Latin Music Is the Fastest-Growing Genre on Streaming in the U.S.
2024-07-16
Latin Music's Streaming Dominance: A Surge in Popularity and Global Influence
The music industry has witnessed a remarkable shift in recent years, with Latin music emerging as a dominant force in the global streaming landscape. The latest Luminate Midyear Report for 2024 sheds light on the genre's remarkable growth and its impact on the United States market, showcasing the remarkable rise of Latin music as a cultural and commercial powerhouse.
Captivating the Streaming Audience: Latin Music's Meteoric Rise
Outpacing the Competition: Latin Music's Streaming Dominance
The Luminate report reveals that Latin music has become the fastest-growing streaming genre in the United States, with a remarkable 15% increase in 2024 compared to the previous year. This growth rate outpaces the expansion seen in other popular genres, such as rock and pop, underscoring the genre's growing appeal and influence.One of the key factors driving this surge in popularity is the rise of música mexicana, a subgenre of Latin music that has captured the attention of listeners across the country. According to Luminate executive Jaime Marconette, música mexicana has become the largest Latin music subgenre so far this year, with more than 13 billion U.S. on-demand audio streams.
Embracing the New and the Familiar: Latin Music Fans' Streaming Preferences
The report also reveals that Latin music fans are more inclined to stream music released within the last 18 months, rather than delving into deeper catalogs that are more than five years old. In fact, an impressive 35% of all Latin streams in the U.S. are for albums that have been released in the past year and a half, indicating a strong preference for the latest offerings from Latin artists.This trend suggests that Latin music fans are eager to discover and engage with the newest releases, showcasing their enthusiasm for the genre's evolving landscape and their desire to stay connected with the latest trends and sounds.
Dominating the Streaming Charts: Latin Music's Global Influence
The global impact of Latin music is also evident in the streaming charts. The song "Gata Only" by FloyyMenor and Cris Mj ranked at number five among the most-streamed tracks globally, with an impressive 0.982 billion streams across various platforms. This achievement is particularly noteworthy as the track outperformed releases from mainstream pop artists, such as Sabrina Carpenter's "Espresso" and Ariana Grande's "We Can't Be Friends," solidifying Latin music's growing presence on the global stage.Furthermore, the Luminate data reveals that seven of the 200 most-streamed artists of the year in the United States were Latin music acts, including renowned names like Bad Bunny, Rauw Alejandro, Carín León, Peso Pluma, Fureza Régida, Karol G, and Aventura. This impressive representation underscores the widespread appeal and commercial success of Latin music within the American market.
Expanding Beyond Music: Latin Fans' Diverse Engagement
The report also highlights the multifaceted engagement of Latin music fans, who are 38% more likely to consider products outside of music, such as videos and games, from their favorite artists. This trend suggests that Latin music fans are not only passionate about the music itself but are also eager to explore and engage with the broader creative offerings of their preferred artists.Additionally, Latin music fans who have paid music subscriptions are 32% more likely to purchase physical CDs of their favorite acts, indicating a strong attachment to the tangible aspects of music consumption. This finding challenges the notion that streaming has entirely replaced traditional music formats, as Latin music fans demonstrate a willingness to invest in both digital and physical media.
Rapid Adoption and Loyalty: Latin Music Fans' Streaming Habits
The Luminate data also reveals that Latin music listeners are the second-most likely fans to stream music from their favorite artists in the genre within the first week of its release, trailing only behind K-pop fans. This rapid adoption and loyalty to new releases underscore the strong connection that Latin music fans have with their preferred artists and their eagerness to engage with the latest offerings.This trend highlights the importance of timely and strategic music releases for Latin artists, as they can capitalize on the heightened interest and engagement of their dedicated fan base. By catering to the preferences of Latin music fans, artists and industry professionals can effectively leverage the genre's growing influence and popularity in the streaming landscape.