Adam Berry / Getty Images
According to the Recording Industry Association of America, revenue from music streaming in the U.S. cracked the $1 billion mark in the first half of 2015. This marks a 23% increase relative to the first half of 2014, and the second time streaming revenue has exceeded $1 billion in a 6 month period. In comparison, revenue from physical sales only reached $748 million.
The number of streaming service subscribers and the total value of paid streaming subscriptions also increased relative to 2014 levels.
Though revenue from downloads and physical sales both declined from 2014 to 2015, vinyl sales continued to soar: the RIAA reported that record purchases are up 52%. Vinyl now accounts for almost a third of all physical units sold and $222 million dollars in sales. This currently exceeds the $163 million derived from ad-supported on-demand streaming (Youtube, VEVO, ad-supported Spotify).