Finnish music exports increased in 2023, reaching a total value of 138.8 million euros. Live music, which had suffered greatly due to the pandemic in previous years, once again became the largest of the core areas of music exports, contributing 9 million euros to Finland. Although the sector grew significantly, with a twelve percent increase, it did not fully return to pre-pandemic levels.
In addition to live music, the core areas of music exports include recordings, copyright income, and other export revenues. In 2023, the value of recordings increased, reaching 7.7 million euros, while copyright income (7.5 million euros) and other export revenues from the music industry (1.6 million euros) generated slightly less than the previous year. Overall, exports from these core areas totaled 25.9 million euros in 2023, representing about a one percent increase compared to the previous year.
Beyond the core areas, the value of music exports also includes categories such as music applications and music technology. With the growth of digital music services, the income generated by the export of these "other music-related goods and services" to Finland increased further, totaling 112.9 million euros.
In total, the value of Finnish music exports in 2023 reached 138.8 million euros.
Live music export income consists, for example, of performance fees received by Finnish artists from abroad and tickets purchased by foreign customers for concerts and music events organized in Finland. In 2023, live music was the fastest-growing part of core music exports, generating approximately 9.0 million euros in revenue for Finland.
The export value of recordings increased by eight percent, amounting to 7.7 million euros in 2023. Revenue streams include physical record sales, digital sales, and streaming revenues that rights holders receive from abroad.
Copyright-related revenue, collected through Finnish copyright organizations or paid directly to music companies, decreased by 12 percent in 2023. In total, approximately 7.5 million euros in copyright income was transferred to Finland from abroad.
Other revenue sources include items such as composition and production fees, sheet music sales, advertising contracts, and merchandise. This income is closely tied to the other core areas of music exports mentioned above but cannot be directly attributed to any single one of them. Other export income amounted to 1.6 million euros in 2023.
In recent years, most of the total value of music exports has come from other goods and services, which include, for example, digital music services aimed at consumers and companies, as well as musical instruments, sound reproduction technology, and equipment. There are fast-growing Finnish companies in this sector that appear to have established a strong position in the international market, and the sector continues to expand. In 2023, the value of exports from other goods and services in the music industry was approximately 112.9 million euros, an eight percent increase over the previous year.
Including all sectors, the total value of music exports in 2023 was 138.8 million euros, representing 6% growth compared to the previous year.
The 2023 report did not separately examine the target markets for music exports, but based on information about copyright income sources, the target areas remain broadly the same as in previous years. About three-quarters of Finnish music exports have been directed to Europe in recent years, with the primary target area still being German-speaking Europe, followed by North America and the Nordic countries.
In this study, the value of music exports is defined as music-related revenue from countries other than Finland, paid to companies or taxpayers operating in Finland. The value is based on three main sources: reports from industry organizations, a survey of Finnish music companies, and expert evaluations from informants in the music industry.
The data was collected by research manager Merja Hottinen from Music Finland and researcher Tuomas Ilmavirta, who was also responsible for calculating the values of different sectors, conducting expert evaluations, and writing the report.