Made in Italy’s Music Sector: a World-Class Excellence Bridging Past and Future

From the first shellac records of the early twentieth century to today’s streaming services, Italy has a rich musical tradition, with songs and artists that have marked the country’s key historical eras. Despite the challenges posed by artificial intelligence and the web, the Made in Italy industry continues to grow. The first half of 2025 proved a period of improvement for a sector that remains the third-largest in Europe.

Italy Music History: from Cremona’s Violin-Making to UNESCO Creative Cities

Italy’s musical history is dotted with milestones that have mattered worldwide. In past centuries, instruments used by orchestras everywhere were developed in Italy—such as the piano, invented by Bartolomeo Cristofori in 1700, and the violin, which originated in Lombardy between Brescia and Cremona between the 1500s and 1600s.

Cremona itself was added in 2012 to UNESCO’s Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity. Tradition, history and expertise: these are the hallmarks of Cremonese violin-making, which today stands as a world-class excellence.

Recognising Italy’s role in music, UNESCO has also acknowledged the know-how of companies and craftspeople operating in Bolzano, Pesaro and Bologna. These three cities were named UNESCO Creative Cities of Music in 2023, 2017 and 2006 respectively—evidence of a craftsmanship tradition that meets Italian ingenuity.

Music Sector in Italy: Streaming, Vinyl and Recorded Market Data

Italy’s music landscape has not remained anchored to the past; it has evolved over time. The Made in Italy recorded-music market report reflects a dual character, allowing the sector to hover between future and past. Growth is not driven by streaming alone: physical formats are also rising, despite broader trends in recent years.

In streaming, growth in 2025 compared with the first half of 2024 stands at 9.9%, with revenue increasing from €151.4 million to €166.4 million. This rise is led by paid audio streaming subscriptions, which generated €113.3 million from January to June 2025—an increase of 12.7% compared with the first six months of 2024. Video streaming rose from €26.8 million to €28.4 million (+5.9% vs Jan–Jun 2024), while ad-supported streaming grew from €24.0 million to €24.6 million (+2.6% vs Jan–Jun 2024).

Alongside this push towards the future, there is also a return to the past. Revenue from physical formats is rising too, with vinyl strengthening its role in the Made in Italy market. Of the €33.3 million generated by physical formats in the first half of 2025 (+13% compared with the same period in 2024), €21.9 million came from vinyl records, which recorded growth of 17% (vs Jan–Jun 2024).

In the first half of 2025, CD revenues rose from €10.6 million to €11.0 million (+4.7% vs Jan–Jun 2024), while other formats grew by 10.7% (vs Jan–Jun 2024), reaching €0.17 million. Finally, music videos increased from €0.08 million to €0.21 million (+168.7% vs Jan–Jun 2024).

Italian Music Industry: Music Made in Italy and International Opportunities

Italy’s music sector has long been valued worldwide, recognised as a byword for quality, poetry, rhythm and good taste. What has crossed borders—both physical and cultural—has not been music alone, but also the instruments themselves, carrying artisans’ expertise from China to the Americas.

Further support for the creators of these products—guardians of Made in Italy excellence—comes from OpportunItaly, the export-acceleration programme that connects Italian companies with international stakeholders interested in highly innovative technologies. Join the programme and discover how Made in Italy can drive your business innovation.

Italian music sector: key figures

• 3rd music market in Europe

• Total revenues H1 2025: ~€199 million

• Total streaming H1 2025: €166.4 million (+9.9% vs H1 2024)

• Paid audio streaming subscriptions: €113.3 million (+12.7%)

• Physical formats H1 2025: €33.3 million (+13%)

• Vinyl H1 2025: €21.9 million (+17%)
  
  Sources:
  
  Regione Lombardia
  FIMI
  Britannica
  Liuteria cremonese
  Bologna Unesco City of Music
  Comune di Pesaro
  Comune di Bolzano