2025 First Half Global Music Streaming 'Explosive Growth'... Korean Content as the New Main Character

The global music streaming market in the first half of 2025 is recording the highest growth rate ever, creating a new wave of change.

According to global streaming data released on July 21, the number of music streams worldwide in the first half of 2025 surpassed 4.3 trillion, marking a 28% increase compared to the same period last year. This is the highest growth rate since the COVID-19 pandemic, indicating a complete digital transformation in music consumption patterns.

Notably, the rise of K-pop is remarkable. Korean music accounts for 15% of total global streaming, ranking 3rd after the United States (35%) and the United Kingdom (18%). This is a significant increase from 8% in 2024, achieving nearly double growth in just one year.

By genre, K-pop ranked first, followed by Latin Pop (22%), Electronic (20%), Hip Hop (18%), and Classic Pop (17%). Particularly, girl groups have made a significant impact within K-pop, accounting for 45% of total K-pop streams.

Regional analysis shows that the Asia-Pacific region accounts for 42% of total streaming, ranking first. North America (28%), Europe (22%), and Latin America (8%) follow. South Korea ranks 3rd among single countries, with 14%, following China (18%) and the United States (16%).

The advancement of AI recommendation algorithms is also gaining attention. Major platforms like Spotify, Apple Music, and YouTube Music have improved users' music discovery rates by 35% through personalized recommendation features, expanding opportunities for new artists to enter the global market.

An industry insider stated, 'This growth trend is expected to continue in the second half of 2025,' and predicted, 'The global influence of Asian music, particularly centered around K-pop, will further expand.'