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Information about the music samples market
Hello! Thanks for your question about the market size of the music samples market. I am a musician and digital content creator, and am familiar with the use of samples and loops to make tracks. The most useful sources I found to answer your question are WhoSampled and IBIS World.
The short version is that after searching extensively through industry reports, databases, and trusted media sites, I’ve determined that the information you requested is not publicly available because samples/loops were not tracked until the 1980's, and are currently being produced at an astonishing rate due to increase access to audio equipment and online beat libraries. Another issue in finding a direct answer are the ethical and legal issues surrounding music sampling.
However, I was able to estimate the music sample market value to be over $1B and much less than $5B. I also learned that the WhoSampled's database contains over 440,000 songs ranging from samples, covers, and remixes. Below you will find a deep dive of my findings.
METHODOLOGY
After searching exhaustively through market size reports, music industry statistics, and digital music data, I was unable to find a direct answer to your questions because of the history and legalities surrounding the music sampling industry. I have detailed these findings below. I attempted to manually calculate the market value for major companies like Loopmasters using Owler, but found that their financial information is private. I was able to find data on the market size of related industries, and I used these finding to provide you with a probable range for the industry's market value. I was able to find a rough estimate for market volume on WhoSampled.
HISTORY
Music sampling began in the late 1950s by ja zz and rock artists. The movement gained popularity in the 1970s with the birth of hip hop. In the earlier part of the 20th century, artists did not ask permission to sample music, and therefore, I am not able to provide you a market volume of the music sample industry. Samples weren't required to be approved and monetized until the 1980s due to the mainstream success of hip hop and rap.
The Rolling Stones has a list of the greatest 500 songs that use samples. WhoSampled's database contains over 440,000 songs ranging from samples, covers, and remixes.
In recent years, "the availability of recording equipment has been increasing," meaning that the music samples market will keep growing exponentially with no concrete market size data. This is because people are creating, distributing, and selling samples on the internet at an unprecedented pace. The audio production studio market was $1B in 2016. Since samples and loops are made with audio production equipment found in studios, we can assume that the music sample market is much larger than $1B. Music publishing market size for 2016 was $5B. Since not all published songs contain samples, we can assume that the music sample industry is more than $1B and less than $4B.
- Loops
- Musical instruments
- Resamples and samples of popular music
- Multiple samples in one song
The target market for this industry includes:
- DJs
- Live performers
- Video content creators
- Record pool members
Another reason it is nearly impossible to provide the market size for music samples is the existence of record pools. This is when a music label or artist gives away free copies music in exchange for DJs playing them in their clubs and provide feedback on the track. To received these music tracks, they must meet certain membership requirements like having a large audience.
The legal and ethical use of samples has always been an issues in the music industry. Since an innumerable number of artists use samples, there is no way of knowing how many are committing copyright infringement. This is one reason why it is not possible to provide an accurate market size of the music sample industry.
POSSIBLE CONTINUED RESEARCH
In understanding what types of information are and are not publicly available on this topic, I would like to suggest some other research avenues:
- How fragmented is the music sampling and loops market?
- What is the market size for music production equipment? Please includes any details specifically related to production of samples, and loops.
- For the top 10 sample/loop companies, in a spreadsheet, list how much their subscriptions cost and how many subscribers they have to provide an estimated market value/share.
CONCLUSION
To wrap it up, after searching extensively through databases, music industry reports, and news articles, a direct answer to your question is not publicly available because not all samples are legal or catalogued, therefore making it impossible to provide an accurate market volume or value. To make matters more complicated, there are several types of samples including loops, resamples, instrumental samples, multi-samples, and samples of popular music. However I learned that the market size is between $1B - $5B.
If you’d like to continue research on any of the other topics I’ve outlined above, just let us know. Thanks for using Wonder!