Entertainment hits $332.5B, climbs global ranks, boosted by Netflix, YouTube and Spotify
Thanks to Netflix, YouTube, and Spotify, the entertainment industry boasts a valuation you’ll want to double-check.
Netflix posted a standout 22% jump in brand value this year on the back of new pushes into live events, sports programming and advertising, according to Interbrand’s latest Best Global Brands report. That momentum is part of a broader surge across streaming and digital platforms that’s reshaping where audiences spend their time — and money.
The entertainment sector’s combined brand value hit $332.5 billion, up 12.4% year over year.
The report places entertainment as the world’s No. 2 most valuable business sector, leapfrogging automotive. Interbrand points to platforms like YouTube and Spotify — built around daily use and personalization — as central to the category’s rise.
Who’s on top
- Instagram — 7th overall (one of only two entertainment names in the top 10)
- YouTube — 10th overall
- Disney — 21st
- Netflix — 23rd
- Sony — 35th
- Spotify — 39th
Interbrand frames these companies as more than content libraries: they shape everyday habits — what we watch, how we listen, and when we tune in — which, in turn, strengthens their brands.
Looking ahead, Interbrand’s leadership stresses that growth won’t come from flooding the zone with endless titles or chasing tech for tech’s sake. As AI changes how entertainment is made and consumed, the firms that win will be the ones that make focused, high-impact choices and lean into what makes their brands distinct — building routines with viewers, not just moments.
For the overall rankings, tech still rules: Apple, Microsoft, Google, Amazon and Samsung take the top five spots, with stalwarts like McDonald’s and Coca-Cola holding strong and gaming powers Nintendo and PlayStation continuing to climb. The headline shift sits with entertainment’s new status — now second in the world, ahead of autos — after that double-digit jump to $332.5 billion.