Sales of CD and vinyl music sees strong resurgence amid physical media backlash — US sales of ‘retro media’ were up 59% and 18%, respectively, in H1 2026

The U.S. recorded music industry reported a 6.9% increase in revenue to $6 billion in the first half of 2026, as announced by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA). However, the association's latest figures highlight a strong resurgence in CD and vinyl music sales, with both formats experiencing double-digit growth. Vinyl sales grew by 17.7%, while CD sales increased by 58.6%. Physical revenue jumped 25.9% overall, driven by the surge in vinyl and CD sales.

Despite the impressive growth in physical media, the RIAA emphasizes that every major revenue category expanded, demonstrating a thriving and increasingly diverse marketplace. Streaming continues to dominate the digital sector, generating $4.9 billion in H1 2026, up 4.7%, and remains the largest source of recorded music industry revenue. Other digital statistics include a 6.4% growth in paid subscriptions, totaling $3.4 billion, and a 3.7% increase in free streaming, reaching $900 million.

The resurgence in physical music media can be attributed to "continued fan excitement with different ways to experience music across an increasingly varied marketplace." The RIAA acknowledges that this trend might suggest some consumers are frustrated with the evolving offerings in the music streaming industry, such as pricing and catalogs.

However, similar backlash has been observed in the TV/movie streaming business, where some consumers are building up home media catalogs by purchasing DVDs and Blu-rays. In the realm of video gaming, this sentiment is also evident, as demonstrated by the high-profile case involving Sony PlayStation digital game ownership.