Global streaming subscribers reach 400 million in Q1 2020, up 30% from Q1 2019, with 93 million net new subscribers added according to media and technology analysts, MIDiA Research. This compares to the 77 million added one year earlier. Spotify remains the leader in terms of subscribers with a 32% market share which has remained between 32% and 34% every quarter since 2015.
Apple Music is in second place with 18% down from 21% in Q1 2019 and contrasts with Amazon Music which finished Q1 2020 with 14% share, up from 13% one year earlier.
Tencent Music Entertainment takes fourth spot with 11% which is impressive given that this number almost entirely refers to China and that it is accelerating growth, adding 14 million subscribers by Q2 2020 compared to 6 million on the year earlier.
Google is fifth with a more modest 6% but this represents a turnaround for them with YouTube Music finally starting to become a serious contender. In Q1 2018, Google’s market share was just 3%.
MIDiA analysis concludes that:
- YouTube Music is resonating with Gen Z and younger Millennials
- Amazon Music is bringing older audiences to subscriptions
- Spotify and Apple Music are the mainstream options
- Deezer is enjoying success in emerging markets – Brazil especially – with pre-pay mobile bundles
