CD sales are making an unexpected comeback amid a retro tech boom
News Source
β’Fri, 04 Sep 2026 15:00:00 +0000
π° What Happened
The Recording Industry Association of America reports that CDs are growing again. In the first half of 2026, CDs made $171.1 million in revenue, up 58.6% from about $107.9 million a year earlier. Units sold rose 45.7%, from about 12 million to 17.5 million.
The rebound follows a rough 2025, when CD revenue fell 7.8% for the full year. The growth lines up with a boom in simpler tech like dumbphones, digital cameras, typewriters, landlines, and physical media such as CDs and vinyl.
π The Backstory
For Gen Z, this old tech is a way to experience an era they never lived through, where they had more control over when they engaged with technology. They want fewer notifications, addictive apps, and algorithms in their lives.
Startups are jumping in too. Landline makers like Tin Can, Ooma, and Pinwheel are selling old-style phones again. Companies like Light, Dumb Co, and Minimal make non-smartphones, and a BlackBerry-like device called Clicks is coming soon. The retro boom shows many people want tech that gets out of their way.
π― Why It Matters
This comeback shows people want more control over their time and attention, not just nostalgia. It also means real money is flowing back to physical music, which can support artists and record shops in new ways. Your next purchase might be a CD.
The Recording Industry Association of America reports that CDs are growing again. In the first half of 2026, CDs made $171.1 million in revenue, up 58.6% from about $107.9 million a year earlier. Units sold rose 45.7%, from about 12 million to 17.5 million.
The rebound follows a rough 2025, when CD revenue fell 7.8% for the full year. The growth lines up with a boom in simpler tech like dumbphones, digital cameras, typewriters, landlines, and physical media such as CDs and vinyl.
For Gen Z, this old tech is a way to experience an era they never lived through, where they had more control over when they engaged with technology. They want fewer notifications, addictive apps, and algorithms in their lives.
Startups are jumping in too. Landline makers like Tin Can, Ooma, and Pinwheel are selling old-style phones again. Companies like Light, Dumb Co, and Minimal make non-smartphones, and a BlackBerry-like device called Clicks is coming soon. The retro boom shows many people want tech that gets out of their way.
This comeback shows people want more control over their time and attention, not just nostalgia. It also means real money is flowing back to physical music, which can support artists and record shops in new ways. Your next purchase might be a CD.