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Music 2026

Music Streaming Statistics & Market Data

Revenue figures, platform market share, subscriber counts, and consumption trends shaping the music streaming industry in 2026.

30 curated statistics with source citations

$25.12B

Global Streaming Revenue

37%

Spotify Market Share

615M

Spotify MAUs

72%

Revenue from Paid Subs

Music streaming now accounts for the vast majority of recorded music revenue worldwide, with the global streaming market reaching $25.12 billion in 2025. Spotify dominates with a 37% market share and 615 million monthly active users, while Apple Music and Amazon Music compete for the premium subscriber base.

The shift to paid subscriptions continues to accelerate, with 72% of streaming revenue coming from paid subscribers. Meanwhile, the economics of streaming remain a contentious topic, with the average per-stream payout hovering between $0.003 and $0.005 for artists.

These statistics cover platform market share, revenue trends, consumer behavior, artist economics, and the emerging technologies reshaping how people discover and consume music.

Market Size & Revenue

The music streaming market continues to grow as global adoption increases.

$25.12 billion

Global music streaming market revenue in 2025.

Source

2025

72%

Of total streaming revenue comes from paid subscription tiers.

Source

2025

28%

Of streaming revenue comes from ad-supported free tiers.

Source

2025

67%

Of total recorded music industry revenue now comes from streaming.

Source

2025

9.8%

Year-over-year growth in global streaming revenue in 2025.

Source

2025

616 million

Paid music streaming subscribers worldwide.

Source

2025

Platform Market Share

How the major streaming platforms compete for listeners and subscribers.

37%

Spotify's share of the global music streaming market by subscribers.

Source

2025

615 million

Spotify monthly active users globally, including 246 million premium subscribers.

Source

2025

110 million

Apple Music subscribers worldwide.

Source

2025

115 million

Amazon Music subscribers (including Prime Music users).

Source

2025

80 million

YouTube Music premium subscribers globally.

Source

2025

47 million

Tencent Music paying subscribers in China.

Source

2025

Consumer Behavior & Listening Habits

How streaming users discover and consume music.

1.5 hours

Average daily music streaming time per user globally.

Source

2025

75%

Of Gen Z music listeners discover new music primarily through streaming platform algorithms.

Source

2025

43%

Of streaming users listen to curated playlists rather than artist albums.

Source

2025

100 million+

Tracks available on major streaming platforms.

Source

2025

120,000

New tracks uploaded to streaming platforms daily.

Source

2025

31%

Of listeners use voice assistants (Alexa, Siri) to play music.

Source

2025

Artist Economics & Payouts

The financial reality for artists in the streaming era.

$0.003-$0.005

Average per-stream payout range across major platforms.

Source

2025

1,000

Streams needed to earn approximately $3-$5 on most platforms.

Source

2025

$0.006-$0.008

Apple Music per-stream payout, the highest among major platforms.

Source

2025

1.4%

Of Spotify artists generate more than $1,000 per year from streams.

Source

2025

66,000+

Artists earning over $10,000 annually from Spotify streams alone.

Source

2025

15-25%

Typical artist royalty rate after label and distributor shares.

Source

2025

Podcasts & Audio Content on Streaming Platforms

How non-music audio is changing the streaming landscape.

6 million+

Podcasts available on Spotify, making it the largest podcast platform.

Source

2025

$4 billion

Global podcast advertising revenue in 2025.

Source

2025

44%

Of Americans listen to podcasts monthly.

Source

2025

23%

Of total Spotify listening time spent on podcasts and audiobooks.

Source

2025

47 million

Audiobook titles available on streaming platforms.

Source

2025

15%

Growth in music-podcast crossover content (artist-hosted shows, music documentaries).

Source

2025

Methodology

Music streaming statistics are sourced from the IFPI Global Music Report, platform-reported data (Spotify, Apple, Amazon), independent research firms (MIDiA Research, Luminate), and industry organizations (RIAA, Edison Research).

Per-stream payout data represents averages and varies based on country, subscription tier, and contract terms. Market share is measured by paid subscriber count. All data points include source citations and year of publication.

Frequently Asked Questions

How big is the music streaming market?

Global music streaming revenue reached $25.12 billion in 2025, representing 67% of total recorded music industry revenue. The market is growing at 9.8% year-over-year, with 616 million paid subscribers worldwide.

Which streaming platform has the most users?

Spotify leads with 615 million monthly active users and 246 million premium subscribers, commanding a 37% market share. Apple Music has 110 million subscribers, Amazon Music has 115 million, and YouTube Music has 80 million.

How much do artists earn per stream?

Average per-stream payouts range from $0.003 to $0.005 across major platforms. Apple Music pays the highest at $0.006-$0.008 per stream. Only 1.4% of Spotify artists earn more than $1,000 per year, though 66,000+ artists earn over $10,000.

How do people discover music on streaming platforms?

75% of Gen Z listeners discover new music through platform algorithms. 43% of users primarily listen to curated playlists rather than albums, and 31% use voice assistants to play music.

How many new songs are uploaded to streaming platforms daily?

Approximately 120,000 new tracks are uploaded to streaming platforms every day. Major platforms now host over 100 million tracks, creating intense competition for listener attention.

What share of streaming revenue comes from paid subscriptions?

72% of total streaming revenue comes from paid subscription tiers, with the remaining 28% from ad-supported free tiers. The industry has 616 million paid subscribers globally.

How are podcasts affecting music streaming?

Spotify hosts over 6 million podcasts and 23% of total listening time is spent on podcasts and audiobooks. Podcast advertising revenue reached $4 billion globally in 2025, and 44% of Americans listen to podcasts monthly.

Last updated: February 12, 2026

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