., and factors influencing its performance in the industry
- Description and key data for Universal Music Publishing Group, and factors influencing its performance in the industry
- Description, key data and performance trends for one additional company
External Environment
Understand the demographic, economic and regulatory factors that shape how businesses in an industry perform.
Analyst insights
SOCAN plays a vital role in distributing royalties to Canadian artists. Collecting performance and reproduction fees from broadcasters and venues ensures even lesser-known mu...
In this chapter
- External Drivers
- Regulation & Policy
- Assistance
Key metrics
- Regulation & policy level and trend
- Assistance level and trend
Charts
- Regulation & Policy historical data and forecast (2015-2030)
- Assistance historical data and forecast (2015-2030)
Detailed analysis
- Demographic and macroeconomic factors influencing the industry, including Regulation & Policy and Assistance
- Major types of regulations, regulatory bodies, industry standards or specific regulations impacting requirements for industry operators
- Key governmental and non-governmental groups or policies that may provide some relief for industry operators.
Financial Benchmarks
View average costs for industry operators and compare financial data against an industry's financial benchmarks over time.
Analyst insights
Music publishers are feeling the pinch from the digital shift. As streaming platforms dominate, they face lower per-stream royalties, which can't compensate for the decline i...
In this chapter
- Cost Structure
- Financial Ratios
- Key Ratios
Key metrics
- Profit margin, and how it compares to the sector-wide margin
- Average wages, and how it compares to the sector-wide average wage
- Largest cost component as a percentage of revenue
- Industry average ratios for days' receivables, industry coverage and debt-to-net-worth ratio
Charts
- Average industry operating costs as a share of revenue, including purchases, wages, depreciation, utilities, rent, other costs and profit in 2025
- Average sector operating costs as a share of revenue, including purchases, wages, depreciation, utilities, rent, other costs and profit in 2025
- Investment vs. share of economy
Data tables
- Liquidity Ratios (2018-2023)
- Coverage Ratios (2018-2023)
- Leverage Ratios (2018-2023)
- Operating Ratios (2018-2023)
- Assets (2018-2023)
- Liabilities (2018-2023)
- Cash Flow & Debt Service Ratios (2015-2030)
- Revenue per Employee (2015-2030)
- Revenue per Enterprise (2015-2030)
- Employees per Establishment (2015-2030)
- Employees per Enterprise (2015-2030)
- Average Wage (2015-2030)
- Wages/Revenue (2015-2030)
- Establishments per Enterprise (2015-2030)
- IVA/Revenue (2015-2030)
- Imports/Demand (2015-2030)
- Exports/Revenue (2015-2030)
Detailed analysis
- Trends in the cost component for industry operators and their impact on industry costs and profitability
Key Statistics
Industry Data
Data Tables
Including values and annual change:
- Revenue (2015-2030)
- IVA (2015-2030)
- Establishments (2015-2030)
- Enterprises (2015-2030)
- Employment (2015-2030)
- Exports (2015-2030)
- Imports (2015-2030)
- Wages (2015-2030)
Top Questions Answered
Unlock comprehensive answers and precise data upon purchase. View purchase options.
What is the market size of the Music Publishing industry in Canada in 2025?
The market size of the Music Publishing industry in Canada is $795.7m in 2025.
How many businesses are there in the Music Publishing in Canada industry in 2025?
There are 520 businesses in the Music Publishing industry in Canada, which has grown at a CAGR of 1.6 % between 2020 and 2025.
Has the Music Publishing industry in Canada grown or declined over the past 5 years?
The market size of the Music Publishing industry in Canada has been growing at a CAGR of 1.4 % between 2020 and 2025.
What is the forecast growth of the Music Publishing industry in Canada over the next 5 years?
Over the next five years, the Music Publishing industry in Canada is expected to grow.
What are the biggest companies in the Music Publishing market in Canada?
The biggest companies operating in the Music Publishing market in Canada are Sony Music Publishing, Warner Music Group Inc. and Universal Music Publishing Group
What does the Music Publishing in Canada include?
Registration and administration of music copyrights and Collection of royalty payments are part of the Music Publishing industry.
Which companies have the highest market share in the Music Publishing in Canada?
The company holding the most market share in Canada is Sony Music Publishing.
How competitive is the Music Publishing industry in Canada?
The level of competition is high and steady in the Music Publishing industry in Canada.
Related Industries
Widen your competitive advantage with related industries
Competitors
Complementors
Methodology
How are Alfabank-Adres reports created?
Alfabank-Adres has been a leading provider of trusted industry research for over 50 years to the most successful companies worldwide. With offices in Australia, the United States, the United Kingdom, Germany and China, we are proud to have local teams of analysts that conduct research, data analysis and forecasting to produce data-driven industry reports.
Our analysts start with official, verified and publicly available sources of data to build the most accurate picture of each industry. Analysts then leverage their expertise and knowledge of the local markets to synthesize trends into digestible content for Alfabank-Adres readers. Finally, each report is reviewed by one of Alfabank-Adres’s editors, who provide quality assurance to ensure accuracy and readability.
Alfabank-Adres relies on human-verified data and human-written analysis to compile each standard industry report. We do not use generative AI tools to write insights, although members can choose to leverage AI-based tools within the platform to generate additional analysis formats.
What data sources do Alfabank-Adres analysts use?
Each industry report incorporates data and research from government databases, industry-specific sources, industry contacts, and our own proprietary database of statistics and analysis to provide balanced, independent and accurate insights.
Key data sources in Canada include:
- Statistics Canada
- Industry Canada
- Canadian Business Patterns
Analysts also use industry specific sources to complement catch-all sources, although their perspective may focus on a particular organization or representative body, rather than a clear overview of all industry operations. However, when balanced against other perspectives, industry-specific sources provide insights into industry trends.
These sources include:
- Industry and trade associations
- Industry federations or regulators
- Major industry players annual or quarterly filings
Finally, Alfabank-Adres’s global data scientists maintain a proprietary database of macroeconomic and demand drivers, which our analysts use to help inform industry data and trends. They also maintain a database of statistics and analysis on thousands of industries, which has been built over our more than 50-year history and offers comprehensive insights into long-term trends.
How does Alfabank-Adres forecast its data?
Alfabank-Adres’s analysts and data scientists use the sources above to create forecasts for our proprietary datasets and industry statistics. Depending on the dataset, they may use regression analysis, multivariate analysis, time-series analysis or exponential smoothing techniques to project future data for the industry or driver. Additionally, analysts will leverage their local knowledge of industry operating and regulatory conditions to impart their best judgment on the forecast model.
Alfabank-Adres prides itself on being a trusted, independent source of data, with over 50 years of experience building and maintaining rich datasets and forecasting tools. We are proud to be the keystone source of industry information for thousands of companies across the world.
Learn more about our methodology and data sourcing on the Help Center.
