Further growth: over 236 billion music streams in 2024

German online users are still fans of music streaming. In cooperation with the German Music Industry Association (BVMI), the market research institute GfK Entertainment measured over 236 billion song streams in 2024. This is eleven percent more than in 2023, when the observers counted 213 billion streams. In 2022, there were around 178 billion streams. Overall, the number of relevant downloads has more than doubled within six years. In 2019, for example, the researchers registered 108 billion streams, compared to just 11.6 billion in 2014. The growth rates in the first years of measurement since 2013 were initially 97% and 83%. From 2018 to 2019, it was still 36%. Worst mark: from 2021 to 2022, the increase was only 7%.

The figures include both ad-financed and paid premium streams lasting 31 seconds or longer. According to the statistics published on Thursday, current titles were once again particularly popular with music fans last year. Productions from the 2020s increased their streaming share from 52 to 56 percent within a year. German-language acts such as Ayliva, Pashanim, Luciano, Nina Chuba and Apache 207 were particularly well received. They make up eight of the ten most-streamed artists from this decade. International stars such as Taylor Swift and Billie Eilish are also in high demand.

By releasing new music, bands and artists such as Linkin Park and Swift also increased interest in their older tracks. In addition, classics such as Peter Schilling's DFB goal anthem "Major Tom (Völlig losgelöst)" or "Don't Stop Believin'" by the old rockers from Journey experienced a second spring. Music from the 2010s (Lana Del Rey, Rihanna & Co.) accounts for 26 percent of all streams. The 2000s remain unchanged at eight percent with artists such as Eminem, Rammstein, 50 Cent, Coldplay and Lady Gaga. The decades before that, with representatives such as Michael Jackson, Mariah Carey, Nena, Abba and Queen, together account for ten percent.

The most views were again recorded on Christmas Eve

One of the streaming genres with the highest growth rates is German-language pop. It grew by 15 percent compared to the previous year. There was even stronger growth in country (up 58%) and folk (up 26%) – driven by acts such as Beyoncé, Dasha, Shaboozey and Hozier. The children's radio plays and children's music segment also grew significantly, improving by 19 percent. "The attractiveness of music streaming in Germany continues to grow significantly," said BVMI CEO Florian Drücke, pleased with the analysis. In this area, there is only "one direction: ever upwards", added GfK Entertainment boss Mathias Giloth. He revealed: "The playlists were particularly hot on Christmas Eve: thanks to 927 million views, it was the most streamed day of all time, with almost 100 million more streams than in the previous year."

There are also new figures from the world's largest music market in the USA and beyond. According to the 2024 annual report by the local market researcher Luminate, growth in audio streams there was fairly modest at 6.4 percent in 2024. Countries in Eastern Europe, Asia and Latin America recorded significantly stronger growth. As far as the US market is concerned, pop overtook Latin in terms of genres in the second half of the year. Artists such as Swift, Eilish and Sabrina Carpenter contributed to this rise.

(syt)