US CD sales rose by 16% in the first half of 2026, reaching 16.3 million units, driven by affordability, collection building, and strong K-pop releases like BTS. Even excluding K-pop, sales increased by 6.7%, indicating a broader trend of consumers using physical media to support artists directly.
Background
The music industry has seen a resurgence in physical media sales over recent years, with vinyl leading the charge, while CDs have maintained a niche but steady presence among dedicated fans.
- Source
- The Verge
- Published
- Jul 17, 2026 at 03:55 AM
- Score
- 5.0 / 10