The Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA) today released a report that shows that in the first half of 2019, the U.S. recorded music market continued the overall trends and double digit growth rates of 2018. Revenue increases were driven by the number of paid subscriptions exceeding 60 million for the first time. Total revenues grew 18% to $5.4 billion at retail in the first half of 2019. Streaming music accounted for 80% of industry revenues. At wholesale value, revenues rose 16% to $3.5 billion.
Music revenues grew 18%, to $5.4 billion in the first half of 2019. Paid streaming services added more than 1 million new subscriptions a month, taking us past 60 million total paid subscriptions. Thanks to that breakneck growth, plus continued modest drops in digital downloads and new physical sales, streaming now generates 80% of music business revenues and has fundamentally reshaped how fans find, share, and listen to the songs and artists they love.
Music continues to be a key driver of Internet culture, and engagement around music and artists powers much of the popularity of many social media and technology platforms. On social media, musicians are among the most-followed users worldwide. See more here.
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