GITNUXREPORT 2026

Audio Industry Statistics

The global music industry is growing strongly, driven by streaming and regional expansion.

Gitnux Team

Expert team of market researchers and data analysts.

First published: Feb 27, 2026

Our Commitment to Accuracy

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Statistic 1

70% of Americans 13+ own at least one audio streaming device in 2023.

Statistic 2

U.S. adults spend average 2 hours 47 minutes daily on AM/FM radio.

Statistic 3

53% of U.S. car listening is to AM/FM radio.

Statistic 4

90% of U.S. 16-34 year-olds use YouTube for music weekly.

Statistic 5

65% of Gen Z discovers new music via streaming platforms.

Statistic 6

Average U.S. consumer streams 1,060 tracks per year.

Statistic 7

44% of U.S. adults listened to podcasts weekly in 2023.

Statistic 8

Smart speaker usage for music daily at 36% among owners.

Statistic 9

82% of music superfans stream daily.

Statistic 10

Vinyl listening appeals to 62% of millennials weekly.

Statistic 11

75% prefer ad-free streaming, willing to pay average $10.99/month.

Statistic 12

Hispanics over-index on music streaming by 20% in U.S.

Statistic 13

58% of parents play music for kids via streaming apps.

Statistic 14

Live music attendance up 25% post-pandemic in 2023.

Statistic 15

47% of U.S. consumers use headphones daily for audio.

Statistic 16

Audio content multitasking rate at 92% while driving.

Statistic 17

31% of global consumers bought music merchandise in 2023.

Statistic 18

Female music fans spend 12% more on superfans activities.

Statistic 19

67% of streaming users share playlists regularly.

Statistic 20

Daily audio consumption in U.S. averaged 11 hours 28 minutes in 2023.

Statistic 21

Global wireless headphone market size was $28.9 billion in 2023.

Statistic 22

True wireless stereo (TWS) earbuds shipments reached 282.9 million units in 2023.

Statistic 23

Global smart speaker market revenue hit $11.3 billion in 2023.

Statistic 24

Apple AirPods sales exceeded 75 million units in 2023.

Statistic 25

Sony wireless headphone market share was 21% in 2023.

Statistic 26

Global headphone market grew 6.5% to $32.1 billion in 2023.

Statistic 27

Amazon Echo devices sold 38 million units in 2023.

Statistic 28

Bluetooth speaker market size reached $12.5 billion in 2023.

Statistic 29

JBL held 12% share in portable Bluetooth speakers in 2023.

Statistic 30

Global earbuds market projected to grow at 12.4% CAGR to 2030.

Statistic 31

Bose noise-cancelling headphones revenue up 15% in 2023.

Statistic 32

Smart earphones shipments grew 25% YoY in Q4 2023.

Statistic 33

U.S. headphone shipments totaled 85 million units in 2023.

Statistic 34

Google Nest smart speaker shipments 11.8 million in 2023.

Statistic 35

Premium wireless headphones (> $200) grew 18% in 2023.

Statistic 36

Anker Soundcore held top budget TWS share at 15% in 2023.

Statistic 37

Global soundbar market revenue $8.2 billion in 2023.

Statistic 38

Samsung Galaxy Buds shipments 12 million units in 2023.

Statistic 39

Home audio systems market to reach $45 billion by 2030.

Statistic 40

Over-ear headphones accounted for 45% of U.S. sales volume in 2023.

Statistic 41

Global recorded music revenues grew by 10.2% to $28.6 billion in 2023.

Statistic 42

U.S. recorded music revenue increased 7.4% to $17.1 billion in 2023.

Statistic 43

Streaming accounted for 67% of U.S. recorded music revenues in 2023, totaling $11.5 billion.

Statistic 44

Physical sales in the U.S. generated $1.9 billion in 2023, up 6.8% YoY.

Statistic 45

Global music publishing revenues reached $6.8 billion in 2023.

Statistic 46

Latin America saw 14.2% growth in recorded music revenues to $1.5 billion in 2023.

Statistic 47

Sub-Saharan Africa recorded music market grew 22.6% to $196.5 million in 2023.

Statistic 48

Japan’s recorded music market reached $2.8 billion in 2023, with 2.6% growth.

Statistic 49

Performance rights generated $4.3 billion globally in 2023.

Statistic 50

Sync revenues worldwide hit $607 million in 2023.

Statistic 51

U.S. digital download revenues fell 15% to $170.4 million in 2023.

