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# Recorded Music Business Grew 8.1% In First Half Of 2016 Driven By Spotify, Apple Music
- URL: https://www.hypebot.com/recorded-music-business-grew-81-in-first-half-of-2016-driven-by-spotify-apple-music/
- Published: 2016-09-20T09:40:02.000Z
- Updated: 2016-09-20T09:40:02.000Z
- Description: After a decade of decline, the U.S. recorded music business is growing for the second year in a row, according to the RIAA. Driving the trend is the revenue source. Continue reading [https://www.hypebot.com/hypebot/2016/09/recorded-music-business-grew-81-in-first-half-of-2016-driven-by-spotify-apple
- Author: Bruce Houghton
- Tags: Uncategorized, Apple Inc., Apple Music, Deezer, Freemium, Google Play, music industry, Pandora Radio, Spotify, Streaming media, Subscription business model, #wp, #wp-post, #Import 2026-01-21 10:22

[![Arrows up](http://hypebot.typepad.com/.a/6a00d83451b36c69e201bb09389872970d-150wi "Arrows up")](http://hypebot.typepad.com/.a/6a00d83451b36c69e201bb09389872970d-popup?ref=hypebot.com)After a decade of decline, the **U.S. recorded music business is growing** for the second year in a row, according to the RIAA. Driving the trend is **the revenue source that the music business loves to hate – streaming**, and in particular **Spotify and Apple.**

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Retail spending in U.S. recorded music business grew 8.1% to $3.4 billion in the first half of 2016, according to new [stats from the RIAA](http://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2016-09-20/spotify-apple-drive-u-s-music-industry-s-8-first-half-growth?ref=hypebot.com). That marks the second consecutive year of growth, after more than a decade of decline; and the first back to back growth years since 1998-1999.In the mid to late 1990's, recorded music sales revenue peaked at $7 billion yearly. [![RIAA 2016](http://hypebot.typepad.com/.a/6a00d83451b36c69e201b8d21ef97f970c-450wi "RIAA 2016")](http://hypebot.typepad.com/.a/6a00d83451b36c69e201b8d21ef97f970c-popup?ref=hypebot.com)Driving the new growth are Spotify, Apple Music, Pandora and their competitors. Streaming revenue in the U.S. was up 57% to $1.6 billion in the same 6 months, accounting for almost half of total industry sales revenues. Paid streaming subscriptions totaled $1.01 billion, according to the RIAA. Ad sales on free on-demand streamers grew 24 % to $195 million in the last 6 months.The numbers should rise again in the next 6 -12 months as Amazon and Pandora introduce new streaming services.

**MORE : [Streaming Music Service Paid Subscriber Counts Compared \[CHART\]](https://www.hypebot.com/streaming-music-service-paid-subscriber-counts-compared-chart/)**

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