The SNEP — Syndicat national de l’édition phonographique — has released its market report for the first half of 2026, showing growth in the French recorded music industry. Revenue for the period rose by 3.5% compared to the same time in 2025, with the majority of this increase coming from paid streaming platforms, which saw a 7.5% rise in revenue. The digital sector, which includes subscription-based streaming, ad-supported audio streaming, and video streaming, grew by 5.2% and made up 81% of total revenue, combining both digital and physical formats. Paid subscription audio streaming, in particular, has doubled since 2020. Physical music formats, however, have seen a decline, with a 3.4% overall drop. CDs have experienced a sharp decrease of 14.4%, while vinyl records have grown by 5.8%. Alexandre Lasch, general director of the SNEP, emphasized the importance of maintaining the current industry model to ensure labels and producers can keep investing in new talent and sustain a variety of music production. French-language music dominates the market, with 72% of the Top 200 albums being in French, and the top four spots in the semester ranking also occupied by French projects. Among these 200 albums, only 44 are from female artists, with Theodora and Aya Nakamura appearing in the Top 20. The track "melodrama" by Disiz and Theodora set a record by staying at the top of the chart for 28 consecutive weeks. Hip-hop continues to be the leading genre in the charts, with male rappers dominating the rankings. However, international pop has made some progress, with artists like Bad Bunny, Taylor Swift, Tame Impala, and RAYE appearing in the rankings. Since May 2026, the SNEP has been working to regulate the inclusion of AI-generated tracks in the French music charts. The organization has set eligibility criteria to differentiate tracks that involve a "creative process led by humans" from those entirely produced by artificial intelligence. These rules require substantial human involvement, transparency about AI use, and adherence to French legal and copyright standards. The criteria were developed by the IFPI and the SNEP’s international partners, building on the work of Professor Alexandra Bensamoun, a specialist in digital regulation and intellectual property law. Alexandre Lasch aims to promote "an ethical AI that respects intellectual property and European rules." The SNEP notes that the first half of the year typically accounts for a smaller share of annual business activity than the second half, but the current trend is positive for the rest of 2026. Over six years, revenue from the first semesters has increased by 68%, showing a strong long-term growth pattern. The SNEP believes this upward trajectory is likely to continue, with potential for further improvement. However, concerns remain about the low representation of female artists and the lack of greater musical diversity.