Statistic 52

Vinyl album sales in the U.S. reached 43 million units in 2023.

Statistic 53

Global music market projected to reach $38.5 billion by 2028.

Statistic 54

U.S. music industry employed 2.1 million jobs in 2022.

Statistic 55

Europe’s recorded music revenues grew 8.1% to $8.5 billion in 2023.

Statistic 56

Asia recorded music market expanded 9.8% to $6.1 billion in 2023.

Statistic 57

Australia/New Zealand music revenues up 10.5% to $678.2 million in 2023.

Statistic 58

Middle East & Africa combined growth of 18.3% in 2023.

Statistic 59

U.S. streaming revenue share hit 67% of total in 2023.

Statistic 60

Global recorded music revenues per capita highest in Sweden at $37.49 in 2023.

Statistic 61

55% of U.S. podcast listeners are aged 12-34.

Statistic 62

42% of Americans 12+ listened to a podcast in the past month in 2024.

Statistic 63

U.S. podcast ad revenue reached $2 billion in 2023.

Statistic 64

Average U.S. podcast listener consumes 9.1 episodes per week.

Statistic 65

75% of monthly U.S. podcast listeners are loyal to 5 or fewer shows.

Statistic 66

Podcast downloads in the U.S. hit 122.6 billion in 2023.

Statistic 67

69% of podcast listeners have a college degree.

Statistic 68

Women make up 52% of the U.S. podcast audience.

Statistic 69

Spotify hosted 5.5 million podcasts in 2023.

Statistic 70

Global podcast listeners reached 464.7 million in 2023.

Statistic 71

34% of U.S. podcast ad spend was direct in 2023.

Statistic 72

Apple Podcasts has over 2 million shows.

Statistic 73

28% of monthly podcast listeners pay for podcasts.

Statistic 74

Top 90 podcasts captured 37% of U.S. listening time in Q1 2024.

Statistic 75

Podcast discovery via recommendations from friends/family at 48%.

Statistic 76

U.S. weekly podcast listeners aged 55+ grew 12% YoY.

Statistic 77

80% of podcast listeners are more likely to buy advertised products.

Statistic 78

Global podcast market revenue projected to $4 billion by 2028.

Statistic 79

41% of U.S. podcast listeners multitask while listening.

Statistic 80

SiriusXM podcast listeners averaged 6.5 hours weekly in 2023.

Statistic 81

24% of podcast ad revenue from programmatic in 2023.

Statistic 82

Spotify had 626 million monthly active users in Q4 2023.

Statistic 83

Paid Spotify subscribers reached 246 million in Q4 2023.

Statistic 84

Apple Music has over 100 million subscribers worldwide as of 2023.

Statistic 85

YouTube Music and Premium combined for 100 million paid subscribers in 2023.

Statistic 86

Amazon Music Unlimited subscribers exceeded 70 million in 2023.

Statistic 87

Tidal reported 3 million subscribers in 2023.

Statistic 88

Deezer has 10.2 million subscribers as of late 2023.

Statistic 89

Global paid music streaming subscriptions hit 667 million in 2023.

Statistic 90

Spotify generated 58% of revenues from Premium subscriptions in 2023.

Statistic 91

U.S. paid streaming subscriptions reached 108 million in 2023.

Statistic 92

On-demand audio streams in the U.S. totaled 1.7 trillion in 2023.

Statistic 93

Spotify’s podcast listening hours grew 20% YoY in 2023.

Statistic 94

Pandora averaged 57.4 million daily active users in 2023.

Statistic 95

SoundCloud has over 175 million users globally.

Statistic 96

Audiomack reached 15 million monthly active users in 2023.

Statistic 97

Spotify ad-supported users hit 380 million in Q4 2023.

Statistic 98

Global streaming revenues accounted for 67% of recorded music in 2023.

Statistic 99

Apple Music streams grew 10% YoY in the U.S. in 2023.

Statistic 100

Spotify Wrapped revealed 574 million books listened on Audiobooks in 2023.

Statistic 101

YouTube Music ad revenue up 15% in 2023.

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While our daily soundtrack is now overwhelmingly digital, the global audio industry is hitting all the right notes, with streaming fueling a record $28.6 billion in music revenues, podcasts captivating nearly half a billion listeners, and our collective love for wireless earbuds turning into a multi-billion dollar market of its own.

