Home / Arts and Entertainment / Latin, Country Music Climb as R&B/Hip-Hop Share Shrinks
Latin, Country Music Climb as R&B/Hip-Hop Share Shrinks
15 Jul
Summary
- Music streams increased globally and in the U.S. in the first half of 2026.
- R&B/hip-hop's share of U.S. streams has declined since 2023.
- Netflix dominates U.S. original film and TV streaming, but library content is more popular.
Midway through 2026, streaming data reveals significant shifts in music and entertainment consumption. Global on-demand audio streams have surpassed 2.8 trillion, with U.S. streams reaching 732.7 billion.
R&B/hip-hop, though still a major genre, now accounts for a smaller percentage of U.S. streams compared to previous years, with its share decreasing from 41% in 2023 to 30% in the first half of 2026. This leveling off is attributed to the growing popularity of genres like Latin and country music.
Latin music, in particular, has seen a surge, with nearly 1 in 10 U.S. streams being in Spanish. Country music also shows strong growth, with artists like Ella Langley appealing to younger audiences. AI-generated tracks are also emerging, with a few experiencing significant stream spikes.
In film and TV, Netflix remains the top platform for original content in the U.S., capturing 57% of viewing time. However, viewers across the U.S. are consuming more library content than original programming, with library TV streams reaching 42.2 billion hours.
