© ROOT-NATION.com - Use of content is permitted with a backlink.
Interest in vintage devices is once again skyrocketing, and this week the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA) backed up this observation with concrete data reflecting changes in listeners’ habits. Surprisingly, the organization noted that CDs – those same shiny round discs that Spotify was widely believed to have completely replaced – are once again showing positive growth.
According to a new RIAA report, CD sales generated $171.1 million in revenue during the first half of 2026. This represents a 58.6% increase compared to approximately $107.9 million during the same period in 2025. The number of units sold reached 17.5 million, marking a 45.7% increase compared to the roughly 12 million units sold during the first half of last year.
This recovery appears particularly impressive given the challenging year of 2025. The final annual report for the previous period showed that revenue from CD sales actually decreased by 7.8% for the full year – from $338.9 million in 2024 to $312.4 million in 2025. At the same time, the number of units sold fell by 11.6%, dropping from 33.3 million to 29.5 million.
This uptick is unfolding against the backdrop of a widespread resurgence of interest in simpler gadgets, including push-button cell phones, digital cameras, typewriters, landline phones, and physical media such as CDs and vinyl. For Gen Z, the demand for such products reflects a kind of nostalgia for a technological era they never experienced firsthand – a time when people had more control over when and how they interacted with technology, and the devices themselves left less room for intruding into your life through notifications, apps, and algorithms.
To be honest, this trend may turn out to be much larger than the RIAA’s figures suggest. They do not account for the trade in used CDs purchased at thrift stores or garage sales, nor do they reflect the number of discs that young people have inherited from their Gen X parents.
However, one important detail regarding this trend should be emphasized.
In 2025, the RIAA changed its methodology for calculating revenue figures, switching from estimated retail value to wholesale value. This means that the financial data for 2024 and 2025 are not directly comparable. However, unit sales figures – which were not affected by this change – show a similar underlying trend: 29.5 million CDs were sold in 2025, compared to 33.3 million in 2024. Thus, the CD market was still contracting prior to the current unexpected surge.
Editor’s Recommendation: How to Choose a Turntable: Beginner’s Guide
Vinyl record sales also continue to rise. Total revenue from so-called physical media in the first half of 2026 rose by 25.9%, reaching $731.5 million. This was driven not only by a 58.6% increase in revenue from CDs but also by a 17.7% rise in revenue from vinyl.
See also: The Best Cryptocurrency Exchanges of 2026: Key Criteria for Choosing a Top Trading Platform