CDs make a comeback, boosting US recorded music revenue
A resurgence in CD demand helped power a nearly 7% increase in US recorded music revenue in the first half of 2026, the Recording Industry Association of America said on Tuesday. The jump underscores growing consumer interest in retro music formats, building on the revival of vinyl that has pushed more artists to release albums on the medium. Here are some details: US recorded music revenue rose…
A recent resurgence in CD sales has contributed to a nearly 7% increase in US recorded music revenue during the first half of 2026, according to the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA). This trend highlights growing consumer interest in retro music formats, building upon the renewed popularity of vinyl records that have encouraged more artists to release albums on the medium.
The RIAA's data reveals that US recorded music revenue rose 6.9% from the previous year, reaching a total of $6.0 billion in the first half of 2026.
Physical music sales saw a significant surge, jumping 25.9% to $731.5 million. This growth was primarily fueled by a 58.6% increase in CD sales and a 17.7% rise in vinyl sales. In contrast, streaming revenue grew by 4.7% to $4.9 billion, maintaining its position as the largest source of recorded music revenue.
These figures suggest a "healthy, diversified marketplace" that supports ongoing investment in artists and innovative ways for audiences to engage with music, stated Matt Bass, RIAA VP of Research. Paid subscription revenue also increased by 6.4% to $3.4 billion during the same period.
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