The RIAA’s 2025 Year‑End Recorded Music Revenue Report shows U.S. wholesale music revenue reached a record $11.5 billion. Streaming accounted for $9.5 billion, or 82% of the market, with paid subscriptions generating $6.4 billion from 106.5 million accounts and premium revenue up 6.8% to $5.88 billion. Vinyl continued its resurgence, surpassing $1 billion in sales for the 19th straight year and representing nearly half of global vinyl revenue. The sector now contributes $212 billion to the U.S. GDP and supports more than 2.5 million jobs, while industry leaders push for responsible AI licensing.
The U.S. Trade Representative released its 2025 Notorious Markets Report, naming digital and physical venues that facilitate large‑scale music piracy. The Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA) praised the spotlight on illicit services such as bulletproof ISPs, cyberlockers, stream‑ripping sites,...