Afro House, Drum & Bass, and AI lead new wave in a rapidly evolving scene.
Photo credit: IMS – Official
The 2025 edition of the IMS Business Report, presented live today at IMS Ibiza, confirms that electronic music continues to thrive both culturally and commercially. According to MIDiA Research’s Mark Mulligan research, the global electronic music industry expanded to US$ 12.9 billion in 2024, a 6% increase year-on-year. Though slower than the previous year’s 9% growth, the rise reflects a resilient, maturing sector.
Key drivers of this growth include the resurgence of genres like Drum & Bass and UK Garage, as well as the meteoric rise of Afro House, which jumped from 23rd to 4th most searched genre on Beatport. SoundCloud saw a 100% increase in UK Garage uploads, while Spotify and YouTube added 566 million new electronic music fans across 2024. Emerging markets such as Mexico, Brazil, and India significantly boosted listener numbers, with Mexico reporting a 60% increase in Spotify listeners.
Electronic music now makes up 18% of global festival lineups, and Ibiza solidified its cultural status with €150 million in club ticketing revenue, despite fewer events. The Superstruct acquisition and steady growth of independent labels (now 30% market share) further highlight a shifting industry landscape.
Technological engagement also surged. In 2024, 60 million users engaged with music creation apps, and 10% of consumers used generative AI tools to produce music or lyrics, blurring lines between fans and creators.
Download the full IMS Business Report here.
