Orbit Orbit by Caparezza was the best-selling physical album in Italy last year
Italy’s recorded music market generated $579 million in trade revenues in 2025, up +10.7% YoY, largely driven by a double-digit jump in paid streaming revenue.
That’s according to new data from the Federation of the Italian Music Industry (FIMI) onWednesday (March 18).
Revenues generated by paid subscription streaming in the market were the sharpest contributor, climbing +14.1% YoYto EUR €234.4 million ($269 million) and representing 69% of Italy’s total streaming revenues.
Total streaming revenues in the country exceeded €340 million ($390m), growing +9.6%YoY.
While premium streaming continued to gain momentum, ad-supported streaming declined -2.2% YoY to EUR €51.3 million ($59m).
FIMI noted that Italy’s headline recorded music market growth rate of+10.7% YoY for 2025 was “double the European regional average” of+5.6% YoYreported this week by the IFPI and “well above the global average” of 6.4% YoY, also reported by IFPI this week.
The trade body noted that the stats confirm Italy’s status as the third-largest market in the European Union and the eleventh-largest internationally,
FIMI CEO Enzo Mazza said: “This success once again confirms the investments in research and development made by major and independent Italian labels, as well as their ability to make the most of different commercial channels to promote and distribute music content – from streaming to the return of the CD and the continued strength of vinyl – while new releases and catalogue titles meet the enthusiasm of superfans who fuel a positive cycle for the entire sector.”
“This success once again confirms the investments in research and development made by major and independent Italian labels.”
Enzo Mazza, FIMI
He added: “However, the future also presents new uncertainties and the sector still has room for growth: despite more than nine million Italians listening to music through streaming subscriptions, the market is still far from reaching full maturity. Gen AI, moreover, represents both a new opportunity and a challenge that requires adequate business models and legislative protections, paving the way for a 2026 of major transformations.
Revenues generated by physical music in Italy, meanwhile, jumped +21.9% YoY to €74.7 million ($86m).
Vinyl revenues grew 24.2% YoY, while revenues generated by CD sales grew 15.1%.
FIMI said this is “a sign of a market driven by demand increasingly tied to the superfan phenomenon and the collectible nature of music.”
The data also showed that performance rights revenue grew +9.8% YoY to €82.1 million ($94m), “confirming their position as the sector’s Italian second-largest source of revenue.” Synchronization declined -5.7% YoY to €12.2 million ($14m), tied to a slowdown in Italian film production.
Streaming’s reach is also extending Italy’s music internationally. Export royalties rose +13.9% YoY to over €32 million ($37m), with digital making up 88% of that total. Over six years, those royalties have grown +180%.
Italy’s 2025 streaming and physical volume in numbers
Italians generated 99 billion streams in 2025, an average of 1.9 billion per week — up +5% YoY. Premium accounts generated 54% of that volume.
New releases accounted for 16% of the streaming market. 82% of all streams came from songs released since 2010, with music from the past five years alone driving 57.3% of total streaming volume.
In physical, 4.6 million units were sold. CDs accounted for 51% of that total volume, and vinyl accounted for 47%.
Albums released between 2020 and 2025 accounted for 71% of physical units sold. The trend was even more pronounced in the broader physical market: 92% of units sold were albums released since 2010.
“Physical purchases – whether frontline or catalogue – tend to increase when a meaningful experience is created for the buyer, whether in a physical space or associated with an unmissable moment.”
AndreaRosi, President & CEO, Sony Music Italy, said in the report: “Physical purchases – whether frontline or catalogue – tend to increase when a meaningful experience is created for the buyer, whether in a physical space or associated with an unmissable moment.”
“For Warner Music Group, export is not only a commercial strategy but also a cultural process.”
PicoCibelli, Warner Music Italia
PicoCibelli, President and CEO, Warner Music Italia, said: “For Warner Music Group, export is not only a commercial strategy but also a cultural process. It means bringing the identity and distinctive characteristics of different territories to the global stage, enhancing local roots in order to build new growth trajectories for artists and repertoires in the international arena.”
