Global audio streaming hit nearly 5 trillion streams in 2024, marking a 14% year-over-year increase, according to Luminate’s year-end report. The United States contributed 1.4 trillion streams, while streams outside the U.S. grew at a faster rate of 17.3%, highlighting the growing influence of international markets. Emerging regions like Asia saw the most significant growth in subscription-based streams, followed by Europe and Latin America.
Pop music experienced notable growth in 2024, becoming the fastest-growing genre in the U.S. This trend was led by female artists such as Taylor Swift, who not only topped streaming charts but was also recognized as the most influential artist globally. Catalog music consumption in the U.S. also grew slightly, accounting for 73.3% of total album consumption.
The report highlighted the rising significance of “superfans,” who now make up 20% of U.S. music listeners. These listeners are willing to spend more on live events, exclusive merchandise, and higher-quality music experiences. Additionally, there was a slight decline in the number of songs uploaded daily to streaming platforms, which Luminate attributes to improved content management by distributors.
Genres like Afrobeats, K-pop, and Latin music continued to expand their global presence, contributing to a more diverse music landscape. However, traditional music exporters such as the U.S., U.K., and Canada experienced a slight decline in their combined market share of global premium streams. Meanwhile, countries like Mexico and Brazil saw significant growth in their streaming presence, reflecting the evolving dynamics of the global music industry.
