In the early 2000s, Apple revolutionized music with the iPod and iTunes, allowing people to carry thousands of songs and buy individual tracks.

But as streaming took over, Apple’s resistance to the model let Spotify grow. In 2014, Apple bought Beats Electronics for $3 billion, launched Apple Music in 2015, and quickly gained traction with artist support and top radio hosts.

Today, Apple Music is a major player, rivaling Spotify and becoming a key part of Apple's business. This article takes a look at its performance in 2025, covering subscriber numbers, revenue, and its place in the market with Apple Music statistics.

Apple Music Statistics :Key Facts for 2025

  • Total Subscribers: Apple Music has more than 93 million paying subscribers worldwide.
  • Annual Revenue: The service generates an estimated $9.2 billion in annual revenue.
  • Artist Payout: Apple Music pays artists around $0.01 per stream, one of the highest rates in the industry.
  • US Market Share: It is the second most popular service in the United States, capturing 30.7% of the subscriber market.
  • Music Library: Users can access over 100 million songs and 30,000 curated playlists.
  • Global Reach: Apple Music is available in 167 countries around the world.
  • User Demographics: A majority of its users (56%) are female, and the largest age group is 25-44 years old.

Apple Music Subscribers

The success of any streaming service depends on its subscriber base. Since its launch, Apple Music has shown consistent and impressive growth, building a loyal global audience.

As of 2025, Apple Music has over 93 million paying subscribers. This is a significant milestone, showing an increase of 5.68% from the 88 million subscribers it had the previous year.

Apple Music Subscribers

The table below tracks Apple Music's journey from its early days to its current status as a streaming powerhouse.

DateApple Music Subscribers
June 201727 million
May 201850 million
June 201960 million
June 202072 million
June 202178 million
June 202288 million
June 202393 million

Unlike some competitors, Apple Music does not offer a long-term free, ad-supported tier. The vast majority of these users are on a paid plan.

This steady climb in subscribers, even without a “freemium” model, highlights the value users see in its premium features, such as high-quality audio and a seamless experience across Apple devices.

Apple Music's Revenue Power: Key Figures

A large subscriber base directly translates into strong revenue. Apple Music has become a financial heavyweight, contributing significantly to Apple's overall business.

Growing Annual Revenue

Apple Music Statistics

Apple Music generated an estimated $9.2 billion in revenue in 2023. This represents a healthy 10.84% increase from the $8.3 billion it earned the previous year.

This consistent growth shows the platform's ability to not only attract new users but also retain existing ones.

Fiscal YearEstimated Revenue
2017$2.3 billion
2018$3.5 billion
2019$4.4 billion
2020$6.3 billion
2021$7.0 billion
2022$8.3 billion
2023$9.2 billion

How Apple Music Fuels Apple's Services Growth?

To understand the full picture, it's important to see where Apple Music fits within its parent company. Apple does not report the platform's revenue separately.

Instead, it includes it in its “Services” division, which also covers the App Store, iCloud, Apple Pay, and other digital offerings.

Apple's Services division is the company's fastest-growing segment, and Apple Music is a key part of that success. It contributes an estimated 6.4% to the Services division's total revenue, which reached over $85 billion in 2023.

This makes Apple Music a strategically important asset for Apple, driving recurring revenue and strengthening the company's ecosystem.

Apple Music's Listeners: Who Are They?

Understanding the audience is crucial for artists, marketers, and the platform itself. Data reveals a clear picture of the typical Apple Music user.

A Stronger Connection with Female Listeners

Apple Music appeals more to female users. The gender breakdown is as follows:

  • Female Users: 56%
  • Male Users: 44%

This slight but significant lean towards a female audience can influence everything from playlist curation to artist promotions on the platform.

The Core Age Group: Millennials and Gen X

The majority of Apple Music's listeners are adults in their prime working years.

  • 45% of all users are aged 25 to 44.

Here is a more detailed breakdown of Apple Music's users in the United States by age:

Share of Us Users
Age GroupShare of US Users
18 to 24 years17%
25 to 34 years23%
35 to 44 years22%
45 to 54 years15%
55+ years23%

Interestingly, the service is very popular with both the 25-34 age group and the 55+ age group. This broad appeal across generations is a key strength, allowing Apple to cater to a wide range of musical tastes.

The Market Dominance Story: Apple Music vs. The Competition

The music streaming market is fiercely competitive, but Apple Music has carved out a powerful position.

Apple Music in the US: A Top Streaming Choice

In the highly valuable U.S. market, Apple Music is the second most popular service, with a 30.7% subscriber market share.

It sits comfortably ahead of Amazon Music and YouTube Music. This strong foothold in its home market is a significant advantage.

Here is how the U.S. subscriber market share breaks down:

Music Streaming PlatformUS Subscriber Market Share
Spotify36.0%
Apple Music30.7%
Amazon Music23.8%
YouTube Music6.8%
Pandora Premium1.9%
Other<1%

While Spotify holds the top spot, Apple Music's share is substantial, making it a two-horse race in the world's biggest music market.

