On-demand streaming has surpassed 1 trillion chart eligible U.S. plays for the first time ever. Nearly 90% of the total comes from on-demand audio, which also just recorded its biggest week yet with more than 20 billion listens.
The next barrier to break is the 1 trillion mark for audio alone. Through 11/25, about 870 billion audio tracks have been streamed. With five weeks left in the chart year, each week would have to average slightly more than last week's record-breaking total to hit the mark, but with Christmas music surging, it's not out of the question.
For the overall industry, total activity (albums + tracks + streams) is projecting a little over 900 million album equivalents by year's end, an increase of 100 million units and 13% vs. last year. Currently, total streaming is up nearly 10% over last year.