Latin music generated over $1 billion in wholesale recorded revenues in the United States in 2025.
That’s according to the RIAA‘s new year-end US Latin revenue report, published on Thursday (April 9).
(This is the first full-year Latin report issued on the RIAA’s wholesale methodology, following its shift to the new reporting standard last year. The change aligns the RIAA’s reporting with international standards like IFPI‘s Global Music Report. The 2024 full-year Latin figures have been restated on a wholesale basis for comparison; previously, the RIAA reported that Latin music generated $1.42 billion on a retail basis in 2024.)
Total Latin music revenue reached $1.009 billion in the US in 2025, up 4.2% YoY from a restated $969.1 million in 2024.
That 4.2% growth rate outpaced the wider US recorded music market, which grew 3.1% YoY to $11.535 billion in 2025.
Latin music has now outpaced overall US market revenue growth for the tenth straight year.
Latin music accounted for a record 8.8% of total US recorded music revenue in 2025.
As MBW reported last month, the US recorded music industry as a whole generated $11.535 billion in wholesale revenue in 2025, with paid subscriptions driving the bulk of growth.
One of the headline stats within the wider US report was that there were 106.5 million total paid premium music subscription accounts in the US in 2025, up 6.5 million YoY. That +6.5 million YoY net increase represented the first reversal in a multi-year pattern of decelerating subscription account growth in the United States — though the figure remains well below the levels seen earlier in the decade.
Across the US market, premium paid subscription revenues grew +6.8% YoY to $5.88 billion, representing 55.3% of total US recorded music revenue.
Total US streaming revenue reached $9.474 billion, up 3.1% YoY, and accounted for 82% of all US recorded music revenues.
Latin music’s streaming dependency is significantly higher than the overall market.
Streaming delivered 98.2% of the genre’s total revenue in 2025, compared to that 82% figure across the US as a whole.
Total Latin streaming revenue reached $991.9 million, up 4.6% YoY.
The genre’s primary revenue engine was paid subscriptions, which generated $557.5 million last year, up 9.8% YoY. Paid subscriptions now represent 55.2% of all Latin music revenue in ths US.
That 9.8% YoY paid subscription growth rate outpaced the 6.8% seen across the broader US recorded music market in 2025.
This subscription growth was partially offset by a decline in ad-supported streaming revenues: ‘Free streaming’ revenue — from ad-supported services including YouTube, Spotify‘s free tier, and social media platforms — fell 2.4% YoY to $357.2 million.
Meanwhile, ‘Other streaming’ revenue — covering digital and customized radio services under statutory licenses — rose 3.1% YoY to $77.1 million.
Physical formats accounted for just 0.8% of Latin music revenue in 2025, generating $7.8 million — down 28.1% YoY.
Within Latin physical:
- Vinyl revenue fell 18.7% YoY to $7.4 million.
- Revenues generated by other physical formats (including CDs) fell 74.6% YoY to just $0.5 million.
Latin music’s physical revenue share of 0.8% remains far below the 12% share seen in the broader US market, where vinyl continued to grow in 2025.
Elsewhere, download revenue grew 12.7% YoY to $6.3 million.
Synchronization licensing revenue dipped 11.3% YoY to $3.5 million.
The report follows the publication last month of IFPI’s Global Music Report, which found that Latin America was the fastest-growing recorded music region in the world in 2024, with revenues up 22.5% YoY.
IFPI also reported that Mexico overtook Australia to become the world’s tenth-largest recorded music market.
“Today’s report underscores Latin music’s strength. With rising global reach and fresh pathways connecting artists and fans, this sector just keeps delivering as labels work to grow the market with innovative new partnerships and opportunities.”
Rafael Fernandez Jr., RIAA
Rafael Fernandez Jr., RIAA Senior Vice President of State Public Policy & Latin Music, said: “Today’s report underscores Latin music’s strength. With rising global reach and fresh pathways connecting artists and fans, this sector just keeps delivering as labels work to grow the market with innovative new partnerships and opportunities.
“It’s great to see new generations discover and build on the sounds I grew up on in Miami, taking music to new places and breaking down walls between formats, services, genres and styles so more fans than ever can experience the lure of Latin music.”
“Latin music has been on the upswing for a decade, as artists keep breaking new ground and fostering a deeper connection with their fans. Streaming remains the top driver, bringing in 98.2% of total revenue.”
Matt Bass, RIAA
Matt Bass, RIAA Vice President of Research and Gold & Platinum Operations, added: “Latin music has been on the upswing for a decade, as artists keep breaking new ground and fostering a deeper connection with their fans. Streaming remains the top driver, bringing in 98.2% of total revenue with its huge menu of traditional icons and new stars for anywhere, anytime listening.
“As technology advances, labels keep finding even more ways to listen, create, interact — pushing the boundaries of possibility and growth for Latin music.”Music Business Worldwide
