CD sales are booming as physical media continues its resurgence
The Verge
•2026-09-05T12:49:33-04:00
📰 What Happened
According to a new report from the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA), 17.5 million CDs were sold in the first half of 2026, up from 12 million in the same period of 2025 — a jump of 45.7 per cent. The Verge's weekend editor Terrence O'Brien reports on the boom as part of a broader resurgence of physical media. Crucially, the article notes this does not mean people are abandoning streaming.
🔍 The Backstory
CD sales spent years in steady decline after streaming services became the dominant way people listen to music. That trend has now reversed as part of a wider physical-media revival that has already boosted vinyl records. Collectors, artists and labels have all contributed to the renewed appetite for tangible formats.
🎯 Why It Matters
For music fans, the CD comeback offers another way to own and collect music in a subscription-streaming era. For the industry, it shows that physical formats can still generate meaningful revenue and that listeners value ownership as much as access. It also points to nostalgia and collectability as growing forces in how music is bought and sold.
According to a new report from the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA), 17.5 million CDs were sold in the first half of 2026, up from 12 million in the same period of 2025 — a jump of 45.7 per cent. The Verge's weekend editor Terrence O'Brien reports on the boom as part of a broader resurgence of physical media. Crucially, the article notes this does not mean people are abandoning streaming.
CD sales spent years in steady decline after streaming services became the dominant way people listen to music. That trend has now reversed as part of a wider physical-media revival that has already boosted vinyl records. Collectors, artists and labels have all contributed to the renewed appetite for tangible formats.
For music fans, the CD comeback offers another way to own and collect music in a subscription-streaming era. For the industry, it shows that physical formats can still generate meaningful revenue and that listeners value ownership as much as access. It also points to nostalgia and collectability as growing forces in how music is bought and sold.