Business & Finance
U.S. recorded music industry revenue rises to $6 billion in first half of 2026, RIAA reports
Streaming remains the dominant driver at $4.9 billion, while CD sales surged more than 50%
The short version
- The U.S. recorded music industry generated $6 billion in revenue during the first half of 2026, marking a 6.9% increase compared to the same period in 2025.
- Streaming remains the largest revenue source, making up 82% of the total market at $4.9 billion.
- Physical media saw notable growth, with vinyl sales increasing 17.7% and CD sales jumping 58.6%.
Key facts
- The Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA) reported that U.S. music revenues grew 6.9% to reach $6 billion in the first half of 2026.[Billboard]
- Streaming revenues increased 4.7% to $4.9 billion, with premium paid subscriptions rising 7.8% to $3.1 billion across 111.1 million subscribers.[Billboard]
- CD sales experienced the largest percentage growth among formats, rising 58.6% to $171 million, while vinyl sales grew 17.7% to $554 million.[Billboard]
- Overall digital download revenue fell by 12.7%, with single track downloads down 13.7% and album downloads down 3%.[Billboard]
- Synchronization revenues, which come from licensing music for movies, television, and advertisements, grew 18.2% to $232 million.[Billboard]