Music Streaming Reaches Record High as Latin and Country Genres Gain Momentum in the U.S.

Music streaming in the United States and around the world has reached record levels in the first half of 2026, with Latin and country music continuing to gain popularity as listeners embrace a wider range of genres.

According to the Associated Press, citing data from entertainment analytics firm Luminate, global on demand audio streaming surpassed 2.8 trillion streams during the first half of the year, while U.S. listeners generated more than 732 billion streams, both setting new records.

Although R&B and hip hop remain the most streamed genres in the United States, their long standing dominance is gradually giving way to greater musical diversity. Latin music now accounts for 9.4% of all U.S. streams, driven by artists such as Bad Bunny, while country music continues to attract younger audiences through performers including Ella Langley.

The report also highlighted the growing presence of artificial intelligence generated music on streaming platforms, with several AI created tracks attracting millions of plays. However, analysts said AI music remains a relatively small part of the broader streaming market.

Luminate said the figures reflect changing listening habits, with audiences increasingly exploring music across languages and genres as streaming platforms continue to expand their global reach.