The music industry sees a 3.9% growth in consumption as shifting genre dynamics put rock back in the spotlight alongside hip-hop and R&B heavyweights
The music industry is in a state of evolution as 2025 hits its midpoint, with Morgan Wallen, SZA, and Kendrick Lamar leading the charge in album sales across the United States. According to Luminate’s latest mid-year report, total album consumption in the U.S. has grown by 3.9% compared to the same period in 2024, signaling a resilient and dynamic market. Total album sales have climbed to 558.9 million units, up from 537.9 million last year, showing that even amid shifting listening habits, fans remain deeply engaged with their favorite artists.
At the top of the chart sits Morgan Wallen’s I’m the Problem, moving an impressive 2.562 million album-equivalent units. Close behind is SZA’s SOS with 1.711 million and Kendrick Lamar’s GNX at 1.706 million. Rounding out the top five are Bad Bunny’s DeBÍ TiRAR MáS FOToS with 1.650 million units and Sabrina Carpenter’s Short n’ Sweet with 1.331 million.
The rest of the top ten reflects a diverse musical landscape. The Weeknd’s Hurry Up Tomorrow, Drake and PartyNextDoor’s collaborative Some Sexy Songs 4 U, and Wallen’s previous release One Thing at a Time remain strong contenders. Lady Gaga’s Mayhem and Playboi Carti’s Music close out the list, further illustrating the eclectic tastes of today’s listeners.
On the singles front, Lady Gaga and Bruno Mars reign supreme with their duet Die With a Smile, amassing a staggering 1.920 billion on-demand audio streams globally. Bruno Mars continues his dominance with Rosé on APT. (1.624 billion streams), while Billie Eilish’s Birds of a Feather follows with 1.316 billion. Kendrick Lamar and SZA’s collaboration Luther and Bad Bunny’s DtMF complete the top five, proving these artists’ lasting hold on worldwide audiences.
Streaming remains the undisputed king of music consumption, now accounting for 92% of all U.S. music use in the first half of 2025. Globally, on-demand audio streams have surged 10.3%, hitting 2.5 trillion streams compared to 2.3 trillion a year ago.
What’s perhaps most surprising in Luminate’s report is the resurgence of rock music. Long written off as a fading genre, rock posted its highest growth rate since the early 2010s, reaching 123.3 billion streams in the U.S. This renaissance is credited in part to the return of legacy rock bands and the success of soundtracks like Sinners, which brought a fresh wave of listeners to the genre. Pop remains strong with 83.3 billion streams, while country and Latin music continue to expand their global reach with 61.8 billion and 59.4 billion streams, respectively.
Even more niche genres have seen sparks of life. The blues scene has recorded a modest but notable increase in listenership, again tied to the success of Sinners and its curated artist roster. Meanwhile, Christian and gospel music have also shown steady, if smaller, growth.
Luminate’s data extends beyond albums and singles to spotlight the influence of music documentaries in 2025. Topping the charts is Becoming Led Zeppelin, capturing the imagination of fans both old and new. Other popular titles include Avicii — I’m Tim, Sly Lives! (aka The Burden of Black Genius), Return of the King: The Fall and Rise of Elvis Presley, and The Greatest Night in Pop. The continued success of these films underscores a hunger for music history and the personal stories behind legendary figures.
The global music narrative this year is one of innovation and nostalgia colliding. With hip-hop and R&B maintaining their dominance at 171.1 billion U.S. streams, and rock proving it still has room to grow, 2025 feels like a year of balance between old and new. The rise of streaming numbers and the diversity of genres thriving in this digital ecosystem only reinforce how multifaceted today’s musical tastes have become.
As audiences embrace everything from chart-topping pop to genre-bending soundtracks, one thing is clear: the music industry’s heartbeat is stronger than ever, and the second half of 2025 promises even more surprises.
