Within IFPI Data
Why Streaming Is Not The Whole Story
Streaming dominates the total, but vinyl, CDs, performance rights and licensing can still change the shape of recorded music growth.
On this page
- Streaming's share of recorded revenue
- Vinyl, CDs and physical volatility
- Performance rights and synchronisation in the total
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Introduction
When IFPI reports that recorded music revenues grew, it is not reporting a streaming figure alone. The headline number combines several revenue formats, including streaming, physical music sales, performance rights, synchronisation licensing and remaining digital formats. As a result, changes in the mix of formats can alter the industry’s growth rate even when streaming remains dominant. Understanding those shifts is essential because the same headline growth figure can be produced by very different underlying market movements. In some years streaming carries almost all expansion; in others, a vinyl boom, a recovery in physical sales, or changes in licensing income can meaningfully affect the final result. [IFPI]ifpi.orgIFPIGLOBAL MUSIC REPORT 2026: GLOBAL RECORDED…18 Mar 2026 — Global recorded music revenues grew 6.4% and reached US$31.7 billion in 20…
Streaming’s Share of Recorded Revenue
Streaming is the largest component of IFPI’s recorded music market measurement, which is why it usually drives the overall direction of the headline. In 2025, total streaming revenues reached roughly US$22 billion and accounted for 69.6% of global recorded music revenues. Paid subscription streaming alone generated more than half of all recorded music revenue worldwide, reaching a 52.4% share. [LinkedIn]linkedin.comLinkedInGlobal Music Revenues Reach $31.7B, Streaming Drives…More significant data for the recorded music industry was revealed this w…
That dominance can create a common misunderstanding: if streaming is nearly 70% of the market, some assume the headline growth rate is essentially a streaming growth rate. In practice, IFPI’s total combines all revenue categories. A strong year for streaming can be partly offset by weakness elsewhere, while unexpectedly strong non-streaming categories can lift the overall market above what streaming alone would suggest. [IFPI]gmr.ifpi.orgabout reportmusic report 2026: premium editionGLOBAL MUSIC REPORT 2026: PREMIUM EDITION. The definitive source of recorded music market data, launche…
This matters because streaming growth itself is changing. As subscription markets mature in North America and parts of Europe, percentage growth rates tend to moderate. When that happens, the contribution of smaller categories becomes more visible in the final headline. A one- or two-point change in physical revenue growth, licensing income or performance-rights collections can influence the overall market result more than readers might expect from their smaller shares. [IFPI]ifpi.orgIFPIGLOBAL MUSIC REPORTRevenues from performance rights recorded modest growth of 0.3%, whereas synchronisation and downloads & other dig…
Why Physical Formats Still Matter
Physical music represents a much smaller share of the market than streaming, but it remains large enough to move industry totals. IFPI reported that global physical revenues grew 8.0% in 2025, reaching approximately US$5.3 billion. That growth rate was actually faster than overall recorded music growth. [Instagram]instagram.comInstagramIFPI's Global Music Report 2026 landed this week. Record…Global physical revenues grew 8.0% in 2025, reaching $5.3 billion, a…
The key point is not that physical formats are replacing streaming. Rather, physical formats can amplify or dampen headline growth because they are measured alongside streaming in the same revenue total. If physical revenue rises strongly, it adds incremental growth to the market. If it falls sharply, it can pull down the aggregate figure even while streaming continues to expand. [IFPI]ifpi.org70. over 70 markets where our member companies operate. © IFPI. AllIFPI — Representing the recording industry worldwideAlmost 70 IFPI National Groups, local associations or affiliated music licensing comp…
Japan illustrates why this category remains important. Physical sales still occupy a much larger role in the Japanese market than in many Western countries, meaning shifts in consumer purchasing behaviour there can affect regional and global totals. Physical revenue therefore remains more than a nostalgic legacy category; it is an active component of the industry’s revenue mix. [IFPI]ifpi.orgGlobal Music Report – State of the Industry… A free-to-download overview of the global recording industry in 2025 including topline da…
Vinyl, CDs and Physical Volatility
Within physical music, vinyl has become the most closely watched format because its growth has outlasted what many observers expected. IFPI reported global vinyl revenue growth of 13.7% in 2025, while industry reports in the United States showed vinyl revenues exceeding US$1 billion and continuing a long-running expansion. [Reuters]reuters.comstreaming boosts global music revenues once again 2025 report shows 2026 03 18Streaming accounted for 70% of global music income, with paid subscription streaming growing 8.8% to reach over 52% of total revenues and…
Vinyl’s importance goes beyond nostalgia. Vinyl buyers often purchase higher-priced products, deluxe editions and collector releases. A successful album campaign with multiple physical editions can generate substantial revenue even when unit volumes are far below streaming consumption levels. Because IFPI measures revenue rather than popularity alone, high-value physical purchases can have an outsized effect on format performance. RIAA [The Guardian]theguardian.comvinyl record sales us taylor swiftThis marks the 19th consecutive year of growth for vinyl, which significantly outperformed CDs and cassettes in revenue. Much of this res…
Physical formats are also more volatile than subscription streaming. Streaming subscriptions tend to generate recurring monthly income. Physical sales can rise or fall based on release schedules, manufacturing capacity, artist cycles, retail conditions and collector demand. That volatility means physical categories can sometimes create noticeable swings in annual growth figures despite representing a minority of total revenue. [Reuters]reuters.comstreaming boosts global music revenues once again 2025 report shows 2026 03 18Streaming accounted for 70% of global music income, with paid subscription streaming growing 8.8% to reach over 52% of total revenues and…
Performance Rights and Synchronisation in the Total
Another reason the headline is not simply a streaming number is that IFPI includes revenue streams linked to the commercial use of recordings beyond consumer listening.
