Apple Music enters 2025 stronger than ever, boasting 104 million paying subscribers worldwide and generating $10.8 billion in annual revenue.
With the highest artist payout rate in the streaming industry at approximately $0.01 per stream, Apple Music continues to lead the market.
These Apple Music user statistics for 2025 highlight why millions of listeners, independent artists, playlist curators, and even major labels choose Apple Music over competitors like Spotify, YouTube Music, and Amazon Music.
With a global presence in 167 countries, more than 100 million songs, and integration across 2.35 billion active Apple devices, Apple Music offers unmatched benefits for creators and listeners alike.
Apple Music Users Statistics: A Success Story
Apple Music reached 104 million paying subscribers as of November 2025, showing steady growth of 9–11 million new subscribers annually since 2022.
Over the past year alone, Apple Music added 9 million subscribers, solidifying its position as one of the top streaming platforms.
The platform’s subscriber base has grown rapidly since its launch, reflecting the increasing preference for premium audio quality, exclusive content, and seamless integration within the Apple ecosystem.
Apple Music Subscriber Growth Timeline:
| Year / Period | Apple Music Subscribers (millions) | Year-over-Year Growth |
| June 2015 (launch) | 6.5 | – |
| June 2016 | 15 | +131% |
| June 2017 | 27 | +80% |
| June 2019 | 60 | +45% |
| June 2021 | 78 | +30% |
| June 2022 | 88 | +12.8% |
| June 2023 | 93–95 | +6–8% |
| June 2024 | 95–98 | +3–5% |
| November 2025 | 104 | +9–11% |
Source: Statista
Apple Music Revenue:
In 2025, Apple Music generated over $10.8 billion, accounting for approximately 6.4–7% of total Apple Services revenue.
This marks an impressive year-over-year increase of 13%, despite Spotify’s struggles with shrinking margins and artist payout concerns.
Apple Music’s growth in revenue is a direct result of its higher-paying subscriber base, strong focus on exclusive content, and integrated ecosystem.
Apple Music Revenue History:
| Fiscal Year | Apple Music Revenue (billion USD) | Year-over-Year Increase |
| 2016 | 1.7 | – |
| 2018 | 3.5 | +106% |
| 2020 | 6.3 | +80% |
| 2022 | 8.3 | +31% |
| 2023 | 9.2 | +10.8% |
| 2024 | 10.1–10.3 | +10–12% |
| 2025 (full) | 10.8 | +13–15% |
Source: Business of Apps, Statista.
Apple’s substantial payouts of approximately $0.01 per stream remain two to four times higher than Spotify’s payouts, which hover around $0.003–$0.005.
For artists, this translates into significantly higher earnings from the same number of streams.
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Demographics of Subscribers
Apple Music’s user base is more diverse than many realize. Women now represent 56% of global subscribers, up from 51% two years ago.
The primary demographic for Apple Music falls between 25–44 years, a group with higher disposable income and a greater willingness to pay for premium services. This demographic shift has been key to Apple Music’s steady growth.
Apple Music User Demographics:
| Demographic | Share of Apple Music Users | Key Insight for 2025 |
| Female | 56% | Fastest-growing segment |
| Male | 44% | Declining share |
| 18–24 years | 17% | Smaller than expected |
| 25–34 years | 23–28% | Biggest spending group |
| 35–44 years | 22–25% | Heavy Spatial Audio users |
| 45–54 years | 15% | Fast-growing among older adults |
| 55+ years | 23% | Loyal user base |
Apple Music is popular with more mature users, with many in their 30s and 40s praising the platform’s high-quality curation, sleek interface, and absence of podcast spam that dominates competitors like Spotify.
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Apple Music by Region: Where the Revenue Comes From
North America remains the largest market for Apple Music, contributing roughly 59% of users on paid plans, especially in the United States where 35–40 million subscribers exist.
However, growth in Asia-Pacific and Latin America is surging, fueled by the affordability of Apple One bundles and more accessible family plans.
Top Countries and Regions for Apple Music (November 2025):
| Region / Country | Estimated Subscribers (millions) | % on Paid Plans | Fastest Growing? |
| United States | 35–40 | 80–85% | Stable |
| Europe (total) | 22–25 | 36–40% | Moderate |
| Asia-Pacific | 18–22 | 38–45% | Very fast |
| Latin America | 12–15 | 44% | Fast |
| United Kingdom | 8–10 | 70% | Stable |
| Canada | 6–8 | 75% | Stable |
| Australia | 4–6 | 70% | Stable |
| Japan | 7–9 | 65% | Growing |
| India | 5–8 | 40% | Explosive |
India and Brazil have witnessed substantial growth due to new affordable plans like the ₹49 student plan and full Spatial Audio support.
