Global Music Report 2026: Strong Growth, a Focus on AI, and a Crackdown on Fraud
2025 was “an eleventh consecutive year of growth” for the global music industry, the IFPI reports, highlighting a dynamic market now shaped by the challenges of AI and streaming fraud. The global recorded music market continues its upward trajectory. According to the IFPI Global Music Report 2026, published on March 18, revenues reached $31.7 billion in 2025, up 6.4%. This marks the eleventh consecutive year of growth, driven once again by paid streaming, but also marked by new technological dynamics and growing tensions surrounding artificial intelligence and fraud. Growth still driven by streaming but more diversified With 837 million subscribers, paid streaming remains the sector’s driving force, accounting for 52.4% of global revenue and recording 8.8% growth. “54 million new paid accounts were created… this year ,” noted Dennis Kooker…