- Shutterstock made $104 million from AI licensing deals in a year, Bloomberg reported in June 2024.
- Named AI customers include Meta, Alphabet, Amazon, Apple, OpenAI and Reka.
- Reuters reported initial deals worth $25 million to $50 million each.
- Type
- Content licensor (images, video, music)
- AI licensing revenue
- $104 million in a year, per Bloomberg (June 2024)
- AI customers named
- Meta, Alphabet, Amazon, Apple, OpenAI, Reka
- Deal sizes reported
- $25 million to $50 million per initial deal (Reuters, 2024)
Shutterstock's AI licensing business
Shutterstock licenses its library of images, video and music to AI developers. Bloomberg reported it made $104 million from AI licensing in a year, with customers including Meta, Alphabet, Amazon, Apple, OpenAI and Reka (PetaPixel). Reuters reported initial deals of $25 million to $50 million each (Reuters via The Star).
What it shows other content owners
Large, well-described media libraries with clear rights command real money. Shutterstock's advantage was metadata (captions, keywords and categories) and contributor agreements that let it license. A company with a smaller archive can follow the same pattern: document rights, describe the content, and offer it on clear terms. See image datasets and video training data.
Things to check before you sign
- For buyers: whether contributor agreements cover AI training, and any indemnity.
- For content owners: whether your own contributor or employee agreements let you license.
Alternatives and related companies
Questions
How much has Shutterstock made from AI licensing?
Bloomberg reported $104 million in a year, as covered by PetaPixel in June 2024.