Key Takeaways

Global recorded music revenues grew by 10.2% to $28.6 billion in 2023.
U.S. recorded music revenue increased 7.4% to $17.1 billion in 2023.
Streaming accounted for 67% of U.S. recorded music revenues in 2023, totaling $11.5 billion.
Spotify had 626 million monthly active users in Q4 2023.
Paid Spotify subscribers reached 246 million in Q4 2023.
Apple Music has over 100 million subscribers worldwide as of 2023.
55% of U.S. podcast listeners are aged 12-34.
42% of Americans 12+ listened to a podcast in the past month in 2024.
U.S. podcast ad revenue reached $2 billion in 2023.
Global wireless headphone market size was $28.9 billion in 2023.
True wireless stereo (TWS) earbuds shipments reached 282.9 million units in 2023.
Global smart speaker market revenue hit $11.3 billion in 2023.
70% of Americans 13+ own at least one audio streaming device in 2023.
U.S. adults spend average 2 hours 47 minutes daily on AM/FM radio.
53% of U.S. car listening is to AM/FM radio.

The global music industry is growing strongly, driven by streaming and regional expansion.

Consumer Behavior & Trends

70% of Americans 13+ own at least one audio streaming device in 2023.
U.S. adults spend average 2 hours 47 minutes daily on AM/FM radio.
53% of U.S. car listening is to AM/FM radio.
90% of U.S. 16-34 year-olds use YouTube for music weekly.
65% of Gen Z discovers new music via streaming platforms.
Average U.S. consumer streams 1,060 tracks per year.
44% of U.S. adults listened to podcasts weekly in 2023.
Smart speaker usage for music daily at 36% among owners.
82% of music superfans stream daily.
Vinyl listening appeals to 62% of millennials weekly.
75% prefer ad-free streaming, willing to pay average $10.99/month.
Hispanics over-index on music streaming by 20% in U.S.
58% of parents play music for kids via streaming apps.
Live music attendance up 25% post-pandemic in 2023.
47% of U.S. consumers use headphones daily for audio.
Audio content multitasking rate at 92% while driving.
31% of global consumers bought music merchandise in 2023.
Female music fans spend 12% more on superfans activities.
67% of streaming users share playlists regularly.
Daily audio consumption in U.S. averaged 11 hours 28 minutes in 2023.

Consumer Behavior & Trends Interpretation

While we've become a nation of digital audio alchemists, expertly blending streaming playlists, podcasts, and vinyl nostalgia into an eleven-hour daily symphony, the humble car radio stubbornly remains our co-pilot, proving that even in the future, some tunes still travel best on analog waves.

Hardware & Devices

Global wireless headphone market size was $28.9 billion in 2023.
True wireless stereo (TWS) earbuds shipments reached 282.9 million units in 2023.
Global smart speaker market revenue hit $11.3 billion in 2023.
Apple AirPods sales exceeded 75 million units in 2023.
Sony wireless headphone market share was 21% in 2023.
Global headphone market grew 6.5% to $32.1 billion in 2023.
Amazon Echo devices sold 38 million units in 2023.
Bluetooth speaker market size reached $12.5 billion in 2023.
JBL held 12% share in portable Bluetooth speakers in 2023.
Global earbuds market projected to grow at 12.4% CAGR to 2030.
Bose noise-cancelling headphones revenue up 15% in 2023.
Smart earphones shipments grew 25% YoY in Q4 2023.
U.S. headphone shipments totaled 85 million units in 2023.
Google Nest smart speaker shipments 11.8 million in 2023.
Premium wireless headphones (> $200) grew 18% in 2023.
Anker Soundcore held top budget TWS share at 15% in 2023.
Global soundbar market revenue $8.2 billion in 2023.
Samsung Galaxy Buds shipments 12 million units in 2023.
Home audio systems market to reach $45 billion by 2030.
Over-ear headphones accounted for 45% of U.S. sales volume in 2023.

Hardware & Devices Interpretation

The audio industry is a cacophony of cash, where we collectively pay billions to be blissfully immersed in our own private soundtracks while politely ignoring the outside world.

