RIAA Mid-Year 2026: Streaming Leads, While Vinyl and CD Surge

Music commerce looks like a river with a few quiet backwaters. Streaming is the main channel, and the Recording Industry Association of America’s mid-year 2026 report shows it is still growing. But the backwaters, the things you can hold, grew faster.

• U.S. recorded music revenue was $5,974.9 million in the first half of 2026, up 6.9 percent from $5,587.4 million ^[1].
• Streaming was $4,890.7 million (up 4.7 percent), including 111.1 million premium paid subscriptions ^[1].
• Vinyl revenue rose 17.7 percent to $543.8 million and CD revenue rose 58.6 percent to $171.1 million; total physical revenue was up 25.9 percent ^[1].
• Download revenue fell 12.7 percent to $121.0 million, about 2 percent of the total ^[1].

The headline

RIAA reports US wholesale recorded music revenue of $5,974.9 million for the first half of 2026, up 6.9 percent from $5,587.4 million in the first half of 2025 ^[1].

Streaming

Total streaming revenue was $4,890.7 million, up 4.7 percent. Premium paid subscriptions grew to 111.1 million, up 5.5 percent, and their revenue rose 7.8 percent to $3,112.6 million. Free (ad-supported) streaming rose 3.7 percent to $899.6 million, while non-premium paid subscriptions fell 9.0 percent to $239.1 million ^[1]. By RIAA’s chart, paid subscriptions account for about 56 percent of the total ^[1].

Physical formats grow faster

Vinyl revenue rose 17.7 percent to $543.8 million, on 26.5 million units, up 20.9 percent. CDs rose 58.6 percent in value to $171.1 million, on 17.5 million units, up 45.7 percent. Total physical revenue was $731.5 million, up 25.9 percent ^[1]. Physical formats make up about 12 percent of the total, so they are growing quickly from a smaller base.

Downloads decline

Download revenue fell 12.7 percent to $121.0 million, with album downloads at $53.8 million, down 3.0 percent, and single downloads at $49.1 million, down 13.7 percent ^[1]. By my arithmetic, downloads were about 2 percent of total revenue ($121.0 million out of $5,974.9 million).

The subscription detail and the arithmetic

The report’s table gives the units behind the money. Premium paid subscriptions rose from 105.3 million to 111.1 million (+5.5 percent) while their revenue rose from $2,888.4 million to $3,112.6 million (+7.8 percent), so revenue per subscription rose faster than the subscriber count ^[1]. Non-premium paid subscriptions fell 9.0 percent, free streaming grew 3.7 percent and other streaming slipped 2.1 percent ^[1]. Synchronization revenue rose 18.2 percent to $231.8 million ^[1].

Physical formats are measured in units as well. Vinyl units rose 20.9 percent from 22.0 million to 26.5 million and CD units rose 45.7 percent from 12.0 million to 17.5 million ^[1]. Dividing revenue by units gives about $20.52 per vinyl unit and $9.78 per CD unit in the first half of 2026 (my arithmetic from the table), against $21.00 and $8.99 a year earlier ^[1]. Single downloads fell 13.0 percent in units and album downloads 2.5 percent, so the 12.7 percent decline in total downloads is led by singles ^[1].

Reading the numbers

• Convenience still wins in volume. Streaming is about 82 percent of revenue ($4,890.7 million of $5,974.9 million).
• Ownership has a market. Vinyl and CDs are growing at double-digit rates.
• Downloads are small but real. For lossless files you keep, see buying music you own.

These are wholesale dollars, net of returns, as defined by RIAA; retail spending differs.

Questions readers ask

How much did U.S. recorded music revenue grow in the first half of 2026?

It rose 6.9 percent to $5,974.9 million, according to RIAA ^[1].

Are vinyl and CD sales growing?

Yes. RIAA reports vinyl revenue up 17.7 percent to $543.8 million and CD revenue up 58.6 percent to $171.1 million in the first half of 2026 ^[1].