CD sales are booming as physical media continues its resurgence
Physical media sales, particularly CDs and vinyl, saw a significant surge in the first half of 2026 according to RIAA data. While streaming remains the dominant revenue source, the resurgence is driven by collectible editions and interest from younger generations.
Why it matters
This trend challenges the assumption that physical media is obsolete, indicating a shift in consumer behavior toward tangible ownership and fandom-driven collecting.
According to the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA), CD sales exploded in the first half of 2026. A new report from the organization says 17.5 million CDs were sold in the first six months of the year, up from just 12 million during the same period in 2025. That’s a jump of 45.7 percent, and 58.6 percent in dollars, which reached $171.1 million. What makes this all the more shocking is that CD sales actually shrank 22 percent from 2024 to 2025.
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