Global Music Streaming Surpasses 4.8 Trillion Streams in 2024, Led by Female Pop Artists in the U.S.
In 2024, the music industry reached an unprecedented milestone—4.8 trillion streams, according to the Luminate Year-End Report. This represents a 14% growth over 2023, which held the previous record. With this surge in streaming, it’s clear that people are listening to more music than ever before. And, if you’ve been streaming more music in 2024, particularly female pop artists, you’re not alone.
Streaming Growth in the U.S.
In the U.S., on-demand audio streaming grew by 6.4%, reaching a total of 1.4 trillion streams. Contemporary music is driving this growth, with a large percentage of streams coming from songs released after 2010. In fact, tracks released from 2020 to 2024 account for almost half of the total streams.
Taylor Swift, the world’s most streamed artist in 2024, plays a huge part in this trend, but she’s not the only one. The U.S. market has witnessed a massive rise in music consumption, and pop music, especially by female artists, has become a major driver.
A Surge in Latin and Pop Music
While Latin music has become the fastest-growing genre in the U.S., its popularity still trails pop, which currently reigns supreme in streaming growth. Latin music saw an impressive 15.1% growth compared to summer 2023, but pop music surged ahead to claim the top spot in the second half of 2024. Notably, female solo pop artists played a significant role in this increase. According to Jaime Marconette, Vice President of Industry Relations at Luminate, pop now dominates, with female pop stars making up nearly two-thirds of the streams among the top 100 pop artists in the U.S.
Top Female Pop Stars Lead the Charge
The biggest names leading the pop scene include:
- Taylor Swift – 12.8 billion streams
- Billie Eilish – 4.46 billion streams
- Sabrina Carpenter – 3.71 billion streams
- Ariana Grande – 3.12 billion streams
- Olivia Rodrigo – 2.76 billion streams
- Chappell Roan – 2.49 billion streams
These artists are not only reshaping the streaming landscape but are also setting the stage for the next wave of musical innovation and chart-topping hits.
Global Streaming Hits of 2024
This shift in the pop landscape is also reflected in the top 10 global streaming songs:
- Benson Boone – “Beautiful Things”
- Sabrina Carpenter – “Espresso”
- Billie Eilish – “Birds of a Father”
- Teddy Swims – “Lose Control”
- Lady Gaga & Bruno Mars – “Die with a Smile”
- FloyyMenor – “Gata Only”
- Shaboozey – “A Bar Song (Tipsy)”
- Hozier – “Too Sweet”
- Taylor Swift – “Cruel Summer”
- Sabrina Carpenter – “Please Please Please”
The Rise of Regional Mexican Music
While pop music continues to dominate streaming, Latin music isn’t slowing down. Mexican regional music has emerged as a global phenomenon, surpassing Latin pop in the U.S. The genre, which includes mariachi, banda, norteño, and corridos, among others, reached a record 28.57 billion streams in 2024. Latin pop followed closely with 24.09 billion streams, marking a significant growth for regional Mexican music as it attracts listeners from beyond its borders.
Hip-Hop and R&B Lead Total Streaming in the U.S.
While pop is leading in streaming growth, when it comes to total streams in the U.S., hip-hop and R&B still hold the lion’s share. In 2024, rap and R&B combined for an impressive 341.63 billion streams, followed by rock at 234.22 billion, pop with 165.49 billion, country at 117.58 billion, and Latin music with 113.02 billion.
It’s clear that the future of music streaming is diverse and ever-evolving, with genres like Latin music, pop, and regional Mexican music shaping the global soundscape. As artists like Taylor Swift continue to lead the way, we can expect even more groundbreaking milestones in the years to come.
