CD and vinyl sales are surging as frustration with digital media keeps growing

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In a nutshell: It's time to dust off that old turntable and boombox: physical media is seeing a big resurgence, with both CDs and vinyl sales jumping by double digits in the first half of 2026. The news comes as public anger over digital media, from increasing streaming prices to buyers not actually owning their purchases, intensifies.

News of the latest increase in physical media sales comes from the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA). It revealed that recorded music revenues for H1 2026 were up 6.9% from the first half of 2025 and outpaced inflation, with both streaming and physical formats posting gains.

It was physical media that grabbed the headlines. Revenue in this sector grew an impressive 25.9% as vinyl saw 17.7% growth and CD revenue went up a massive 58.6%.