US Streaming Subscriptions Reach 105.3m in First Half of 2025, Recorded Music Revenue Increases

Streaming entertainment continues to be a major player in the United States, with a reported 105.3 million total paid premium music subscriptions in the first half of 2025. That’s an increase of 6.3 million subscriptions compared to the previous year, showing a positive trend despite challenges in other areas.

The recorded music industry saw a modest revenue growth of 0.9% year-over-year, reaching USD $5.59 billion wholesale revenue in the first half of the year. Premium paid subscription revenues also experienced a healthy growth of 6.3% year-over-year, totaling $2.89 billion.

However, other streaming revenue fields saw declines during this period. Free streaming revenue, which includes ad-supported audio and music video services, decreased by 2.9% to $875.1 million. Non-premium paid subscriptions and other streaming revenue also experienced declines, offsetting the positive subscription growth.

In terms of physical format sales, there was a reversal in the trend of growth. Total physical revenue declined by 5.9% to $576.4 million in the first half of 2025. Vinyl sales, which have been a bright spot in recent years, fell by 1% in both units and dollar value terms. CD sales continued their decline, dropping by 22% in both units and revenue.

Despite these challenges, vinyl sales continued to dominate physical formats, outselling CDs for the fifth consecutive year. Synchronization licensing, a high-value revenue source for labels, also saw a decline of 7.9% to $196 million during this period.

The RIAA’s report highlighted the global dominance of the US music industry, with one in three streams worldwide featuring American artists. American music exports surpassed those of the next six biggest exporting countries combined, showcasing the strength of the industry on a global scale.

“These numbers show a stable and sustainable foundation as music continues to be one of America’s strongest exports,” said RIAA VP of Research Matt Bass. The shift to align reporting standards with international practices allows for a clearer picture of the industry’s performance and impact.