As the first quarter of 2025 wraps up, new data from Billboard reveals a compelling snapshot of the global music industry ’s top-performing labels — and the numbers tell a deeper story.
In the first quarter of 2025, Interscope Records led the U.S. recorded music market with a 9.23% share, propelled by the success of artists like Kendrick Lamar and Olivia Rodrigo. Republic Records followed closely with an 8.99% share, driven by releases from Taylor Swift and Drake.
Columbia Records secured third place at 7.58%, thanks to contributions from Adele and Harry Styles. These figures highlight the competitive landscape of the music industry, where strategic artist signings and successful releases significantly impact market positions.
These stats reveal more than dominance — they point to a truth long echoed across industry corridors: catalogs, culture, and global crossovers remain king.
So What Does This Mean for the African Music Ecosystem?
As African artists continue their meteoric rise on global charts and stages, these Q1 numbers spotlight the importance of structure, artist development, and strategic rollout — areas many homegrown labels across Africa are rapidly evolving toward.
Emerging African giants like Mavin, Chocolate City, Platoon Africa, and Africori are slowly positioning themselves as cultural bridges, with partnerships and signings that blend authenticity with commercial ambition.
Why it matters: Major U.S. labels are not just thriving off viral hits; they are doubling down on storytelling, consistency, and talent pipelines. Africa’s music scene has the raw talent and growing infrastructure — but can it build scalable systems that rival those of Interscope and Republic?
Spotlight: Kendrick Lamar’s Role in Interscope’s Q1 Domination
Kendrick’s return in Q1 helped solidify Interscope’s standing. His sharp lyrical storytelling, paired with cinematic visuals and multi-platform impact, exemplifies what happens when artistry meets strategic execution.
What if more African artists were backed by this type of global resource? Imagine the global positioning of names like Omah Lay, Ayra Starr, Zuchu, or Blxckie under that kind of industry architecture.
Streaming dominance
- Streaming revenue surpassed $20 billion for the first time, making up 69.0% of total recorded music revenues.
- Paid subscription streaming grew 9.5%, with 752 million users worldwide (+10.6% year-over-year).
- Ad-supported streaming revenues remained stable but grew at a slower rate than paid subscriptions.
Physical sales and vinyl resurgence
- Physical format revenues dropped by 3.1%, following a strong 2023.
- Vinyl sales grew by 4.6%, marking the 18th consecutive year of growth for the format.
- CD sales declined, especially in North America and Europe.
Other revenue streams
- Performance rights revenues (income from public performances of recorded music) grew 5.3%, recovering from the pandemic slump.
- Sync licensing (music in films, ads, video games, etc.) increased by 7.4%, with more brands and content creators using licensed music.
Music Custodian’s Takeaway
As African creatives aim to dominate more charts globally, these Q1 numbers should be both an inspiration and a challenge. It’s not just about making noise—it’s about making moves that last.
The next phase for African music is infrastructure, catalog curation, intellectual property literacy, and yes—thinking like a label.
Let’s build the next Interscope—but African, independent, and ours.