Performance-rights revenue comes from the use of recordings in public settings such as radio broadcasts, television, businesses and public venues. In 2025, IFPI reported performance-rights revenues of approximately US$2.9 billion. Although growth was modest at 0.3%, the category still represented a significant revenue pool within the overall market. [IFPI]ifpi.orgIFPIGLOBAL MUSIC REPORT 2026: GLOBAL RECORDED…18 Mar 2026 — Global recorded music revenues grew 6.4% and reached US$31.7 billion in 20…
Synchronisation revenue is generated when recorded music is licensed for films, television programmes, advertising, games and other audiovisual uses. Unlike subscription streaming, synchronisation can be influenced by advertising spending, media production activity and licensing demand. IFPI reported that synchronisation revenue declined in 2025, demonstrating that not every category moves in the same direction each year. [IFPI]gmr.ifpi.orgabout reportmusic report 2026: premium editionGLOBAL MUSIC REPORT 2026: PREMIUM EDITION. The definitive source of recorded music market data, launche…
The practical consequence is that two years with identical streaming growth could produce different headline growth rates if performance-rights collections or synchronisation income move differently. The recorded music market is therefore affected not only by how people listen to music but also by how recordings are licensed and used across the wider media economy. [IFPI]ifpi.orgIFPIGLOBAL MUSIC REPORTRevenues from performance rights recorded modest growth of 0.3%, whereas synchronisation and downloads & other dig…
What the Headline Number Really Reflects
The most useful way to read an IFPI growth headline is to treat it as a blended measure of format performance rather than a proxy for streaming alone. Streaming remains the industry’s economic centre, but the final figure also reflects the contribution of vinyl, CDs, performance rights, synchronisation and other revenue categories. [IFPI]ifpi.org70. over 70 markets where our member companies operate. © IFPI. AllIFPI — Representing the recording industry worldwideAlmost 70 IFPI National Groups, local associations or affiliated music licensing comp…
That is why format shifts matter. A surge in vinyl demand, a slowdown in licensing activity, stronger performance-rights collections or continued declines in older digital formats can all alter the shape of recorded music growth. The headline number is therefore best understood as the combined outcome of several revenue engines operating at the same time, not the result of a single format’s success. IFPI [Reuters]reuters.comstreaming boosts global music revenues once again 2025 report shows 2026 03 18Streaming accounted for 70% of global music income, with paid subscription streaming growing 8.8% to reach over 52% of total revenues and…
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Endnotes
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Source: ifpi.org
Link: https://www.ifpi.org/global-music-report-2026-global-recorded-music-revenues-grow-6-4-as-record-companies-drive-innovation/Source snippet
IFPIGLOBAL MUSIC REPORT 2026: GLOBAL RECORDED...18 Mar 2026 — Global recorded music revenues grew 6.4% and reached US$31.7 billion in 20...
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Source: gmr.ifpi.org
Title: about report
Link: https://gmr.ifpi.org/about-reportSource snippet
music report 2026: premium editionGLOBAL MUSIC REPORT 2026: PREMIUM EDITION. The definitive source of recorded music market data, launche...
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Source: linkedin.com
Link: https://www.linkedin.com/posts/dimastreaming_global-music-report-2026-global-recorded-activity-7440770290479038464-4Dg3Source snippet
LinkedInGlobal Music Revenues Reach $31.7B, Streaming Drives...More significant data for the recorded music industry was revealed this w...
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Source: reuters.com
Title: streaming boosts global music revenues once again 2025 report shows 2026 03 18
Link: https://www.reuters.com/business/media-telecom/streaming-boosts-global-music-revenues-once-again-2025-report-shows-2026-03-18/Source snippet
Streaming accounted for 70% of global music income, with paid subscription streaming growing 8.8% to reach over 52% of total revenues and...
