CD Sales Soar in 2026 as Everyone Remembers CD Players Exist
KEY POINTS
- •The RIAA reported a surprising 45.7 percent increase in CD sales in the first half of 2026 compared to 2025.
- •CD revenue jumped by 58.6 percent, reaching $171.1 million despite a 22 percent decline from 2024 to 2025.
- •Research firm Luminate independently verified the boost, reporting 16.3 million units sold this year so far.
The Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA) dropped a bombshell in 2026 by reporting a whopping 45.7% jump in CD sales between January and June—17.5 million discs spinning into homes, up from just 12 million in 2025. Despite a 22% nosedive the previous year, the shiny discs clawed back with $171.1 million in sales, proving vinyl's jealous sibling can still party. Not to be outdone, research firm Luminate confirmed this physical media resurrection with 16.3 million units sold, making it clear—in the era of streaming infinity, apparently people still like to wrestle with laser beams and plastic. Terrence O’Brien even captured a treasure trove of vintage CDs somewhere, giving us real gem envy.
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(1 of 3)Someone, somewhere, still owns a CD player—and now millions are urgently trying to prove it by buying 17.5 million CDs this year alone.
If CD sales are booming, does that mean the 2000s are officially the new 2090s? Bring back MySpace next.
CDs outselling expectations in 2026: because apparently, retro tragedy isn't just for fashion experiments anymore.
Source: Theverge | Published: 9/5/2026 | Author: Terrence O’Brien
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