Paid Subscriptions Reach $6.4 Billion, 55.3% of Total US Revenue
US Premium Paid Subscriptions Grew 6.8%
US Vinyl Sales Surpass $1 Billion, Representing Nearly 50% of Format’s Global Total
WASHINGTON, DC (March 16, 2026) – The Recording Industry Association of America® (RIAA) today 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’ 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’s 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’s global value.
“Fans are consuming music from the artists they love in more ways than ever, and that passion is reflected in today’s report. 2025 reveals a strong and stable music economy resulting from committed label investment and identification of new spaces to expand artists’ creativity. From the ease of streaming to new vinyl to licensing responsible AI tools and services, labels are diversifying fan engagement,” said Matt Bass, RIAA VP Research and Gold & Platinum Operations. “US 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.”
View Here: RIAA 2025 Year-End Recorded Music Revenue Report
2025 Highlights:
- US recorded music hit record high at $11.5B
- Streaming revenues grew to $9.5B
- For the fifth straight year, streaming represented 82% of total US revenue
- Paid streaming grew to 106.5M accounts, with associated revenues reaching $6.4B, or 55.3% of total US revenue
- The US remained largest paid subscription market, comprising 1/3 of format’s global value
- In 19th consecutive year of growth (+9.3% in 2025), vinyl surpassed $1B in the US sales – nearly 50% of the format’s global total
- Vinyl continued to lead physical formats in 2025, adding more than 3x the revenue of CDs and selling 46.8M units versus 29.5M
“The last 20 years have been marked by unprecedented transformation for recorded music – from the steady rise to dominance of anytime, 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,” said RIAA Chairman & CEO Mitch Glazier. “Through it all, music remains a cornerstone of culture and a growing economic powerhouse for the US, contributing $212 billion to our GDP and supporting more than 2.5 million American jobs.”
As noted at mid-year, RIAA figures are now shown at wholesale. The refreshed interactive database with historic figures is available here.
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 poll underscores that sentiment, showing nearly 3-to-1 (67%–23%) 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 – a model that today’s report shows is working and thriving.
That’s 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 “Stealing Isn’t Innovation.”
Revenue Category Definitions:
- Paid Subscriptions (Premium): Premium-tier subscription services providing unlimited, on-demand access to music, paid under either trial or full subscription plans.
- Paid Subscriptions (Non-Premium): 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.
- Free Streaming (formerly “On-Demand Streaming – Ad-Supported”): 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.
- Other Streaming (New in 2025): Combination of “SoundExchange Distributions” and “Other Ad-Supported Streaming” 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.
- Download Single: Permanent single-track digital downloads.
- Download Album: Permanent full-album digital downloads.
- Ringtones & Ringbacks: Includes master ringtones and ringbacks. Prior to 2013, also included music videos, full-length downloads, and other mobile products.
- Other Digital: Digital music licensing revenues from kiosks, music video downloads, digital jukeboxes, and embedded services (e.g., in-flight entertainment).
- Vinyl: Full-length vinyl albums, including direct and special market sales.
- CD: Full-length compact disc albums, including direct and special market sales.
- Other Physical: 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.
- Synchronization: Flat fees or royalties derived from licensing sound recordings for use in television, advertising, film, video games, and
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‘ Some details of this article were extracted from the following source www.riaa.com ’
