According to the Recording Industry Association of America, CD sales reached 17.5 million units in the first half of 2026, marking a 45.7 percent increase compared to the 12 million units sold in the same period of 2025. Revenue from these sales rose by 58.6 percent, totaling $171.1 million.
This growth follows a 22 percent decline in CD sales between 2024 and 2025. Research firm Luminate reported 16.3 million units sold in the first half of 2026, noting that K-Pop releases from artists like BTS significantly contributed to this trend. Data suggests that younger generations often purchase these items as collectibles, as only about half of the buyers own a CD player.
Other physical media formats also experienced growth. Vinyl sales increased by nearly 21 percent, reaching 26.5 million units. The category of other physical media, including cassettes, DVDs, and CD singles, rose by over 73 percent to 1.6 million units.
Despite the resurgence of physical formats, streaming remains the dominant medium. Streaming revenue grew by 4.7 percent during the same period, reaching $4.9 billion, which significantly exceeds the total revenue generated by all physical media combined.