Smartphone Music Production Software Market Size, Share & COVID-19 Impact Analysis, By Type (Editing, Mixing, Recording), By Application (Music Production Companies, Independent Musician, Home Studios (Personal)), and Regional Forecast, 2023-2030

The global smartphone music production software market size was valued at USD 78,609 thousand in 2022. The market is projected to grow from USD 84,610 thousand in 2023 to USD 157,548 thousand by 2030, exhibiting a CAGR of 9.3%. North America dominated the global market with a share of 39.93% in 2022.

The growing interest in creative fields, deeper mobile penetrations, and the integration of Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Machine Learning (ML) in the mobile app is driving the market growth of smartphone music production software. AI-powered music production software provides non-professional users a simplified platform to automate and quickly create their music and improve customer experience. Dominant market players are investing in a future where AI creates or assists musicians in creating music. For instance,

• In October 2022: HYPH Corporation announced the development of its HYPH, a modern mobile application aimed at making commercial music production as easy and universal as possible. HYPH gives users the ability to create high-quality music in seconds, regardless of musical ability, training, or expensive equipment.

For instance, in December 2019, Popgun, an AI-music start-up, launched the consumer music-making app Splash. This app is designed for users of all age groups and teenagers to make AI-powered music. This app is available for iOS and android and can be downloaded free at the app store. This app provides various tools, including basslines, vocals, synths, trigger drums, and more to create unique music tunes.

COVID-19 IMPACT

Mobile App Spending and Downloads Surged Amid Spread of COVID-19

COVID-19 pandemic forced all businesses to become remote, making it difficult for artists to continue with their usual activities. To overcome this challenge, artists found new ways to reach their audience through smartphone music production software, live streaming, and social media platforms, which created lucrative opportunities for the market.

The spread of coronavirus had a momentous impact on the mobile app industry. As per the revised 2020-2024 market forecast from Sensor Tower, an app intelligence firm, a sizable increase in app downloads increased in 2020 and will increase in coming years. In the mid to long term, software companies with strong profit margins and high recurring revenue are expected to experience increased demand. According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, the demand for software developers is estimated to grow by 22% between 2020 and 2030. Thus, mobile app spending and downloads surged amid the spread of COVID-19. 

LATEST TRENDS

Growing Demand for Cloud-based Music Production Software to Accelerate Market Growth 

Cloud-based music production services provide users easy access to large libraries of synthesizer presets, audio samples, synthesizers, and mixing tools. Splice, Noiiz, and Loopcloud are cloud-based music production subscription services that permit users to automatically back up their work on the host’s servers. These services offer royalty-free audio samples, and users are allowed to include these audio samples freely into their songs without any copyright restrictions.

In addition, many key players operating in the market are engaged in developing smartphone music production software based on cloud technology for recording, editing, publishing music video performances, and more. The benefits of using such apps would be unlimited space to store video and audio files on smartphones. For instance,

• In March 2021, iZotope launched the Second Generation of Spire Studio. Spire Studio is a smart recording device connected to the cloud-based Spire ecosystem for recording, production, and tools used for music collaboration. The company updated its recording hardware for iOS and Android. Besides, it offers six free months of Spire Pro paid subscription version for iOS users.

Thus, the growing demand for cloud technology in music production software is expected to fuel the global smartphone music production software market growth in the coming years.

SMARTPHONE MUSIC PRODUCTION SOFTWARE MARKET GROWTH FACTORS

Increasing Number of SMEs to Boost Music Production Software Demand

The key players operating in the market are engaged in developing multiple music production software for smartphones to enable users to create effortless and creative music tunes. For instance, Roland Corporation offers many music production apps, including AX-Edge Editor, Aerophone mini Plus, Beat Sync Maker, Piano Every Day, Aerophone GO Plus, and Aerophone Go Ensemble. These music production software provides complete access to the user, similar to professional studios from the comfort of their homes.

The market players develop music production software with various features. These apps are available with a paid subscription, and a few are available for free. In addition, to provide a superior user experience, such apps are enabled with artificial intelligence (AI) technology and music software programs. AI technology is integrated with music composition, performance, learning, and digital processing to augment human capabilities in the music industry. Thus, the development of the application through AI and ML technologies has emerged as an excellent opportunity for small and medium music firms to rapidly progress with minimal investments.