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Apple Music: The Best Platform for Artists
Apple Music continues to pay the most per stream among streaming platforms. Independent artists see between $0.01 to $0.012 per stream, making Apple Music a top choice for creators aiming to earn higher royalties.
Artists earn $10,000–$12,000 for 1 million streams, compared to the significantly lower $3,000–$5,000 offered by Spotify.
Pay Per Stream Comparison:
| Platform | Average Pay Per Stream | 1 Million Streams Pays |
| Apple Music | $0.01 – $0.012 | $10,000 – $12,000 |
| Spotify | $0.003 – $0.005 | $3,000 – $5,000 |
| YouTube Music | $0.001 – $0.003 | $1,000 – $3,000 |
| Amazon Music | $0.004 – $0.007 | $4,000 – $7,000 |
Artists now have the potential to make $4,000–$8,000 per month with just 100,000 monthly listeners on Apple Music, solidifying 2025 as the best year ever for music releases on the platform.
Features That Keep Apple Music Users Loyal
Apple Music offers exclusive features that encourage long-term subscriptions, including:
- Lossless Audio and Dolby Atmos Spatial Audio on over 90 million tracks.
- Apple Music Classical, now free for all subscribers, with the world’s largest classical music catalog.
- Apple Music Sing (karaoke mode) with real-time lyrics and vocal reduction.
- Discovery Station and Heavy Rotation – AI-driven playlists for smarter music recommendations.
- Live concert streams and exclusive Apple Music Sessions.
- Seamless integration with Apple’s ecosystem, including iPhone, iPad, Mac, Apple Watch, HomePod, and more.
Many users have expressed their satisfaction with Apple Music’s superior sound quality, particularly Spatial Audio via AirPods Pro 2, as seen in various discussions on Reddit.
Top 10 Most-Streamed Artists on Apple Music
Apple Music continues to showcase a diverse range of artists, with Taylor Swift maintaining her dominance globally. Other popular artists include Drake, The Weeknd, and Bad Bunny. In Asia-Pacific, BTS and BLACKPINK continue to top the charts.
Top Artists of 2025:
| Rank | Artist | Total Streams (Billions) | Dominance in 2025 |
| 1 | Taylor Swift | 80+ | Global #1 |
| 2 | Drake | 68–72 | North America |
| 3 | The Weeknd | 55–60 | Canada + Europe |
| 4 | Bad Bunny | 52–58 | Latin America |
| 5 | Morgan Wallen | 48–52 | U.S. Country surge |
| 6 | Billie Eilish | 45–50 | Gen-Z favorite |
| 7 | Ed Sheeran | 48–52 | UK + Europe |
| 8 | Ariana Grande | 42–46 | Pop queen |
| 9 | BTS | 40–45 | Asia-Pacific |
| 10 | Travis Scott | 38–42 | Hip-hop leader |
How Listeners, Artists, and Creators Benefit in 2025
Apple Music’s growing success in 2025 benefits everyone—listeners enjoy top-tier sound quality, artists earn the highest royalties, and creators build substantial careers. Playlist curators and influencers thrive, as Apple Music users actively follow and save playlists.
Real Success Stories in 2025:
- Independent producers making $15,000–$50,000/month from playlist placements.
- Bedroom artists hitting 1 million streams in weeks thanks to features on “New Music Daily”.
- Fans discovering new genres through Apple Music Classical and Spatial Audio.
The Apple Music user statistics for 2025 reflect a thriving ecosystem where users, artists, and creators all benefit, establishing Apple Music as a leader in the music streaming industry.
Frequently Asked Questions
1. How many subscribers does Apple Music have in 2025?
Apple Music has 104 million paying subscribers worldwide as of November 2025, growing by 9–11 million new users annually.
2. Does Apple Music pay artists more than Spotify?
Yes, Apple Music pays $0.01–$0.012 per stream, which is 2–4 times more than Spotify’s $0.003–$0.005 per stream.
3. Is Apple Music worth switching to from Spotify?
Apple Music offers superior sound quality, exclusive content, and better personalization, making it a solid choice for music lovers.
4. Why do more women use Apple Music?
Women make up 56% of Apple Music users due to its focus on high-quality pop, R&B, country, and singer-songwriter curation.
5. How can independent artists get noticed on Apple Music?
Independent artists can pitch tracks to editorial playlists, release consistent singles, and engage with fans to get featured on prominent playlists.
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Conclusion
In conclusion, Apple Music’s remarkable growth in 2025, with 104 million paying subscribers and $10.8 billion in revenue, showcases its dominance in the streaming industry.
The platform’s high artist payouts, superior sound quality, and innovative features make it the preferred choice for both listeners and creators.
As Apple Music continues to expand globally and introduce new tools for artists, it offers a thriving ecosystem that benefits everyone involved.
Whether for discovering new music, earning better royalties, or building a loyal fanbase, Apple Music remains a smart platform for success in 2025 and beyond.
