The line between “I made this” and “an algorithm made this while I watched TikTok” continues to blur as the latest IMS Business Report reveals a startling 10% of consumers used generative AI to create music in 2024.
AI-powered music apps attracted a combined total of 60 million users last year, according to the annual study of the electronic music industry by Mark Mulligan and MIDiA Research.
The data highlights an increase in the use of audio modification tools, with tempo adjustment emerging as the most requested feature. Others include creating songs sung in their voice and even swapping vocals from one artist to replace them with another.
This trend of democratization, which many argue bastardizes the art of music composition, builds upon a growing desire among music fans to participate in music creation rather than simply listen passively.
In spite of AI’s doom and gloom, the electronic music industry grew 6% year-over-year in 2024, reaching a global valuation of $12.9 billion.
“Global music industry revenue grew again in 2024, though at a slower rate than in 2023 due to maturing streaming revenues and the post-Covid live resurgence lessening. Electronic music however, continued to increase its share of both revenues and culture,” Mulligan said. “Driven by the rise of new genres like Afro house, a renaissance for genres like drum & bass and the rise of a new generation of fans, creators and scenes remaking electronic music in their own image, electronic music finds itself at the start of a brave new era of culture resonance.”
You can download the full 2025 IMS Business Report here.