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Source: ifpi.org
Link: https://www.ifpi.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/03/GMR2026_SOTI.pdfSource snippet
IFPIGLOBAL MUSIC REPORTRevenues from performance rights recorded modest growth of 0.3%, whereas synchronisation and downloads & other dig...
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Source: instagram.com
Link: https://www.instagram.com/p/DWHFNxIDM78/Source snippet
InstagramIFPI's Global Music Report 2026 landed this week. Record...Global physical revenues grew 8.0% in 2025, reaching $5.3 billion, a...
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Source: riaa.com
Link: https://www.riaa.com/riaa-reports-us-recorded-music-annual-revenue-achieves-new-high-of-11-5-billion-in-2025/Source snippet
RIAARIAA Reports: US Recorded Music Annual Revenue...16 Mar 2026 — In 19th consecutive year of growth (.3% in 2025), vinyl surpassed $1B...
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Source: ifpi.org
Title: 70. over 70 markets where our member companies operate. © IFPI. All
Link: https://www.ifpi.org/Source snippet
IFPI — Representing the [recording]({{ 'recording/' | relative_url }}) industry worldwideAlmost 70 IFPI National Groups, local associations or affiliated music licensing comp...
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Source: ifpi.org
Link: https://www.ifpi.org/resources/Source snippet
Global Music Report – State of the Industry... A free-to-download overview of the global recording industry in 2025 including topline da...
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Source: riaa.com
Link: https://www.riaa.com/u-s-sales-database/Source snippet
US Music Revenue DatabaseVinyl: Full-length vinyl albums, including direct and special market sales. CD: Full-length compact disc albums...
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Source: riaa.com
Link: https://www.riaa.com/reports/Source snippet
ArchiveThe RIAA released its 2025 Year-End Recorded Music Revenue Report, which reported that US wholesale annual revenue achieved a reco...
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Source: riaa.com
Link: https://www.riaa.com/riaa-reports-us-latin-recorded-music-revenue-hits-nearly-500-million-at-2025-mid-year/Source snippet
US Latin Recorded Music Revenue Hits Nearly $500...17 Oct 2025 — RIAA Reports: US Latin Recorded Music Revenue Hits Nearly $500 Million...
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Source: riaa.com
Link: https://www.riaa.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/03/RIAA-Year-End-Revenue-2025.pdfSource snippet
YEAR-END RECORDEDEXPLORE RIAA'S FULL US MUSIC REVENUE DATABASE HERE. riaa.com. YEAR-END. RECORDED. '25 up 9.3%. Other Streaming. Physical...
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Source: riaa.com
Title: 2025 mid year music industry revenue report riaa
Link: https://www.riaa.com/reports/2025-mid-year-music-industry-revenue-report-riaa/Source snippet
2025 Mid-Year Music Industry Revenue ReportRevenue across all formats hit a new high of $5.6 billion with paid subscriptions driving mid...
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Source: riaa.com
Title: RIAA 2024Year End Revenue Report
Link: https://www.riaa.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/RIAA-2024Year-End-Revenue-Report.pdfSource snippet
RIAA 2024 Year-End Revenue Reportand accounted for nearly 3/4 physical format revenues. For the third year in a row, vinyl albums outsold...
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Source: riaa.com
Title: 2025 year end music industry revenue report riaa
Link: https://www.riaa.com/reports/2025-year-end-music-industry-revenue-report-riaa/Source snippet
2025 Year-End Music Industry Revenue ReportThe RIAA released its 2025 Year-End Recorded Music Revenue Report, which reported that US whol...
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Source: riaa.com
Link: https://www.riaa.com/Source snippet
RIAA: HomeRIAA Reports: US Recorded Music Annual Revenue Achieves New High of $11.5 Billion in 2025. The RIAA released its 2025 Year-End...
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Source: uk.linkedin.com
Link: https://uk.linkedin.com/company/ifpiSource snippet
anisation representing the recording industry worldwide, representing over 8,000 record company members across the globe. IFPI works t...
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Source: linkedin.com
Link: https://www.linkedin.com/posts/music-canada_according-to-ifpisglobal-music-report-2026-activity-7440035181765398528-x2HvSource snippet
Music Canada's PostAccording to IFPI's Global Music Report 2026 released today, Canada's recorded music market grew by 5.6% in 2025 to re...
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Source: linkedin.com
Title: dhanesh jagwani musicinsights activity 7440272400476434432 BHLQ
Link: https://www.linkedin.com/posts/dhanesh-jagwani_musicinsights-activity-7440272400476434432-BHLQSource snippet
IFPI Global Music Report 2026: Record Music Revenues...... Global recorded music revenues increased by 6.4% in 2025 and have grown for t...
