Canada Ranks #3 in Global Music Exports, Says Luminate Report

Canada’s music scene isn’t just thriving—it’s taking over the world. According to Luminate’s 2024 Year-End Music Report, Canada now ranks third globally in music exports, behind only the United States and the United Kingdom.

This ranking comes courtesy of Luminate’s newly introduced Export Power Score, a metric that goes beyond simple streaming numbers. Instead, it evaluates how well a country’s artists are performing across international markets—combining four key factors:

• Total on-demand streaming by country of origin

• Number of countries importing music from that country

• The global weight of those importing countries

• How many artists from that country are reaching international audiences

In short: it’s not just about getting streams, it’s about where those streams are coming from and how many artists are making waves across borders.

Canada’s Star Power

Canada’s rise to the top is no accident. With global heavyweights like Drake, The Weeknd, and Justin Bieber consistently dominating international charts, the country has built a music ecosystem that punches far above its weight. These artists aren’t just popular—they’re shaping the global sound, influencing genres, streaming trends, and even the way international artists produce and release music.

Recent data shows that nearly 94% of Canadian artists’ streaming revenue comes from outside the country, and in 2024 alone, they generated an estimated CAD $460 million in international streaming royalties. That level of global demand puts Canada firmly in the top tier of music exporters.

The Global Music Export Leaders (2024)

1. United States – Music exports reach top markets like Canada, Australia, and New Zealand

2. United Kingdom – Big with listeners in the U.S., Ireland, and Australia

3. Canada – Dominates in the U.S., U.K., and Australia

4. South Korea – K-pop leads in Japan, Taiwan, and Indonesia

5. Germany – Popular in Austria, Switzerland, and Slovakia

6. France

7. Italy

8. Brazil – Rising fast with regional superstars like Henrique & Juliano

9. Japan

10. Sweden – Still strong, but edged out by Brazil this year

A New Standard for Global Reach

The Luminate Export Power Score offers a more complete picture of music influence by considering not just how many people are listening, but how wide-reaching that impact really is. Countries that are home to a large pool of internationally successful artists and whose music reaches high-value global markets naturally rise to the top.

Canada’s #3 spot confirms what fans around the world already know: the country is a global music powerhouse. From genre-defining icons to emerging talents, Canada continues to export not just songs—but culture, creativity, and influence.

With the next wave of artists already making international noise, don’t expect Canada to give up its spot any time soon.