While the music industry continues to set impressive financial milestones, with global recorded music revenues projected to reach $110.8 billion by 2032, the inner workings of this complex ecosystem remain largely opaque to both artists and fans alike.
“On the Record,” a new video-based documentary series, aims to pull back the curtain on these industry mechanics through visual storytelling that transcends traditional audio-only formats.
The series arrives at a time when streaming has firmly established itself as the dominant revenue driver in music, with the global streaming market expected to grow by $53.49 billion from 2024 to 2029 at an annual rate of 19%.
Streaming has revolutionized music’s financial landscape, poised to expand by $53.49 billion within five years at a staggering 19% annual growth rate.
Spotify alone paid a record $10 billion to the music industry in 2024, highlighting the massive financial stakes involved in today’s digital music landscape.
Despite these impressive figures, many artists still struggle to understand how royalty systems work.
“On the Record” addresses this knowledge gap by examining income streams, contractual issues, and power structures that often disadvantage creators.
The documentary format allows viewers to see the human impact of industry practices, rather than simply hearing about them.
The series also explores the increasingly global nature of music success, noting that artists earning $100,000+ in royalties now represent more than 50 languages, while million-dollar earners record in 17 different languages—more than double the number from 2017.
This diversity reflects broader trends in the industry, with regions like Sub-Saharan Africa seeing recorded music revenue growth of 22.6% and exceeding $110 million for the first time.
The documentary also delves into how ad-supported streaming revenue has struggled to grow, remaining flat in 2024 despite the overall expansion of the streaming market.
As physical music sales continue their general decline—dropping 3.1% in 2024—”On the Record” provides timely insights into how artists can navigate the streaming-dominated landscape.
The series explains the critical role of Performance Rights Organizations in collecting and distributing royalties to songwriters and composers when their music is played publicly.
For independent artists looking to break into the industry, the documentary highlights the importance of playlist pitching strategies across major streaming platforms.
The series serves as both an educational resource for industry stakeholders and an eye-opening look for fans curious about what happens behind the scenes of their favorite music.
The documentary particularly highlights how the number of artists earning between $1,000 and $10 million annually has tripled since 2017, demonstrating the expanding opportunities in the digital music economy.
