The Evolving Landscape of Music in 2025: Insights from Luminate’s Midyear Report
As we reach the midpoint of 2025, the music industry shows no signs of stagnation despite a changing climate. According to Luminate’s recently released 2025 Midyear Report, several key trends have emerged that are reshaping how we listen to music both in the U.S. and globally.
Streaming Growth and Its Slowdown
In a world increasingly dominated by digital consumption, music streaming has reached unprecedented levels. Global on-demand audio streams surged to an impressive 2.5 trillion in the first half of 2025, a notable increase from 2.29 trillion in the same timeframe last year. Stateside, the numbers are equally staggering, with U.S. on-demand audio streams rising to 696.6 billion in 2025, up from 665.8 billion in 2024.
However, this growth comes with a caveat: the pace of increase is decelerating. In 2024, U.S. and global on-demand audio streams expanded by 8% and 15.1%, respectively. Fast forward to 2025, and those figures have dropped to 4.6% and 10.3%. This trend calls for a closer examination of the factors influencing music consumption habits.
Dominance of Streaming Over Physical Sales
In the current landscape, streaming represents a whopping 92% of total music consumption in the U.S. As physical and digital album sales decline, streaming continues to reign supreme. This shift underscores a pivotal transformation in how audiences access music — a preference that increasingly favors convenience and variety over tangible formats.
Genre Dynamics: The Rise of Christian Music and Recession Pop
Interestingly, the U.S. music scene is witnessing a resurgence in specific genres, particularly Christian music and what has become known as "recession pop." R&B and hip-hop remain the most popular genres in terms of streaming volume, followed by rock, pop, country, and Latin. However, the highest growth in streaming is seen in rock, Latin, country, and notably, Christian/gospel music.
Luminate’s Vice President of Music Insights and Industry Relations, Jaime Marconette, attributes the growth of Christian music to its appeal among younger audiences. Specifically, this demographic is characterized as being “streaming-forward,” with a fanbase that is 60% female and 30% millennial. Artists like Forrest Frank, Brandon Lake, and Elevation Worship are leading this charge, showcasing the genre’s evolving landscape.
On the other hand, "recession pop" is making a notable comeback as listeners gravitate toward feel-good anthems reminiscent of a more carefree era. Tracks from notable artists such as Kesha and Miley Cyrus, released during 2007-2012, have begun to resonate again, contributing to a 6.4% increase in on-demand streams of that genre in 2025. The nostalgia these songs evoke seems to offer listeners a sense of escapism during uncertain times.
Nostalgia’s Role in Music Consumption
Marconette points out that pop music from earlier years is not just surviving but thriving. “We’re actually seeing pop music from those years outpace the growth of the industry at-large,” he remarks, indicating that the rise of nostalgia-driven listening patterns could be a larger reflection of societal moods and needs.
This trend suggests that listeners are seeking not only entertainment but emotional connection and familiarity in their music choices. It raises intriguing questions about how shared experiences and collective memories influence current consumption behaviors.
Conclusion
As we navigate through 2025, the music industry continues to adapt to the intricate dynamics of modern consumption. With streaming growth rates tapering off and specific genres experiencing revival, the landscape is both familiar and new. The insights from Luminate’s report pose compelling ideas about what lies ahead for artists and listeners alike, hinting at a deeper cultural significance behind our evolving interactions with music. The next steps will be crucial as we observe how these trends impact the industry in the latter half of the year and beyond.
