While R&B/Hip-Hop remains the most-streamed genre overall, electronic music is currently growing faster than any other genre in the US. The report suggests this isn’t simply another nostalgia wave.
One of the biggest takeaways from Luminate’s report is that Dance/Electronic stands apart from many other genres because listeners are actively consuming new releases. According to Luminate, the majority of US on-demand audio streams for Dance/Electronic now come from tracks released within the past 18 months.
Halfway through 2026, a few key trends are emerging in the music industry, made clear by Luminate’s Midyear Industry Report released this month. Check out our recaps of two cornerstone reports from 2025, Luminate and IFPI’s Global Music Report, to get a confident grasp of topline industry stats and trends.
Global on-demand audio streams hit 2.8 trillion in the first half of 2026, up 9.8% from the 2.5 trillion streams in the same period last year. What this means: Release your music to find your audience. Record-breaking streaming volume means more opportunities to build your fanbase.
Independently distributed tracks have grown across the mid- and lower-volume streaming tiers, demonstrating how independent sectors are carving out a sustainable ecosystem outside the mainstream. What this means: You don’t need a viral hit to lead a successful independent career.
Focus on finding your niche audience, honing your brand as an artist, and leveraging the increasing array of marketing tools and services available to independent artists. R&B/hip-hop slightly declined this year, losing a 1.6 share of points year-over-year. But make no mistake, the genre still dominates U.S.
Streams, accounting for about one in every four streams. Meanwhile, the dance/electronic genre saw the most growth (+18.9% year-over-year on-demand audio change). What this means: You can take shifts in genre listen
In 2023, ‘Baza,’ a single track from the Angolan Kuduro scene, captured more streams in Luanda than the top five global pop hits combined. This local phenomenon suggests a profound shift in how music resonates with audiences, pulling attention away from universally marketed tracks.
While global music consumption soars to record highs, the shared cultural experience of mainstream hits is fragmenting into hyper-niche, localized sounds. This creates a tension between increasing overall listenership and a diminishing common cultural ground.