Photo Credit: Altamart
CDs are experiencing a significant resurgence in the US, with sales revenue climbing 58.6% during the first half of 2026, according to new figures from the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA).
CDs generated roughly $171 million in the US between January and June, driving a 25.9% increase to $731.5 million in total physical music revenue. This marks a notable turnaround for a declining format, finding new listeners alongside vinyl. Meanwhile, overall US recorded music revenue grew 6.9% to $6 billion in the first half of 2026.
Vinyl remains the top physical format by revenue, growing 17.7% to ~$544M. However, CD growth is over triple that rate. Luminate’s 2026 Midyear Report noted US CD unit sales rose 16% to 16.3M (up 6.7% excluding K-pop) compared to 2.4% for vinyl. This highlights a shift where CDs serve as collectable fan products, featuring deluxe editions and variants, rather than competing directly with streaming. Overall, vinyl, CD, and cassette sales rose 7.8% to 38.2M units.
Streaming continues to dominate the US music market, with paid subscriptions generating around $3.4 billion and overall streaming contributing $4.3 billion in H1. These figures indicate that listeners are not abandoning streaming, but rather embracing a hybrid music economy where digital convenience coexists with physical formats.
