EU recorded music revenues hit €6 billion as Czech market outpaces growth
Recorded music revenues in the European Union reached €6 billion in 2025, up 5.1% year on year, according to IFPI’s Music in the EU 2026 report. The EU accounted for 21.3% of global revenues, with nine member states among the world’s 20 largest recorded music markets.
Streaming remained the main driver, generating roughly two-thirds of EU recorded music revenues. There is still room for expansion: users of paid streaming subscriptions represented 27% of the EU population, compared with 54% in the US and 47% in the UK.
The Czech market grew by 8.4%, comfortably above the EU average. Romania recorded the fastest growth at 16.1%, followed by Slovakia and the Baltic markets at 15.9%.
Local artists also maintained a strong presence. On average across the EU, domestic performers accounted for 53.5% of tracks in national year-end top 10 charts, highlighting the continued appeal of local music.
Alongside the figures, IFPI called for stronger enforcement of existing rules, greater transparency around artificial intelligence and coordinated action against streaming fraud. The organisation argues that protecting creators’ rights and developing licensed AI services will be central to sustaining the sector’s growth.
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