PwC forecasts that global revenue from the entertainment and media sectors will reach $4.2 trillion by the year 2030

PwC forecasts that global entertainment and media revenue will hit $4.2 trillion by 2030, propelled by advancements in digital technology and live experiences.

A report by PwC has projected that the global revenue of the entertainment and media (E&M) industry will reach $4.2 trillion by 2030.

It was also stated that advertising, powered by Artificial Intelligence (AI), is set to expand swiftly, reaching $1.4 trillion by 2030, as marketers aim to connect with consumers at the points where they access content and make retail choices.

These projections appear in a PwC report from September 2026, titled “Global Entertainment & Media Outlook 2026–30: Digital Innovation Drives Demand for Human Experiences.” Mr. Bart Spiegel, the Global Entertainment & Media Sector Leader and Partner at PwC United States, authored the report.

The survey for the report encompassed a total of 53 countries and territories distributed across North America, Europe, the Middle East & Africa, Latin America, and the Asia Pacific region. 

According to the report, the E&M industry continued to experience steady growth, with technology and live events expected to drive the anticipated revenue.

PwC’s Global Entertainment & Media Outlook predicts that spending in the expansive industry will increase at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 3.4 percent through 2030, at which point total revenues are expected to reach $4.2 trillion. 

“In an era marked by digital advancement, live and immersive experiences such as sports events, concerts, and trade shows are expected to experience substantial growth as consumers increasingly desire in-person interactions,” the report stated.

It was noted that this expansion, anticipated to generate $600 billion in new revenues by 2030, will be predominantly fueled by digital ecosystems throughout the E&M landscape.

The report indicated that the global E&M industry experienced a growth of 5.3 percent in 2025, with total revenue from advertising, connectivity, and consumer spending amounting to $3.5 trillion. It is projected to increase by another 4.6 percent in 2026. 

It encouraged players in the E&M ecosystem who wish to seize their share of these new revenues and transform them into profit to take swift action.

Innovation has driven transformation in the creative industries, and it will persist in doing so.

Digital technologies driven by AI are set to significantly transform the creation, distribution, and monetization of E&M products and services.


“These shifts will change profit pools throughout the value chain, create opportunities for new business models, and reshape consumer expectations,” the report stated. 

However, PwC stated that AI would not alter what individuals expect and require from entertainment and media.

No matter how digital and algorithmic the user experience becomes, at its core, E&M continues to be an industry founded on human craftsmanship and human experiences.

Expertise, judgment, creativity, nuance, emotions, needs, and relationships—these essential human qualities foster engagement, interest, and passion.

As we move ahead, technology, particularly AI, will facilitate more effective and efficient ways to connect individuals with each other and marketers with consumers.

“The most rapidly growing of the big three E&M sectors—advertising—is focused on reaching individuals at every point of content interaction and exactly when and where they decide to make purchasing choices,” the report stated.

The PwC indicated that a prominent finding in the report is that “consumers in 2030 will desire choice, low prices, and digital access—even if their willingness to pay for these things remains limited.”

In a digital age, individuals will increasingly seek out real-world experiences that are immersive, emotional, contextual, and personal.

Advertisers will continue to invest more to reach customers in their preferred spaces.

“In 2025, advertising exceeded $1 trillion for the first time, and it is projected to reach $1.4 trillion by 2030.”