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Source: linkedin.com
Link: https://www.linkedin.com/posts/afrikona_sub-saharan-africa-recorded-music-revenues-activity-7440355442469519361-UVAYSource snippet
IFPI Report: Global Music Revenue Grows 8.8% with...IFPI annual Global Music Report 2026 shows revenue growth across all [regions]({{ 'regions/' | relative_url }}), with p...
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Source: linkedin.com
Link: https://www.linkedin.com/posts/musicbizassoc_the-recording-industry-association-of-activity-7440094697697497088-ot5aSource snippet
RIAA 2025 Year-End Report: US Music Revenue Hits...Wholesale sales rose 1.4% in 2025 to $727 million, marking a continued – if slower –...
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Source: music.org
Link: https://www.music.org/index.php?Itemid=101&catid=109&id=884%3Aifpi-international-federation-of-the-phonographic-industry&option=com_content&view=articleSource snippet
IFPI - International Federation of the Phonographic IndustryIFPI's mission is to promote the value of recorded music, safeguard the right...
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Source: theguardian.com
Title: vinyl record sales us taylor swift
Link: https://www.theguardian.com/music/2026/mar/16/vinyl-record-sales-us-taylor-swiftSource snippet
This marks the 19th consecutive year of growth for vinyl, which significantly outperformed CDs and cassettes in revenue. Much of this res...
Additional References
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Source: billboard.com
Title: ifpi report 2026 global music revenues 30 billion
Link: https://www.billboard.com/pro/ifpi-report-2026-global-music-revenues-30-billion/Source snippet
BillboardIFPI Report 2026: Global Music Revenues Surpass $30...18 Mar 2026 — Performance rights revenue saw slight growth of 0.3% and re...
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Source: musicradar.com
Link: https://www.musicradar.com/music-industry/fans-are-consuming-music-from-the-artists-they-love-in-more-ways-than-ever-us-vinyl-sales-hit-the-usd1-billion-mark-for-the-first-time-in-over-40-yearsSource snippet
vinyl record sales surpassed $1 billion for the first time since 1983, totaling $1.04 billion with 46.8 million units sold, marking the n...
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Source: diymusician.cdbaby.com
Title: ifpi global music report 2026
Link: https://diymusician.cdbaby.com/music-news/ifpi-global-music-report-2026/Source snippet
cdbaby.com5 key takeaways from the IFPI Global Music Report 2026Mar 30, 2026 — Global recorded music revenue grew 6.4% in 2025 · Paid sub...
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Source: citizen.digital
Link: https://citizen.digital/article/ifpi-global-report-2026-recorded-music-revenues-surpass-ksh4-trillion-mark-for-first-time-n379371Source snippet
IFPI Global Report 2026: Recorded music revenues...20 Mar 2026 — Total streaming revenues (including both paid subscription and advertis...
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Source: downtownmusic.africa
Link: https://downtownmusic.africa/what-changed-between-ifpis-2025-and-2026-global-music-reports-and-why-africas-story-still-matters/Source snippet
What Changed Between IFPI's 2025 and 2026 Global...19 May 2026 — Then came the Global Music Report 2026, which pushed that picture forwa...
Published: May 2026
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Source: facebook.com
Title: global recorded music revenues grew by 64 to reach 317 billion in 2025 marking t
Link: https://www.facebook.com/Nairametrics/posts/global-recorded-music-revenues-grew-by-64-to-reach-317-billion-in-2025-marking-t/1386743023497654/Source snippet
Global recorded music revenues grew by 6.4% to reach...Global recorded music revenues grew by 6.4% to reach $31.7 billion in 2025, marki...
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Source: musicbusinessworldwide.com
Link: https://www.musicbusinessworldwide.com/as-recorded-music-revenues-hit-31-7b-globally-ifpi-ceo-victoria-oakley-explains-the-opportunities-and-the-threats-ahead/Source snippet
As recorded music revenues hit $31.7B globally, IFPI CEO...20 Mar 2026 — Worldwide recorded music revenues reached USD $31.7 billion in...
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Source: musicbusinessworldwide.com
Link: https://www.musicbusinessworldwide.com/us-paid-music-streaming-subscriptions-hit-106-5m-in-2025-adding-6-5m-accounts-yoy-the-strongest-growth-since-2022/Source snippet
US wholesale recorded music revenue reached $11.5B in...16 Mar 2026 — The United States' recorded music industry generated USD $11.535 b...
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Source: reddit.com
Link: https://www.reddit.com/r/dataisbeautiful/comments/1irk7a4/oc_from_vinyl_to_streaming_50_years_of_music/Source snippet
ith13 million moreVinyl sales than CDs in this year...
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Source: sonymusic.com
Title: ifpi global music report 2026
Link: https://www.sonymusic.com/inside-sony-music/ifpi-global-music-report-2026/Source snippet
How the Global Music Industry Is Evolving: Inside IFPI's...19 Mar 2026 — IFPI's Global Music Report 2026 highlights another year of grow...
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