An RIAA report shows that Latin music made more than $542.2 million in the first half of 2026
Latin music is constantly written about in boom cycles, but it’s clear its growth is no blip. According to the Recording Industry Association of America’s mid-year report, revenue in the Latin sector saw yet another boost, this time surpassing $542.2 million in the first half of 2026. That’s an 8.6 percent increase compared to this same time last year, with a total reach of 9.1 percent of all U.S. recorded music revenue. The increase also marks an increase for the 13th mid-year in a row.
The report shows that 96 percent of revenue came from streaming, with paid subscription revenue shooting up 12.4 percent to reach $308.4 million. One of the most surprising data points is that vinyl saw huge growth in Latin music, skyrocketing 245.8 percent for a total of $13.7 million. Syncs also doubled more than 104.2 percent.
“Latin music keeps raising the bar as more fans connect with the artists they love and discover new favorites. Whether your first experience is an iconic performance like Bad Bunny at the Super Bowl or Shakira & Burna Boy’s World Cup anthem, a shared playlist or passed through a friend’s vinyl collection, there are more ways than ever to uncover and enjoy Latin music,” RIAA Senior Vice President of State Public Policy & Latin Music Rafael Fernandez Jr. said in a statement. “These mid-year results show that expanding reach and a healthy music marketplace where sustained label investment helps artists break through, find fresh audiences and build lasting careers.”
2026 has been full of cultural moments and milestones for Latin artists. After Bad Bunny’s historic Super Bowl performance, which marked the NFL’s first halftime show in Spanish, the Puerto Rican superstar went on to bank one of the most successful tours of the year with his Debí Tirar Más Fotos World Tour, which grossed $467.5 million and made him the first Latin artist to surpass $1 billion in total touring revenue. Meanwhile, artists like Karol G and Shakira have scored massive global hits, with Karol’s “BbY WoW” holding the longest consecutive run at Number One on Global Spotify for 2026 and Shakira’s “Dai Dai” topping the Billboard Global 200 for seven weeks.
Still, all the excitement around Latin music has come at a tumultuous time for Latinos, when the current administration has ramped up detentions and deportations. Several musicians and music teams have been affected, and some artists have used their platforms to defend their communities. Speaking to i-D magazine, Bad Bunny explained that he skipped the U.S. during his tour to protect fans from ICE. “There was the issue of—like, fucking ICE could be outside [my concert]. And it’s something that we were talking about and very concerned about,” he said.
