{"id":5034,"date":"2026-03-17T16:12:09","date_gmt":"2026-03-17T16:12:09","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/westcoastaftershock.com\/wca\/2026\/03\/us-recorded-music-annual-revenue-tapped-new-high-of-11-5-billion-in-2025\/"},"modified":"2026-03-17T16:12:09","modified_gmt":"2026-03-17T16:12:09","slug":"us-recorded-music-annual-revenue-tapped-new-high-of-11-5-billion-in-2025","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/westcoastaftershock.com\/wca\/2026\/03\/us-recorded-music-annual-revenue-tapped-new-high-of-11-5-billion-in-2025\/","title":{"rendered":"US Recorded Music Annual Revenue Tapped New High of $11.5 Billion in 2025."},"content":{"rendered":"<div><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"800\" height=\"450\" src=\"https:\/\/westcoastaftershock.com\/wca\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/rec.jpg\" class=\"webfeedsFeaturedVisual wp-post-image wp-post-image\" alt=\"\" style=\"display: block; margin-bottom: 5px; clear:both;max-width: 100%;\" link_thumbnail=\"\" srcset=\"https:\/\/westcoastaftershock.com\/wca\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/rec.jpg 800w, https:\/\/rapindustry.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/rec-300x169.jpg 300w, https:\/\/rapindustry.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/rec-768x432.jpg 768w, https:\/\/rapindustry.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/rec-267x150.jpg 267w, https:\/\/rapindustry.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/rec-600x338.jpg 600w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 800px) 100vw, 800px\"><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\">The Recording Industry Association of America\u00ae (RIAA) released its 2025 Year-End Recorded Music Revenue Report, which reported that US wholesale annual revenue achieved a record high of $11.5 billion. Fostered by labels\u2019 commitment to using technological innovation to deepen the connection between artists and fans, streaming is an important part of industry revenues that also creates pathways to new formats and experiences. The US remains the world\u2019s largest paid subscription market with 106.5 million accounts generating $6.4 billion in revenue. Premium paid subscription revenues grew by 6.8% to $5.88 billion. That sustained growth is enabling deeper investment, experimentation and agility to make the most of emerging opportunities. Additionally, US vinyl sales grew for a 19th consecutive year, representing nearly 50% of the format\u2019s global value.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\">\u201cFans are consuming music from the artists they love in more ways than ever, and that passion is reflected in today\u2019s report. 2025 reveals a strong and stablemusic economy resulting from committed label investment and identification of new spaces to expand artists\u2019 creativity. From the ease of streaming to new vinyl to licensing responsible AI tools and services, labels are diversifying fan engagement,\u201d said Matt Bass, RIAA VP Research and Gold &#038; Platinum Operations. \u201cUS recorded music has demonstrated sustained growth globally, reaching $6.4 billion alone in paid subscriptions and tallying 50% of global vinyl revenue, leading the way for fans to listen and connect with their favorite music whenever, wherever and however they want.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><strong>2025 <\/strong><strong>Highlights:<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><span style=\"color: #000000;\">US recorded music hit record high at $11.5B \u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span style=\"color: #000000;\">Streaming revenues grew to $9.5B<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span style=\"color: #000000;\">For the fifth straight year, streaming represented 82% of total US revenue<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span style=\"color: #000000;\">Paid streaming grew to 106.5M accounts, with associated revenues reaching $6.4B, or 55.3% of total US revenue<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span style=\"color: #000000;\">The US remained largest paid subscription market, comprising 1\/3 of format\u2019s global value<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span style=\"color: #000000;\">In 19<sup>th<\/sup> consecutive year of growth (+9.3% in 2025), vinyl surpassed $1B in the US sales \u2013 nearly 50% of the format\u2019s global total<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span style=\"color: #000000;\">Vinyl continued to lead physical formats in 2025, adding more than 3x the revenue of CDs and selling 46.8M units versus 29.5M<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><em>\u201cThe last 20 years have been marked by unprecedented transformation for recorded music \u2013 from the steady rise to dominance of\u00a0anytime, anywhere streaming options as listeners enjoy tunes from their favorite artists to a resurgence of vinyl as both a listening experience and collectable art. And now, our industry is advancing free-market licensing, building responsible AI partnerships that enhance discovery, deepen fan engagement and unlock new creative possibilities for how music is made and experienced,\u201d <\/em>said RIAA Chairman &#038; CEO <strong>Mitch Glazier<\/strong>. \u201c<em>Through it all, music remains a cornerstone of culture and a growing economic powerhouse for the US, <\/em><a style=\"color: #000000;\" href=\"https:\/\/50statesofmusic.com\/\"><em>contributing<\/em><\/a><em> $212 billion to our GDP and supporting more than 2.5 million American jobs.\u201d<\/em><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\">As noted at mid-year, RIAA figures are now shown at wholesale. The refreshed interactive database with historic figures is available <a style=\"color: #000000;\" href=\"https:\/\/www.riaa.com\/u-s-sales-database\/\">here<\/a>.