By CultureBanx Team

People who stream music on their smartphones is growing in developed markets and is expected to rise 37% by 2030

Music streaming will reach over 827 million subscribers globally by 2025 as catalog investments are turning cultural influence into financial muscle

Music has always been a vessel for cultural storytelling, yet today it’s also a powerful economic engine. Major labels and institutional investors are betting heavily on diverse-led streaming genres including hip-hop, Afrobeats and regional Mexican music are transforming cultural flavor into stock value and market momentum.

Why This Matters: Goldman Sachs projects streaming will remain the largest driver of music revenue, expected to reach over 827 million subscribers globally by 2025. Another big piece of Goldman’s report centers on emerging markets. Right now, these regions have just 8% streaming penetration, but they already account for 60% of new subscriber growth. 

As internet access expands and mobile-first cultures come online, expect countries in Africa, South Asia, and Latin America to perhaps drive the next billion-dollar wave. People who stream music on their smartphones is growing in developed markets and is expected to rise 37% by 2030.

Streaming High Valuations:

Streaming platforms have become the trade routes of culture turned profit. Regional Mexican music streams nearly doubled from 2019 to 2022, reaching 5.6 billion streams. In 2023, the genre grew 60% in the U.S., generating 21.9 billion on-demand audio streams, according to a Luminate report.

On Spotify (SPOT +0.88%) and YouTube, artists like Peso Pluma and Eslabón Armado broke streaming records. One song charted in the Billboard Hot 100 and topped 1 billion views.

These streaming milestones are major market indicators. Labels, backed by capital from firms like Vivendi, UMG, and Warner, are investing in catalog rights and new artist signings to secure recurring revenue streams.

Catalogs Equal Corporate Value:

Sir Lucian Grainge of Universal Music Group transformed the company via catalog acquisition strategies. Today, UMG stands as the most financially robust music group globally.

Universal Music Group and its family of labels which include Capitol Music Group, Island Records, and Def Jam just to name a few. They have a deep roster of heavy hitters like Rihanna, Kendrick Lamar, Drake and Migos. Revenues for the first half of 2025 came in at $6.7 billion, an increase of 6.4% year-over-year.

The Experience Economy:

Latino and Afro-beats artists are dominating touring and event metrics in 2025. Events featuring Peso Pluma, Burna Boy, and Tems often outperform mainstream acts, the Wall Street Journal reported, driving revenue upward.

Access matters for diverse communities to feel more represented on mainstream platforms and prime-time festivals. This ripple effect creates neighborhood-level spillover through local promoters, apparel brands, and online communities. This cultural capital returns dividends to community economics.

To ensure artists gain from this wave of investment, there are some steps that should be taken into consideration. First, increasing diverse ownership stake in catalog rights and label equity. Next, leaning into community-led streaming platforms and cooperative publishing models can be beneficial. Then, it’s important to make financial products available that support independent studios, labels, and festivals.

What’s Next: Hip-hop, Afrobeats and regional Mexican music is shaping global playlists, chart positions, and investment flows. However, for this cultural resurgence to translate into lasting community wealth, power must flow back to creators and custodian communities. Otherwise, institutions stand to profit from what our culture revolutionizes, and profits, without inclusion.

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