From Vinyl to Streaming: 50 Years of Music Revenue
Explore Five Decades of Music Revenue, From Vinyl And CDs To Streaming, And How Formats Reshaped The Industry
About the Story
The way we listen to music has transformed dramatically over the past five decades, and so has the industry’s revenue model. This data story traces the evolution of music formats—from vinyl and cassettes to CDs, digital downloads, and streaming—revealing how each shift reshaped the industry. By visualizing the rise and fall of different formats, it highlights the turning points that defined the music business and the dominance of streaming in the digital age.
Transcript:
1. CDs Account for Half of All Music Revenue
2. CD Revenue Triples Streaming Earnings
3. Vinyl Takes Second Place in Adjusted Revenue
4. A Half-Century of Music Revenue
5. Music Revenue Peaked in the Early 2000s
6. Formats Shift Dramatically Over Time
7. Peak Revenues Achieved During CD’s Dominance
8. Vinyl, CDs, Cassettes, Streaming: The Leaders
9. Shifting Trends in Music Formats Over 50 Years
Data source: Recording Industry Association of Amerca®
Why Vizzu?
Capturing long-term industry trends in a single chart can be overwhelming. Vizzu makes it easy to follow the shifts in music revenue by smoothly transitioning between formats and time periods. This dynamic approach helps uncover patterns, making the evolution of the industry more intuitive and visually compelling.
