MRC Data’s 2021 U.S. Midyear Report, presented in collaboration with Billboard, reveals overall consumption grew 13.5% during the first six months of 2021, due largely to impressive audio streaming growth and vinyl LP sales growth.

Nearly 16 months after the COVID-19 pandemic led to global shutdowns, consumers are finally starting to return to the activities they love, and music remains at the top of that list. Overall consumption grew 13.5% year-over-year (YOY) during the first six months of 2021, thanks to a 15% lift in on-demand audio streaming. This can, in part, be attributed to new releases from Olivia Rodrigo, Taylor Swift and the controversial Morgan Wallen. These encouraging growth rates come a year after overall consumption experienced an 8.6% decline during the first eight weeks of COVID-19 lockdowns, from mid-March to mid-May 2020, a sign that music is still playing an important role in consumers’ daily habits as the U.S. reopens. Lastly, for the first time at the midyear point in MRC Data’s history (since 1991), vinyl album sales outpaced CD album sales — with vinyl album volume at 19.2 million versus CD album volume at 18.9 million. Vinyl’s impressive 108.2% YOY increase allowed total industry physical albums to experience its first year of growth in years.

Globally, audio streaming’s growth continued to heat up in territories like Japan, Poland and Turkey, which posted the highest year-over-year volume growth during the first two quarters. This was reflected in hits by Nathan Evans, NCT Dream and more on the Billboard Global charts during the measured time period.

Download the full MRC Data U.S. Midyear Report below for all the biggest trends to date in music consumption.

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