CD sales are rising again, with US revenue up 58.6% in the first half of 2026 as listeners return to physical music alongside streaming.
The figures come from the Recording Industry Association of America’s mid-year report, which puts CD revenue at $171.1 million, up from roughly $107.9 million in the same period last year. Unit sales rose 45.7% to 17.5 million, compared with about 12 million in the first half of 2025.
Why CD sales are growing again
The increase follows a weak 2025, when full-year CD revenue fell 7.8% and unit sales dropped 11.6%, according to the RIAA’s year-end figures. The 2026 rebound is part of a wider interest in older, less connected technology, from digital cameras and typewriters to dumbphones and physical music.
Reuters reports that physical music revenue rose 25.9% to $731.5 million in the first half of the year. Vinyl revenue grew 17.7%, while streaming remained the much larger business at $4.9 billion, up 4.7%.
The RIAA’s figures cover new music sales and do not include used CDs bought from charity shops, record fairs or second-hand marketplaces. They also do not capture discs passed between family members, which is one way a format can remain in circulation without generating a fresh sale.
What the numbers mean for physical music
The report shows that streaming has not removed the appetite for ownership. It has, however, kept its commanding lead: paid subscriptions generated $3.4 billion in the first half of 2026, according to the RIAA.
TechCrunch links the CD rebound to a broader retro-tech trend, particularly among younger consumers who did not grow up with the formats now being rediscovered. A CD still needs a player, a shelf and a decision about what to listen to. The algorithm remains optional.
These are US figures, so they do not establish CD sales trends in the UAE. Local retailers and music shops may stock imported releases, but no UAE sales data was included in the RIAA report.
How much did CD sales rise in the first half of 2026?
US CD revenue rose 58.6% to $171.1 million, while unit sales increased 45.7% to 17.5 million.
Are CDs outselling streaming?
No. Streaming generated $4.9 billion in US recorded-music revenue in the first half of 2026, far more than CDs.
Does the report include used CDs?
No. The RIAA figures cover reported music revenue and do not include second-hand discs from charity shops, record fairs or marketplaces.
