CD Sales Increase Amid Growing Interest in Retro Technology

The Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA) reported that CD sales have increased, generating $171.1 million in revenue during the first half of 2026, a 58.6% rise from approximately $107.9 million in the first half of 2025. The number of CDs sold also rose to 17.5 million units, up 45.7% from about 12 million units in the same period last year. This growth follows a decline in 2025, where CD revenue fell 7.8% from $338.9 million in 2024 to $312.4 million in 2025, and unit sales dropped 11.6%, from 33.3 million to 29.5 million. The increase in CD sales coincides with a broader trend of renewed interest in simpler technology, such as dumbphones, digital cameras, and vinyl records. Several startups are catering to this demand, including companies producing landline phones and non-smartphones. The RIAA's figures do not account for used CD sales, which could indicate that the trend is larger than reported. Additionally, the RIAA changed its revenue calculation method in 2025, switching from estimated retail value to wholesale value, making comparisons with previous years challenging. However, unit sales reflect a consistent narrative of decline prior to this year's rebound. Vinyl sales are also on the rise, with physical media revenue in the first half of 2026 increasing by 25.9% to $731.5 million, driven by both the increase in CD revenue and a 17.7% rise in vinyl revenue.