In addition, with the growth in the number of start-ups and small businesses across the globe, the number of smartphone music production software availability also increases. According to Sensor Tower insights, Asia Pacific accounted for 64% of global mobile app downloads in 2020. The region is anticipated to play a major role in the growth of mobile app downloads. As per the International Finance Corporation (IFC), 40% of SMEs are present in developing countries. Also, as these enterprises are helping in boosting national income and job opportunities, governments worldwide are offering special programs to boost small & medium businesses. Similarly, various big players significantly invest and fund small businesses to expand their business and market expertise. Thus, a growing number of small & medium enterprises boosts the market.

RESTRAINING FACTORS

Limited Features and Lack of Performance of App to Hamper Market Growth

The smartphone music production software offers many benefits that help drive the market growth. However, the phone app lacks certain parameters, which are expected to hinder the market growth. One of the challenges for the market is the cluttered user interface of the app that hides many components. This factor may result in a delay in the production of music tunes as professionals might require hours to assimilate some of the app's features.

In addition, one of the app's important constraints is lack of performance compared to software used in studios to create music tunes. Also, the smartphone music production software supports the auto-saving feature. However, the auto-saving feature does not kick in immediately when a user records, and it may result in loss of the track if a user doesn’t wait for it to be auto-saved while making changes in the track.

Furthermore, smartphone music production software has fewer plugins than apps used in the studio. Thus, the availability of limited features and lack of performance of the music production software are expected to limit the market expansion.

SEGMENTATION

By Type Analysis

Ongoing Trend of Remix Music to Propel Demand for Mobile App for Mixing in Near Future

Based on type, the market is categorized into editing, mixing, and recording.

The recording segment maximum market share while mixing segment is projected to show the highest growth rate during the forecast period.

With music production software, the user can record a voice, multiple tracks or live instruments such as a drum set or acoustic guitar separately or together. Additionally, the ongoing trend of remix music is making mobile music app utilization in mixing tracks. The user can use existing audio tracks and mix them to produce new music. The software comes with advanced features such as reverb, delay, compression, echo trend, Virtual Studio Technology (VST) plugins, and others, thereby allowing artists to produce enhanced and modified music.

Editing is most vital for expressing creativity and talent through professional music. Music production software has numerous audio editing features and tools such as auto-trim, pitch shifting, cut, copy, paste, delete, and compression.

By Application Analysis

Home Studios (Personal) Segment to Dominate due to Unlimited Possibilities of Music Production

Based on application, the market is segmented into music production companies, independent musician, and home studios (personal).

Home studios (personal) segment accounts for the largest smartphone music production software market share, followed by independent musicians. This software accessibility makes it possible for anyone to create music, regardless of their budget or location. Thus, this has opened up the world of music production to a much wider audience, including people who have never been able to afford or rent a professional studio. This gives users imaginative opportunities to test and discover their music.

Smartphone music production software is majorly used by independent singers, musicians, podcasters, and voiceover artists to quickly record and produce professional-quality music from anywhere. Nowadays, independent artists produce music through mobile apps and upload their music projects on online platforms. Thus, an increase in the adoption rate of professional music composition software by social media influencers and individual creators is propelling the demand for mobile music software.

REGIONAL INSIGHTS

Geographically, the market is fragmented into five major regions such as North America, Latin and South America, Europe, the Middle East & Africa, and Asia Pacific. They are further categorized into countries.

North America captures maximum market share as it is considered the home to the world’s biggest music market. As per the International Federation of the Phonographic Industry (IFPI), the value of recorded music in the U.S. accounts for one-third of the global market. The app usage in the U.S. surged ahead of the time spent watching live television. Currently, it is estimated that the average American watches 3.7 hours/day watching live TV and spends four hours on their smartphones or mobile devices.

Since the past decade, Europe's music industry has been greatly influenced by digitalization, new business models, and increased competition from global players, especially the U.S. The region has been witnessing a severe crisis that has led to ultimate changes in how music is produced, created, consumed, distributed, and monetized. Therefore, all levels of the multi-layered music sector need to be tactically aligned to foster the music industry's growth and development in European countries.

