The U.S. music industry made more money from online streaming than CD sales last year

Streaming services made more money than CD sales in 2014
(Image credit: Rachel Murray/Getty Images)

The U.S. recording industry has earned about $7 billion a year over the last several years, down from a peak of $14.6 billion in 1999 (thanks in good part to Britney and the Backstreet Boys) — but how it has made that money has shifted quite a bit. In 2014, the Recording Industry Association of American (RIAA) indicated in a report issued Wednesday, streaming music services made more money for the industry than physical CD sales, a first.

Subscribe to The Week

Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.

SUBSCRIBE & SAVE
https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/flexiimages/jacafc5zvs1692883516.jpg

Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters

From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.

From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.

Sign up
To continue reading this article...
Continue reading this article and get limited website access each month.
Get unlimited website access, exclusive newsletters plus much more.
Cancel or pause at any time.
Already a subscriber to The Week?
Not sure which email you used for your subscription? Contact us
Peter Weber, The Week US

Peter has worked as a news and culture writer and editor at The Week since the site's launch in 2008. He covers politics, world affairs, religion and cultural currents. His journalism career began as a copy editor at a financial newswire and has included editorial positions at The New York Times Magazine, Facts on File, and Oregon State University.