Heavy metal was the fastest growing music genre in the world in 2018, according to new statistics from TuneCore, an independent digital music distribution, publishing and licensing service, Billboard has reported.

See the figures below. Breaking down TuneCore's success in a statement, CEO Scott Ackerman revealed that heavy metal received a 154 percent increase in streaming last year, in relation to the company's services.

Which is perhaps why he passed along the news that TuneCore artists earned $83 million in the first quarter of this year — a reported 21-percent increase from 2018, as noted by Kerrang, which collated the stats you see here:

Heavy metal – 154% increase

J-Pop – 133% increase

R&B/Soul – 68% increase

K-Pop – 58% increase

World music – 57% increase

Instrumental – 42% increase

"TuneCore is the only global platform that pays artists 100 percent of what they earn from digital streams and downloads," Ackerman explained in the statement, "while also meeting all of their needs across distribution, promotion and publishing administration."

The music executive also opined his hope for more growth in the current year: "In 2019 we’re seeing great momentum in helping our customers build sustainable careers by finding new income across formats and channels."

In addition to the stats presented for streaming increases among certain genres, the New York-based firm also announced changes it tabulated in overall streaming growth worldwide, per TuneCore's reach. See those below.

Africa – 146% growth

Asia – 52% growth

Oceania – 38% growth

Europe – 35% growth

South America – 32% growth

North America – 31% growth

And with many anticipated new albums on the way this year from a litany of metal artists, including those from big names such as Slipknot and Tool, the specific art form certainly doesn't seem to be going anywhere soon.