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Vinyl Tops $1 Billion in the U.S. as Global Recorded‑Music Revenue Reaches $31.7 Billion in 2025

Paid subscriptions now total 837 million worldwide, underscoring streaming’s dominance of recorded‑music income.

Overview

  • RIAA’s year‑end report confirms U.S. vinyl revenue hit about $1.04 billion in 2025 on roughly 46.8 million records, the first time above $1 billion since 1983 and the 19th straight year of growth.
  • Overall U.S. recorded‑music revenue reached a record near $11.5 billion, with streaming generating about $9.5 billion, roughly 82% of the total, and 106.5 million paid streaming accounts producing about $6.4 billion.
  • Luminate data show Taylor Swift’s The Life of a Showgirl sold about 1.6 million vinyl copies, helping drive physical sales alongside strong showings from Sabrina Carpenter, Kendrick Lamar and Billie Eilish.
  • The U.S. accounts for about half of global vinyl revenue, and vinyl generated more than three times the revenue of CDs in 2025, with CDs moving about 29.5 million units.
  • IFPI reports global recorded‑music revenue rose 6.4% to $31.7 billion, with streaming at nearly 70% of the market, vinyl up 13.7% worldwide, and industry bodies warning about AI‑generated content and streaming fraud.