African Recorded-Music Growth Continues, but Market Concentration Remains a Concern

IFPI’s 2026 Global Music Report found that recorded-music revenue in Sub-Saharan Africa increased by 15.2 per cent during 2025 and reached US$120 million. South Africa accounted for 78.1 per cent of the region’s recorded-music revenue, showing both the growth potential of African music and the uneven development of formal markets across the continent.

Globally, recorded-music revenue rose by 6.4 per cent in 2025. Streaming generated more than US$22 billion and represented 69.6 per cent of recorded-music revenue, while paid subscription streaming accounted for 52.4 per cent of the global total.

African music is culturally larger than the revenue currently captured by formal market reporting. Continued growth must be accompanied by improved rights registration, stronger local companies, transparent royalty accounting, reliable music data and investment beyond South Africa and a small number of internationally visible territories.