Although digital music services continue to dominate, CD sales entered an unexpected upward trend in 2026. Physical music formats in the US market attracted attention by recording significant growth in the first half of the year.

17.5 million CDs were sold across the US in the first six months of 2026. This number, which was 12 million in the same period of the previous year, shows a 45.7% increase in sales.

Huge Rise in the CD Market

This increase in sales numbers was directly reflected in the revenues generated. Total revenue from CD sales increased by 58.6 percent to $171.1 million.

This growth is even more significant as it follows a decline recorded the previous year. In the first half of 2026, CD sales had fallen by approximately 22 percent compared to the same period of the previous year.

Although there are different market measurement methods, all data confirm that CD sales are above last year’s figures. The 17.5 million sales volume recorded in the first half of 2026 brought one of the oldest digital formats of physical music back to the growth side.

K-Pop albums accounted for a significant portion of the sales increase. Special cover designs and collectibles from K-Pop artists, especially BTS, generated significant volume in physical sales.

Even when K-Pop sales are completely excluded from the calculation, CD sales in the US increased by 6.7 percent in the first half of the year. This proves that interest is not limited to just one type of music.

Collecting Culture and Changing Habits

The usage habits of the CD-buying audience are also undergoing a significant change. Approximately half of the consumers from Generation Z and Generation Y who buy CDs do not have a CD player in their homes.

For this group, physical albums have become not only a means of listening to music but also a collection item. Cover design and special editions play a decisive role in consumers’ purchasing decisions.

Along with CDs, vinyl record sales also continued to rise. In the first half of 2026, 26.5 million vinyl records were sold in the US, and the annual increase in volume reached approximately 21 percent.

A much higher rate of increase was observed in physical formats other than standard CDs and records. Sales in the category including CD singles, DVDs, cassettes, and SACDs increased by over 73 percent.

Total revenue from physical formats increased by 25.9 percent in the first half of 2026. The increase in CD revenue was accompanied by a 17.7 percent increase in record revenue.

Digital Streaming Services Maintain Their Top Position

This activity in physical works is also supported by the revived interest in older iPod models. The popularity of portable music players in the second-hand market keeps the demand for physical formats alive.

Despite all these developments, digital streaming services remain the largest source of revenue for the music industry. Streaming revenue increased by 4.7 percent in the first half of 2026, reaching $4.9 billion.

This figure represents 82% of total US recorded music revenue. Revenue from paid subscriptions increased by 6.4% to $3.4 billion, while revenue from free services increased by 3.7% to $900 million.

Total revenue of the US recorded music market increased by 6.9% in the same period, reaching $6 billion. Do you think this interest in physical music formats is a permanent trend, or just a temporary wave of nostalgia?