Global Royalty Collections Climb 5.5% Despite Economic Downturn

The annual Global Economic Survey released by the International Confederation of Societies of Authors and Composers (CISAC), shows gross royalty collections growing 5.5% in 2010 over the previous year. The uptick stands in stark contrast to some sectors of the entertainment industry and the overall global economy. Key figures for global collections:

• €7.545 billion ($9.91 USD) total gross collections from CISAC member societies
• +5.5% worldwide year-on-year growth (in current €).
• 61% of global collections were generated in Europe (€4.6 bn)
• 73% of collections were from public performance royalties
• 86% of collections were accounted for by musical repertoire
• +15% growth for audiovisual repertoire.

The Survey was based on data provided by CISAC members - 232 authors’ societies in 121 countries, representing more than 3 million creators and publishers of all artistic genres.

The year saw an unexpected recovery in mechanical reproduction royalties for recorded works, driven by results in North America, Asia and Latin America and by the digital sector. However, public performance continued to provide the lion’s share of revenues for creators and music publishers, climbing 7.5% to €5.5 billion, or 73% of all revenues. With the advertising market predicting growth through to 2014, those figures are expected to climb further.

With 56% of public performance revenues accounted by broadcasters, radio and television remain the predominant royalty source (39.8% of all collections). Revenues from the phonographic industry accounted for 23.4% of all collections, representing the second major source of royalty collections. But while collections from the digital sector rose 22% in 2010, they have still not offset the decline in royalties from physical sales and remain a very limited source of revenues (1.7% of collections).