CD sales in the US surged 45.7% year-over-year in the first half of 2026, with 17.5 million units sold reaching $171.1 million, according to RIAA data. This marks a dramatic reversal after a 22% decline from 2024 to 2025, signaling continued momentum in the physical media comeback alongside vinyl.
Background
Physical media has seen a niche revival in recent years, with vinyl records leading the trend. CD sales had been in steady decline for decades before streaming became dominant, making this recent uptick notable.
- Source
- The Verge
- Published
- Sep 6, 2026 at 12:49 AM
- Score
- 5.0 / 10