Koda’s Annual Report: Strong results, but growing pressure from AI

Koda, the Danish collective management organisation representing songwriters, composers and music publishers, closed the year with total revenue of more than EUR 188 million. Of this, just under EUR 169l million will be distributed to rightsholders in Denmark and abroad whose music generates the income. In total, Koda distributed EUR 4.5 million more to its members in 2025 than in the previous year.

Growth was driven largely by increased income from streaming and live music. In music streaming, rising subscriber numbers combined with higher subscription prices across platforms supported the development. A similar pattern was seen in audiovisual streaming services, where both subscriptions and prices increased. 2025 was also a strong year for live music in Denmark, with Koda’s concert revenue exceeding EUR 15 million for the first time.

Koda CEO Gorm Arildsen says:

“We’re proud of this result. It clearly shows the value our members’ music creates, which in turn lays the foundation for Koda’s work. It is particularly encouraging to see how both streaming and a solid year for live music contributes to value creation for our members. Developments in AI also underline the importance of continuing to work proactively to secure fair remuneration in a rapidly changing industry.”

Music industry under pressure from AI and tech companies

In November 2025, Koda took legal action against the US-based AI service Suno for using Danish artists’ music without permission or payment to build a commercial AI service. Suno is capable of generating music that increasingly substitutes human-created works, thereby undermining the income base for Danish music creators.

A new report by Koda and IFPI also shows that the Danish music industry faces a significant structural loss of income as a result of current developments in generative AI. If this trajectory continues, revenue is expected to decline by up to 28 per cent by 2030.

We’re proud of this result. It clearly shows the value our members’ music creates.

- Gorm Arildsen

Read Koda's Annual Report 2025

This development points to an urgent need for regulation to ensure that the use of copyrighted music in AI systems takes place on lawful terms and that value continues to flow back to the creators. Koda advocates a future in which AI acts as a creative partner rather than a destructive force, emphasises Gorm Arildsen.

“We are in the midst of a shift where new technologies and platforms are fundamentally reshaping the entire music economy. Technology companies are increasingly controlling infrastructure, revenue and now also content, without sufficient value flowing back to the creators. This makes it even more important to strengthen copyright protection and ensure that music creators receive a fair share of the value their music generates, also in a digital landscape increasingly shaped by AI and global platforms,” says Gorm Arildsen.

Investing in the future

2025 was also a year of significant and necessary investment in a more modern IT platform. These investments will support improved member services, greater efficiency and faster, more accurate data processing, while preparing Koda for future developments.