Entertainment
US Music Revenue Hit $6 Billion in Early 2026: What Drove It
US recorded music revenue reached about $6 billion in the first half of 2026, up 6.9%. Streaming still supplies most of it, but vinyl, CDs and sync licensing grew fastest.
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US recorded music revenue reached about $6 billion in the first half of 2026, up 6.9%. Streaming still supplies most of it, but vinyl, CDs and sync licensing grew fastest.
UK recorded music revenue rose for an 11th straight year in 2025, passing £1.5 billion for the first time. Here is how streaming, vinyl and the smaller revenue lines each contributed.
The shift from dozens of standalone subscriptions toward bundling, ad-supported tiers, and consolidation — and the forces actually driving it.
The real reasons collectors and younger buyers are turning back to physical formats, beyond nostalgia.