July 21, 2026, 8:00 am | Read time: 3 minutes
The saying goes, “Those declared dead live longer.” This is especially true for physical media. In the streaming era, the general trend is moving away from Blu-rays, DVDs, vinyl records, or CDs. Yet, they persist thanks to loyal fans and can sometimes find new opportunities in niche markets. Now, even CD sales are rising again and have, for the first time in a long while, surpassed vinyl records.
Rapid Growth of CD Sales in the U.S.
This is according to a new report from “Luminate.” While it primarily focuses on CD sales in the U.S., this development is noteworthy as it could potentially set a precedent for other markets.
According to the study, CD sales have suddenly surged by 16 percent, reaching 16.3 million units in the first half of 2026. This is significantly stronger than the 2.4 percent growth of vinyl records, which have been the flagship of the ongoing renaissance of physical media.
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CD Sales Rise Thanks to Gen Z and K-Pop
Compared to vinyl records, CDs are much cheaper but still allow enthusiastic fans to collect something from their favorite artists. Few fan communities are currently as dedicated as those of K-Pop. Nearly ten percent of the total growth was attributed to releases by South Korean artists.
Their albums often come in various editions, such as with different cover artworks and extras. As a result, it’s not uncommon for fans to buy multiple editions. The same can be observed repeatedly with major acts like Taylor Swift.
The rising popularity of CDs is also fueled by the young Gen Z, who generally have a penchant for retro content. According to the report, 60 percent of Gen Z prefer to listen to music from the 1990s or earlier. In 2021, it was only 18 percent.
CDs as Coveted Collectibles
Another similar trend to vinyl records is emerging with CDs. In many cases, they are not purchased for listening but as pure collectibles. Reportedly, 50 percent of CD buyers from Gen Z and Millennials do not even own a suitable playback device. Instead, ownership, aesthetics, and financial support for favorite artists prevail.
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Whether and how long the trend will continue remains to be seen. The growth is remarkable. Nevertheless, in absolute numbers, CDs still lag behind vinyl records, which sold 21.8 million units in the same period. Far behind is the slowly returning cassette with 205,000 units. Overall, the sales of physical sound carriers in the U.S. increased by 7.8 percent. Of these, 44.5 percent are rock music, 16 percent pop, and 13.2 percent hip-hop and R&B.
The rising CD sales are not an isolated phenomenon. In 2023, they increased in the UK, and even in the U.S., a first rebound against the downward trend was observed in 2021, with an increase of 47.7 percent at that time. Germany and South Korea also saw increases.