Nielsen Updates: Black Consumer Spending Hits $2 Trillion+ as Digital & AI Empower Creators in 2025
Black consumer spending power in the U.S. has surged past $2 trillion in 2025 and is projected to reach $2.1 trillion by 2026, marking a new era of economic influence fueled by digital innovation, AI, and creator-driven ecosystems.
More than ever, African Americans are not just consumers but powerful creators and entrepreneurs leveraging advanced technologies—especially AI and automation—to build platforms, content, products, and financial networks that reflect their culture and values. This shift is reshaping brand engagement, media consumption, and the broader economy.
According to Nielsen’s latest Diverse Intelligence Series report, Black audiences spend an average of 32 hours weekly on apps and websites via smartphones and tablets—two hours more than the overall U.S. population—highlighting their deep digital immersion. Streaming accounts for nearly 46% of Black adults’ total TV time, with YouTube dominating as the leading platform. Social media remains a vital space, with Black millennials spending the most time scrolling among all adult groups, emphasizing the importance of culturally resonant content and authentic engagement.
Black consumers’ digital habits extend beyond entertainment. They are early adopters of AI-powered shopping tools, personalized content algorithms, and creator economy platforms that enable direct monetization and community building. This tech-savvy cohort drives trends in podcasting, gaming, and online grocery shopping, with meal kits and convenience-focused food services seeing notable growth.
Cheryl Grace, Nielsen’s Senior VP of U.S. Strategic Community Alliances, notes, “Black creators are harnessing AI and digital platforms to bypass traditional corporate gatekeepers, turning cultural creativity into economic power. The marketplace is no longer just about consumption—it’s about creation, ownership, and influence.”
Black consumer spending is not just a number; it’s a dynamic force shaping industries from beauty—where spending topped $9.4 billion in 2023 with growth outpacing the general market—to media, gaming, and beyond. However, experts caution against conflating spending power with wealth accumulation. Dr. Jared Ball, a media scholar, emphasizes the need for building true generational wealth alongside consumer influence.
For brands and entrepreneurs, the message is clear: winning with Black consumers in 2025 requires more than representation. It demands authentic inclusion, culturally nuanced storytelling, and partnerships that empower Black creators and communities through technology and innovation.
As Kimberly Bryant, founder of Black Girls Code, puts it, “Access to AI, automation, and digital tools is unlocking unprecedented opportunities for Black entrepreneurship and financial independence. This is a cultural and economic revolution driven by creators who refuse to be sidelined.”
To thrive in this landscape, businesses must embrace the creator economy, invest in AI-driven personalization, and engage Black consumers on platforms where they lead conversations and culture—because Black digital influence is not just shaping trends; it’s defining the future.
Kevin "KevRoss" Ross is a music and radio industry expert. He is a 20 -plus year entrepreneur with the leading most successful industry trade publication and site Radio Facts (www.radiofacts.com). He has also published various books, magazines, performed marketing and promotions for major corporations and recording artists and he is on the advisory board of several industry organizations. This year Ross introduced his non profit organization LOMARI (Leaders of the Music and Recording Industry) to help teach young minority students how to market and manage their music and products.