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\">The world-leading paid streaming and vinyl numbers tell a bigger story about fans craving a tangible connection to the artists they love and investing in the full creative process behind it: human-centered music created by real people with real stories. A recent <a style=\"color: #000000;\" href=\"https:\/\/www.humanartistrycampaign.com\/news#thepeople\">poll<\/a> underscores that sentiment, showing nearly 3-to-1 (67%\u201323%) voters oppose allowing AI companies to replace human creativity by using copyrighted works without permission or compensation. The findings also reveal two-thirds believe AI companies should enter licensing agreements, just as streaming platforms do \u2013 a model that today\u2019s report shows is working and thriving.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\">That\u2019s why artists and industry groups are pushing for stronger protections to prevent AI from exploiting their voices and likenesses while also calling out unethical, unauthorized training practices that undermine creative ownership. Over 1,000 creators have made a strong case that \u201c<a style=\"color: #000000;\" href=\"https:\/\/www.humanartistrycampaign.com\/news#stealing-isnt-innovation\">Stealing Isn\u2019t Innovation<\/a>.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n<p>_________________________<\/p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><strong>Revenue Category Definitions:<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><strong>Paid Subscriptions (Premium):<\/strong> Premium-tier subscription services providing unlimited, on-demand access to music, paid under either trial or full subscription plans.\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><strong>Paid Subscriptions (Non-Premium):<\/strong> Music subscription services with limited interactivity (e.g., device, catalog, or on-demand restrictions) or bundled within broader offerings where music is not the primary service, such as fitness apps. Includes paid trials and full subscriptions.\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><strong>Free Streaming (formerly \u201cOn-Demand Streaming \u2013 Ad-Supported\u201d):<\/strong> Ad-supported audio and music video services that do not operate under statutory licenses. Includes social media platforms (including ad-supported VOD and UGC), and free-tier audio subscription services delivered online or via mobile networks.\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><strong>Other Streaming (New in 2025):<\/strong> Combination of \u201cSoundExchange Distributions\u201d and \u201cOther Ad-Supported Streaming\u201d from previous reports. Estimated payments to performers and copyright holders for digital and customized radio services operating under statutory licenses, including SoundExchange distributions and similar direct deals.\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><strong>Download Single:<\/strong> Permanent single-track digital downloads.\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><strong>Download Album:<\/strong> Permanent full-album digital downloads.\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><strong>Ringtones &#038; Ringbacks:<\/strong> Includes master ringtones and ringbacks. Prior to 2013, also included music videos, full-length downloads, and other mobile products.\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><strong>Other Digital:<\/strong> Digital music licensing revenues from kiosks, music video downloads, digital jukeboxes, and embedded services (e.g., in-flight entertainment).\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><strong>Vinyl:<\/strong> Full-length vinyl albums, including direct and special market sales.\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><strong>CD:<\/strong> Full-length compact disc albums, including direct and special market sales.\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><strong>Other Physical:<\/strong> Physical music formats other than standard vinyl and CD albums, including CD singles, DVDs, Blu-ray music videos, cassettes, MiniDiscs, SACD, DVD-Audio, and other formats.<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><strong>Synchronization:<\/strong> Flat fees or royalties derived from licensing sound recordings for use in television, advertising, film, video games.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.riaa.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/RIAA-Year-End-Revenue-2025.pdf\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\"><span style=\"color: #ff0000;\"><strong>GRAB THE FULL REPORT HERE<\/strong><\/span><\/a><\/p>\n<p>\u00a0<\/p>\n<p>\u00a0<\/p>\n<p>\u00a0<\/p>\n<p>\u00a0<\/p>\n<p>The post <a href=\"https:\/\/rapindustry.com\/us-recorded-music-annual-revenue-tapped-new-high-of-11-5-billion-in-2025\/\">US Recorded Music Annual Revenue Tapped New High of $11.5 Billion in 2025.<\/a> first appeared on <a href=\"https:\/\/rapindustry.com\/\">Rap Industry: New Hip Hop, Rap Videos, Music, News, &#038; more.<\/a>.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>The Recording Industry Association of America\u00ae (RIAA) released its 2025 Year-End Recorded Music Revenue Report, which reported that US wholesale&hellip;<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":14044,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[4,6],"tags":[10,9],"class_list":["post-5034","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-news","category-rss","tag-culture","tag-hip-hop"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/westcoastaftershock.com\/wca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/5034","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/westcoastaftershock.com\/wca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/westcoastaftershock.com\/wca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/westcoastaftershock.com\/wca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/14044"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/westcoastaftershock.com\/wca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=5034"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/westcoastaftershock.com\/wca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/5034\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/westcoastaftershock.com\/wca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=5034"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/westcoastaftershock.com\/wca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=5034"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/westcoastaftershock.com\/wca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=5034"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}