YouTube revealed on Thursday that it has distributed over $8 billion to the music sector between July 2024 and July 2025.
“Reaching $8 billion in payments today shows that our dual approach of advertising and subscriptions is working at full strength,” stated Lyor Cohen, YouTube’s Global Head of Music. “This figure isn’t a final destination; it highlights real and ongoing progress as we strive to create a lasting platform for artists, songwriters, and publishers worldwide.”
Cohen shared news of this achievement for the first time during his appearance at Billboard Latin Music Week on Wednesday.
This achievement sets a new benchmark for YouTube, with its yearly payout to the music industry rising by $2 billion since 2022, when the company reported $6 billion in contributions from July 2021 to June 2022. In 2021, YouTube disclosed that it had paid $4 billion to the industry over a 12-month period.
The announcement on Thursday follows Spotify’s earlier report this year that it paid $10 billion to the music industry in 2024, up from $9 billion in 2023. It’s important to remember that these funds are distributed among labels, publishers, songwriters, and others—not just the artists themselves.
YouTube reports continued growth from its dual revenue streams, stating it now has more than 125 million global Music and Premium subscribers, including those on free trials. The platform also noted that two billion logged-in users watch music videos on YouTube each month.
“As YouTube’s reach around the world grows, so does the opportunity for musicians and songwriters to develop enduring careers and loyal fanbases on the platform,” the company shared in a blog post.
YouTube operates in over 100 countries and offers support for 80 different languages.
At its recent Made on YouTube event, the company announced that it has paid out more than $100 billion to creators, artists, and media organizations over the past four years.