Asia Pacific is predicted to be the fastest-growing market in the near future. Most Asian countries, such as South Korea, Singapore, Taiwan, Hong Kong, Australia, and Japan, have already transformed into mobile-dominated nations, with smartphone penetration outpacing desktop devices.

Besides, Asian people spend hours on their mobile devices (more than five to six hours per day in India, Hong Kong, Taiwan, and Indonesia). These factors create an opportunity for music production software companies to engage with existing customers and cater to new potential customers. Many companies are already taking advantage of it and offering branded apps to their customers for better usability and accessibility on mobile devices.

KEY INDUSTRY PLAYERS

New Product Launch and Development to Expand Service and Product Offerings

The key players of mobile music production software are engaged in developing high-value products and enhancing their existing products in terms of efficiency to retain their customers in the highly competitive environment. To attract new customers, KORG Inc., Arturia Tous Droits Reserves, and Moog Music Inc. started offering free versions of their paid music production software for a certain time to let users experience the features of the product. The companies lately are inclined toward offering their customers a real-time connection either during music production or after a new track is produced. These new updates and developments in the software are helping the key vendors in expanding product offerings to boost the market growth.

March 2023: Apple announced the launch of Apple Music Classical, the ultimate classical music streaming app designed to give classical music lovers the listening experience they deserve. Apple Music Classical allows Apple Music subscribers to easily find recordings in the world's largest catalog of classical music using a fully streamlined search feature.

October 2021: Roland Corporation released an audio recording application, ZenTracker, through which users can record a track, edit it, and publish using Roland cloud. The application was available for free and can be installed on any Android or iOS device. However, users with a paid subscription of Roland cloud have more features as compared to those who use it for free.

List of Key Companies in Smartphone Music Production Software Market:

• Avid Technology, Inc. (U.S.)


• Spotify Technology S.A. (U.S.)


• Roland Corporation (Japan)


• Sony Group Corporation (Japan)


• BandLab Technologies (Singapore)


• Arturia Tous droits reserves (France)


• inMusic Brands (U.S.)


• Native Instruments GmbH (Germany)


• Steinberg Media Technologies GmbH (Germany)


• Image Line Software (Belgium)


• KORG Inc. (Japan)

KEY INDUSTRY DEVELOPMENTS:

• In April 2023: Reactional Music, a music distribution platform and personalization engine, completed a new funding round led by Amanotes to accelerate music personalization for games. The platform is a pioneer in the fusion of games and music, allowing players to personalize their persona and gameplay with their favorite music, much like "skins" and other in-game purchases.


• In March 2023: Qualcomm Technologies Inc. had announced the Snapdragon 7 series mobile platform that bids a modern premium experience. The launch of this platform offers the most innovative solutions to meet the needs of customers and industry at large scale.


• In March 2023: Tuned Global announced the acquisition of music technology company Pacemaker and its AI-powered DJ and curation applications. The acquisition will allow users to expand their B2B music and streaming technology offerings and increase customer engagement. Customers of Tuned Global will soon be able to take advantage of Pacemaker's breakthrough AI DJ to stitch together perfectly matched tracks in real time for an immersive listening experience.


• In January 2023: MasterCard launched the MasterCard Artist Accelerator program to launch emerging music artists in the digital economy. Combining the brand's proven track record in music with its capability in building powerful networks in the digital economy, the MasterCard Artist Accelerator provides budding artists with the skills and tools to succeed in a technology-driven era.


• November 2021: Moog launched Animoog-Z, a revised version of its app Animoog. The latest version works through iOS devices such as iPhone, iPad, and macOS. The company prepared Suzanne Cianni, a legend in synthesizing music, and published the audio on its website.


• January 2021: Native Instruments and EMH Partners declared an agreement to sell Majority Ownership to Francisco Partners. This venture empowers creatives to create their music without the expensive set-up costs related with conventional music studios.

REPORT COVERAGE

The research report highlights leading regions across the world to offer a better understanding of the user. Furthermore, the report provides insights into the latest industry and market trends and analyzes technologies deployed at a rapid pace at the global level. It further highlights some of the growth-stimulating factors and restraints, helping the reader gain in-depth knowledge about the market.

REPORT SCOPE & SEGMENTATION