The Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA) reported that CD revenue reached $171.1 million in the first half of 2026. This represents a 58.6% increase compared to the $107.9 million recorded in the same period of 2025.
Unit sales for CDs also saw a significant rise, reaching 17.5 million units in the first half of 2026. This is a 45.7% increase from the 12 million units sold during the first half of 2025.
These figures mark a reversal of the trend observed in 2025. Last year, annual CD revenue fell by 7.8% to $312.4 million from $338.9 million in 2024, while unit sales dropped by 11.6% to 29.5 million.
The RIAA noted that total physical media revenue grew by 25.9% to $731.5 million in the first half of 2026. This growth was supported by the rise in CD sales and a 17.7% increase in vinyl revenue.
The RIAA changed its calculation methodology in 2025, shifting from estimated retail value to wholesale value. While this affects revenue comparisons, unit sales data remains consistent for tracking market trends.
