Record Roundup 38: Vinyl Sales Up Again, But Outpaced By CDs

Luminate's 2026 midyear report shows that while vinyl sales grew by 2.4%, CD sales surged by 16%, largely driven by collectible K-Pop releases. The industry continues to see a resurgence in physical media, prompting new hardware innovations like hybrid turntable-CD players.
Why it matters
The data challenges the assumption that physical music media is obsolete, highlighting the influence of fandom culture on consumer electronics trends.
Consumer Tech Record Roundup 38: Vinyl Sales Up Again, But Outpaced By CDs By Brad Moon ,
Forbes contributors publish independent expert analyses and insights. Brad Moon covers audio gear, Apple products and consumer tech. Follow Author Aug 22, 2026, 01:50pm EDT Aug 22, 2026, 01:54pm EDT --:-- / --:-- This voice experience is generated by AI. Learn more . This voice experience is generated by AI. Learn more .
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