Source link : https://las-vegas-news.com/the-top-10-music-genres-set-to-take-over-streaming-platforms-this-year/
If you’ve been scrolling through playlists lately, you might have noticed something odd. The old genre walls are crumbling. What used to be neatly labeled sections on streaming platforms now blur together in ways that would have confused your parents. Here’s the thing, though: streaming numbers don’t lie, and in 2026, the genres dominating playlists aren’t necessarily the ones major labels predicted.
Global music streams hit a staggering 5.1 trillion in 2025, up nearly 10% from the year before. All that listening is powered by more than 750 million paying subscribers worldwide, each contributing to an ecosystem where discovery happens algorithmically and momentum builds overnight. The genres rising fastest are those that tap into cross-border fanbases, platform mechanics, and the reality that less than half of U.S. streams come from music released in the last five years. So yes, nostalgia and rediscovery are just as powerful as breaking new artists.
Let’s be real: if you’re still thinking pop, rock, and hip-hop are the only players in town, you’re missing the revolution happening in your earbuds right now.
1. Christian and Gospel
In 2025, Christian and Gospel led all U.S. genre growth with an 18.5% year-over-year increase in streams. That’s not a typo. Faith-based music outpaced every other category, including the genres people assumed would own the year.
What’s fueling this surge? Playlist culture…
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Author : Matthias Binder
Publish date : 2026-01-15 14:56:00
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