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The CFA Research Desk

Market Intelligence
for Music IP.

Curated institutional research, third-party reports from Goldman Sachs, BlackRock, and leading analysts — plus our own proprietary data on music catalog valuations, AI's impact on IP, and the macroeconomic forces reshaping creative asset markets.

$500B+

Market Tracked

200+

Transactions Analyzed

Quarterly

Reports Published

CFA Proprietary Research

Original Analysis & White Papers.

In-depth research produced by the CFA team — covering valuation methodology, market structure, and strategic frameworks for music and creative IP transactions.

01

Industry Report

How Music Catalogs Are Valued in 2026

A comprehensive breakdown of current valuation methodologies, multiples by genre and vintage, and the key metrics institutional buyers prioritize in today's market — updated for 2026.

02

Strategic Guide

5 Ways to Increase Your Catalog Value Before You Sell

Actionable strategies to optimize metadata, correct registrations, and maximize revenue before taking your catalog to market. Proven to increase valuations by 15–40%.

03

Decision Framework

Should You Sell Your Catalog or Get an Advance?

A decision matrix comparing outright sale against structured advances — tax implications, long-term value, creative control, and estate planning considerations.

04

Educational

Understanding Royalty Advances: A Complete Guide

Everything artists need to know about distribution advances, royalty-backed lending, and how to evaluate funding offers while maintaining ownership and independence.

Institutional Research & Press

What the Market Is Saying.

Curated reports, analysis, and press coverage from the world's leading financial institutions and industry publications — tracking music IP as an institutional asset class.

Goldman Sachs

Music in the Air: The Global Music Industry Forecast

Goldman Sachs projects the global music industry will reach $153 billion by 2030, driven by streaming growth and emerging markets. Their flagship report breaks down revenue projections across recorded music, publishing, and live.

Read on Goldman Sachs

BlackRock

The Rise of Music Royalties as an Institutional Asset

BlackRock's alternatives team has identified music royalties as a growing allocation within institutional portfolios — citing uncorrelated returns, long-duration cash flows, and the secular tailwinds of global streaming adoption.

BlackRock Alternatives

McKinsey & Company

AI and the Future of Music Creation & Monetization

McKinsey examines how generative AI is reshaping music production, rights management, and royalty distribution — with analysis on the implications for catalog valuations and licensing frameworks.

McKinsey Digital Insights

Billboard

The Catalog Market Continues to Mature

Billboard's ongoing coverage of catalog transactions, including pricing trends, new buyer profiles, and the expanding definition of what constitutes a "catalog" in today's market.

Billboard Business

Financial Times

Wall Street's Growing Appetite for Music Rights

FT analysis of the institutionalization of music rights — examining how private equity, sovereign wealth, and pension funds are redefining the market for creative IP.

Financial Times

CFA Analysis

How Much Money Did You Lose in 2025?

Revealing how artists routinely lose thousands in unclaimed international royalties through inadequate auditing — and how our UK/Swedish presence provides superior global collection infrastructure.

Read Article

Additional Resources

Broader Perspectives.

Structures

Investment Vehicles in Creative & Entertainment Finance

A taxonomy of fund structures, securitization vehicles, and financing instruments available in the entertainment sector.

The CFA Insights Archive

Browse our complete library of articles, guides, and market commentary on music financing, catalog transactions, and creative capital — updated regularly.

Stay Informed

The Quarterly Brief.

A curated dispatch on music IP markets, catalog transactions, and the macroeconomic forces shaping creative asset values — delivered to your inbox four times a year.

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Market Intelligence for Music IP.