CD Sales Skyrocket in 2026, Defying Recent Trends
By Editor • September 5, 2026 • 1 min read
The music industry is witnessing a remarkable revival of CD sales, with a staggering 17.5 million units sold in the first half of 2026, according to the latest report from the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA). This marks a significant increase of 45.7 percent compared to the 12 million CDs sold during the same timeframe in 2025.
In terms of revenue, the surge is even more impressive, with sales figures soaring to $171.1 million—a 58.6 percent rise over the previous year. This resurgence is particularly surprising given the sharp decline of 22 percent in CD sales observed from 2024 to 2025, indicating a remarkable turnaround.
Further supporting these findings, research firm Luminate also reported a strong performance for physical media, noting that 16.3 million CDs were sold in the same period. The unexpected growth in CD sales suggests a renewed interest in physical music formats, despite the digital streaming dominance.
Source: www.theverge.com