Apple Music Around the World: A Global Snapshot

Globally, Spotify remains the undisputed leader in terms of total subscribers. However, Apple Music is firmly in second place and continues to be the primary challenger.

Its deep integration with the iPhone, which has over a billion active users, gives it a unique and powerful channel to attract new subscribers worldwide.

The Artist's Perspective: Payouts and Popularity

For artists, a streaming service is a partner. How much they get paid and how their music is featured are critically important.

One of the Best Payout Rates in the Business

Apple Music pays artists an average of $0.01 per stream. This means for every 100 plays, an artist's team earns roughly $1. While this sounds small, it is one of the highest per-stream rates among the major platforms.

Here’s how it compares to its main rivals:

Music PlatformAverage Pay Per Stream
Apple Music$0.01
Spotify$0.003 – $0.005
YouTube Music$0.002

Apple can afford this higher rate because it does not have a free, ad-supported tier. All its listeners are paying subscribers, which creates a larger revenue pool per user to share with artists. This has made Apple Music a preferred platform for many creators who feel it values their work more fairly.

The Most Streamed Artists

Some of the world's biggest stars dominate the charts on Apple Music.

  • Taylor Swift is the most-streamed artist on the platform. In 2023, she set a record for the most listeners in a single year and was named Apple Music's Artist of the Year.
  • Her 65 songs have reached the Global Daily Top 100, more than any other artist.

Here are some of the all-time most streamed artists on the platform:

Music ArtistTotal Streams (in millions)
Taylor Swift70.2
Ed Sheeran61.3
Drake47.4
Billie Eilish41.7
Post Malone36.7

Using Apple Music Statistics: Key Applications

This data provides valuable insights for different groups. Here’s how you can use it to make better decisions.

For Artists, Managers, and Labels:

  • Platform Strategy: The high pay-per-stream rate ($0.01) makes getting your music on Apple Music a priority. Focus on driving streams here, as they generate more revenue than on other major platforms.
  • Targeting Your Audience: Use the demographic data. If your music appeals to women aged 25-44, Apple Music is a perfect place to focus your promotion. Pitch your tracks to playlists that are popular with this audience.
  • Playlist Pitching: With 30,000 official playlists, getting featured is key to discovery. Knowing the platform's user demographics can help you tailor your pitch to specific curators, explaining why your song is a good fit for their listeners.

For Marketers and Advertisers:

  • Brand Partnerships: The user base is premium (all paying subscribers) and leans towards an adult, female audience. Brands in fashion, wellness, technology, and lifestyle can find a highly engaged and valuable audience here for potential partnerships with artists or playlist sponsorships.
  • Content Creation: Since Apple Music is deeply integrated with the Apple ecosystem, marketing campaigns can be designed around this. For example, a fitness brand could create workout playlists on Apple Music and promote them to iPhone and Apple Watch users.

For Investors and Financial Analysts:

  • Company Health: Track Apple Music's subscriber growth as a key performance indicator (KPI) for Apple's Services division. Steady growth here signals a healthy, recurring revenue stream that diversifies Apple's income beyond hardware sales.
  • Competitive Landscape: While Spotify has more users, Apple Music's revenue-per-user is higher due to the lack of a free tier. Analyze its subscriber growth relative to competitors to gauge its market position and long-term potential. The platform's ability to hold a ~30% market share in the US against a bundled competitor like Spotify is a sign of immense brand loyalty.

For Everyday Music Fans:

  • Ethical Listening: If you care about supporting artists financially, the data shows that your streams on Apple Music provide more money to your favorite musicians than on almost any other platform.
  • Making a Choice: When deciding between services, consider this: Apple Music offers a massive library (100 million songs), high-quality audio, and deep integration if you own Apple products. It's built for a premium, uninterrupted experience.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

❓How many people subscribe to Apple Music?

❓Who is Apple Music's biggest competitor?

❓How much does Apple Music pay artists per stream?

❓Is Apple Music bigger than Spotify?

❓What kind of music and content is on Apple Music?

More Statistics to Check out:

Wrapping Up: Why Apple Music Stays a Top Streamer

Apple Music has successfully overcome its late start to become a dominant force in the music industry. With over 93 million subscribers, $9.2 billion in annual revenue, and a powerful position in the critical U.S. market, it is far more than just a secondary player. It is a true powerhouse.

The platform's commitment to a premium, ad-free experience, its high payout rates for artists, and its seamless integration into the Apple ecosystem have created a loyal and growing user base.

As a key pillar of Apple's thriving Services division, Apple Music is not just shaping how we listen to music it is also securing its own place as an essential part of one of the world's most valuable companies for years to come.

Ravina is a skilled data analyst with extensive experience in statistics and data interpretation. She specializes in transforming complex data into clear, actionable insights. With a keen interest in emerging technologies and industry trends, Ravina continually updates her knowledge to stay ahead in the field. In her spare time, she is committed to sharing her expertise through informative articles and professional development.

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