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Danish music industry adds DKK 16.3bn to economy
July1
For the first time, a comprehensive socio-economic analysis has documented the total economic contribution of Denmark’s music industry.
The report, The Music Industry’s Contribution to the Danish Economy 2025, reveals that the sector generates DKK 16.3 billion (€2.2bn) annually for Denmark’s GDP and supports 13,100 full-time jobs.
The findings underline that music is not just about emotions and culture—it is also big business. Live music, particularly festivals and concerts, is the primary economic engine, accounting for DKK 10.2 billion of the industry’s GDP contribution. The report also shows that the industry contributes DKK 7.1 billion annually to the Danish treasury, equivalent to the cost of building a new super hospital.
The report comes at a time when the economic foundation of the music industry is under growing pressure from rapid digital developments, new distribution models, and competition from global tech giants.
Gorm Arildsen, CEO of Koda, emphasizes the need for political intervention to protect the sector:
“It’s crucial to safeguard and support the Danish music industry—especially as artificial intelligence and Big Tech disrupt the core structures of music creation, copyright, and income. If we want to maintain an industry that contributes more than DKK 16 billion to GDP each year, we need political action to ensure sustainable conditions for professional music creation.”
The report defines the music industry as everyone who makes a living—fully or partially—from creating, recording, releasing, and performing music. It is divided into three main areas: live music, recorded music, and brand/image-related activities.
The industry generates employment across all regions of Denmark, making it a key player in national growth and regional development. The report notes that 6,600 jobs are based in the Capital Region, 2,400 in Central Jutland, and 1,900 in Southern Denmark.
Esben Marcher, Director of Dansk Live, highlights the significance of live music:
“It’s encouraging to see documentation of live music’s societal impact and how the work of concert and festival organizers contributes to social cohesion and local development. It’s vital that live venues remain the economic engine of the industry—without being hindered by excessive bureaucracy.”
The analysis also finds that the music industry is more productive than many other sectors. Each full-time job generates an average of DKK 1.3 million in GDP—around 8% more than the national average across other industries.
Music exports also play a crucial role, contributing DKK 1.7 billion to the GDP annually. Of this, DKK 1.1 billion comes from live music exports, and DKK 0.6 billion from recorded music.
Key Figures from the Report:
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DKK 16.3 billion in annual GDP contribution (0.6% of total GDP)
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DKK 7.1 billion annual contribution to the state budget
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13,100 full-time jobs supported
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8% higher productivity compared to average industry job
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DKK 1.7 billion in music exports (DKK 1.1B live music, DKK 0.6B recorded music)
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Jobs across Denmark: 6,600 in the Capital Region, 2,400 in Central Jutland, 1,900 in Southern Denmark
About the Report:
The Music Industry’s Contribution to the Danish Economy 2025 was conducted by HBS Economics on behalf of Dansk Live, Gramex, Koda, MXD, Music Publishers Denmark, and IFPI Denmark. The goal is to provide a full overview of the music industry’s economic footprint and its importance as a national growth driver.
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