YouTube has paid more than $8 billion to the music industry in the 12 months between July 2024 and July 2025, the company announced on Thursday.

“Today’s $8 billion payout is a testament to the fact that the twin engine of ads and subscriptions is firing on all cylinders,” said YouTube’s Global Head of Music, Lyor Cohen, in a statement. “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.”

Cohen first announced the milestone during a talk at Billboard Latin Music Week on Wednesday.

The milestone marks a new record for the platform, as YouTube’s annual music industry payout increased by $2 billion since 2022, when the company reported contributing $6 bil

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