Market Size & Revenue

Global recorded music revenues grew by 10.2% to $28.6 billion in 2023.
U.S. recorded music revenue increased 7.4% to $17.1 billion in 2023.
Streaming accounted for 67% of U.S. recorded music revenues in 2023, totaling $11.5 billion.
Physical sales in the U.S. generated $1.9 billion in 2023, up 6.8% YoY.
Global music publishing revenues reached $6.8 billion in 2023.
Latin America saw 14.2% growth in recorded music revenues to $1.5 billion in 2023.
Sub-Saharan Africa recorded music market grew 22.6% to $196.5 million in 2023.
Japan’s recorded music market reached $2.8 billion in 2023, with 2.6% growth.
Performance rights generated $4.3 billion globally in 2023.
Sync revenues worldwide hit $607 million in 2023.
U.S. digital download revenues fell 15% to $170.4 million in 2023.
Vinyl album sales in the U.S. reached 43 million units in 2023.
Global music market projected to reach $38.5 billion by 2028.
U.S. music industry employed 2.1 million jobs in 2022.
Europe’s recorded music revenues grew 8.1% to $8.5 billion in 2023.
Asia recorded music market expanded 9.8% to $6.1 billion in 2023.
Australia/New Zealand music revenues up 10.5% to $678.2 million in 2023.
Middle East & Africa combined growth of 18.3% in 2023.
U.S. streaming revenue share hit 67% of total in 2023.
Global recorded music revenues per capita highest in Sweden at $37.49 in 2023.

Market Size & Revenue Interpretation

While the streaming giants have firmly cemented their financial dominance, the industry's overall health is buoyed by a surprisingly vibrant and global chorus of growth, from vinyl's nostalgic encore in living rooms to booming new markets from Lagos to São Paulo.

Podcasting

55% of U.S. podcast listeners are aged 12-34.
42% of Americans 12+ listened to a podcast in the past month in 2024.
U.S. podcast ad revenue reached $2 billion in 2023.
Average U.S. podcast listener consumes 9.1 episodes per week.
75% of monthly U.S. podcast listeners are loyal to 5 or fewer shows.
Podcast downloads in the U.S. hit 122.6 billion in 2023.
69% of podcast listeners have a college degree.
Women make up 52% of the U.S. podcast audience.
Spotify hosted 5.5 million podcasts in 2023.
Global podcast listeners reached 464.7 million in 2023.
34% of U.S. podcast ad spend was direct in 2023.
Apple Podcasts has over 2 million shows.
28% of monthly podcast listeners pay for podcasts.
Top 90 podcasts captured 37% of U.S. listening time in Q1 2024.
Podcast discovery via recommendations from friends/family at 48%.
U.S. weekly podcast listeners aged 55+ grew 12% YoY.
80% of podcast listeners are more likely to buy advertised products.
Global podcast market revenue projected to $4 billion by 2028.
41% of U.S. podcast listeners multitask while listening.
SiriusXM podcast listeners averaged 6.5 hours weekly in 2023.
24% of podcast ad revenue from programmatic in 2023.

Podcasting Interpretation

A vast, lucrative, and paradoxically intimate market has matured, proving that while nearly half of America is now tuning in with highly educated ears, our listening habits remain fiercely loyal, distractedly multitasked, and powerfully influenced by the simple question, "Hey, have you heard this one?"

Streaming Services

Spotify had 626 million monthly active users in Q4 2023.
Paid Spotify subscribers reached 246 million in Q4 2023.
Apple Music has over 100 million subscribers worldwide as of 2023.
YouTube Music and Premium combined for 100 million paid subscribers in 2023.
Amazon Music Unlimited subscribers exceeded 70 million in 2023.
Tidal reported 3 million subscribers in 2023.
Deezer has 10.2 million subscribers as of late 2023.
Global paid music streaming subscriptions hit 667 million in 2023.
Spotify generated 58% of revenues from Premium subscriptions in 2023.
U.S. paid streaming subscriptions reached 108 million in 2023.
On-demand audio streams in the U.S. totaled 1.7 trillion in 2023.
Spotify’s podcast listening hours grew 20% YoY in 2023.
Pandora averaged 57.4 million daily active users in 2023.
SoundCloud has over 175 million users globally.
Audiomack reached 15 million monthly active users in 2023.
Spotify ad-supported users hit 380 million in Q4 2023.
Global streaming revenues accounted for 67% of recorded music in 2023.
Apple Music streams grew 10% YoY in the U.S. in 2023.
Spotify Wrapped revealed 574 million books listened on Audiobooks in 2023.
YouTube Music ad revenue up 15% in 2023.

Streaming Services Interpretation

While Spotify is crowned the king of subscriptions, the global streaming throne remains a noisy, crowded palace where Apple and YouTube are formidable courtiers, Pandora and SoundCloud maintain bustling town squares, and even the audiobook shelves are being raided, proving that our insatiable appetite for audio is a booming, if cacophonous, empire.

Sources & References

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