$11.5B
U.S. recorded-music wholesale revenue in 2025
RIAA reported a new annual high for the U.S. recorded-music business.
Source: RIAA, 2025 Year-End Music Industry Revenue Report, published March 16, 2026 01Live Wirez reference
Music streaming & radio statistics.
Current numbers on the U.S. music business, online audio, podcast listening and connected-car audio, all in one place.
Last updated September 4, 2026
The quick read
Audio is everywhere. Attention still has to be earned.
Streaming subscriptions remain a major force in recorded music, while online audio, podcasts and connected-car listening keep expanding the places where listeners find music, voices and culture.
Each figure below links directly to the report that published it. Source dates matter: the page is current as of September 4, 2026, while the underlying measurements describe 2025 or 2026 activity as noted.
$6.0B
U.S. recorded-music revenue in the first half of 2026
The midyear total rose 6.9% from the first half of 2025, with growth across every major revenue category.
Source: RIAA, 2026 Mid-Year Recorded Music Revenue Report, published September 1, 2026 02$3.4B
Paid-subscription revenue in the first half of 2026
Paid subscriptions continued to be the largest part of U.S. recorded-music revenue.
Source: RIAA, 2026 Mid-Year Recorded Music Revenue Report, published September 1, 2026 03111.1M
Average premium paid-subscription accounts in the U.S. in the first half of 2026
RIAA reported that premium paid accounts grew 5.5% from the first half of 2025.
Source: RIAA, 2026 Mid-Year Recorded Music Revenue Report, published September 1, 2026 0481%
Americans age 12+ who listened to online audio monthly in 2026
That represents an estimated 233 million people listening to online audio each month.
Source: Edison Research at SSRS, The Infinite Dial 2026, published March 12, 2026 0558%
Americans age 12+ who listened to or watched podcasts monthly in 2026
That represents an estimated 167 million people, an all-time high in the annual study.
Source: Edison Research at SSRS, The Infinite Dial 2026, published March 12, 2026 0680%
Americans age 12+ who have listened to or watched a podcast in 2026
Edison estimates that combined audience at 230 million people, another all-time high.
Source: Edison Research at SSRS, The Infinite Dial 2026, published March 12, 2026 0776%
Americans age 12+ who listened to online audio weekly in 2026
That represents an estimated 219 million people listening each week.
Source: Edison Research at SSRS, The Infinite Dial 2026, published March 12, 2026 0883%
Adults 18+ with Apple CarPlay or Android Auto who used it in the past month
The finding shows that connected phone audio is an active part of the in-car listening routine.
Source: Edison Research at SSRS, The Infinite Dial 2026, published March 12, 2026 09Method & sources
Made to be checked, quoted and linked.
This reference page only uses figures published by the Recording Industry Association of America and Edison Research. It does not combine surveys into a new estimate or treat one source's measurement as a substitute for another.
- RIAA 2025 Year-End Recorded Music Revenue Report, published March 16, 2026
- RIAA 2026 Mid-Year Recorded Music Revenue Report, published September 1, 2026
- Edison Research at SSRS, The Infinite Dial 2026, published March 12, 2026
Cite this page
Live Wirez Radio Show, “Music Streaming & Radio Statistics,” updated September 4, 2026, https://livewirezradioshow.com/music-streaming-radio-statistics.
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