Music industry spins vinyl and subscriptions into major revenues

Article by Sara Lebow | Apr 21, 2022

More than 80% of US music industry revenues came from streaming in 2021. Physical formats, like CDs and vinyl records, accounted for 11%, while the rest of the revenues stemmed from digital downloads and synchronization deals with music licensees.

Beyond the chart: The US music industry saw revenues grow by 24% year over year in 2021, to a total of $15.0 billion. Nearly two-thirds of its revenues came from paid streaming subscriptions, while physical formats posted gains as well. For the first time since 1996, CDs and vinyl records both experienced revenue growth. Vinyl record revenues, in particular, rose for the 15th year in a row, by 61%, and topped $1 billion for the first time since 1986.