From Music Business Worldwide

News from MBW:

YouTube's 'twin engine of ads and subscriptions is firing on all cylinders,' says Lyor Cohen, as platform makes $8bn+ payout to the music industry over the past year

Youlube

YouTube reports that it paid more than $8 billion to the music industry during the 12 months from July 2024 to June 2025.

The figure was shared by Lyor Cohen, YouTube's Global Head of Music, at the Billboard Latin Music Week conference in Miami on Wednesday (October 22).

Cohen attributed the payout to what YouTube calls its "twin-engine model," which generates revenue through ads shown alongside free content and paid subscriptions that remove ads.

In a comment shared with MBW, Cohen said: "$8 billion payout is a testament to the fact that the twin engine of ads and subscriptions is firing on all cylinders."

He added: "This number is not an endpoint; it represents meaningful, sustained progress in our journey to build a long-term home for every artist, songwriter, and publisher on the global stage..."

And also this about Deezer, a French-based company:

Deezer reports Q3 revenues of $153m, confirms subscriber growth momentum in France

Deezer has reported Q3 2025 revenues of €131.4 million ($153.5 million), down 1.1% year-on-year at constant currency, as growth in its Direct subscriber business offset an anticipated decline in its Partnerships segment.

Deezer splits its revenues into three segments: 'Direct'; 'Partnerships'; and 'Other.

The company reported that its Direct segment was supported by "sustained subscriber momentum," with its Direct subscriber base growing 9.7% YoY to 5.5 million at the end of Q3.

Direct revenues reached €87.9 million ($102.7m) in Q3 2025, up 3.1% YoY at constant currency compared to €85.8 million in Q3 2024.

The company said this revenue growth was driven by "strong momentum in France" with its subscriber base in its home market increasing to 3.7 million (up 11.7% YoY)...

Even though I’m based in the US, I find part of my catalog, the Funk music, does really well on Deezer.