The Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA) released a report showing that CD sales will surge in the first half of 2026. The organization stated that in the first six months of this year, CD sales reached 17.7 million, significantly higher than the 12 million CD sales in the same period last year.
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RIAA data shows that CD sales increased by 45.7% year-on-year, and sales increased by 58.6% compared with the same period last year. Even more surprising is that CD sales dropped by 22% between 2024 and 2025. Curiously, it’s not just the RIAA who is concerned about the dramatic increase in CD popularity.
In July, research company Luminate released a report showing that 16.3 million optical discs were sold in the first half of 2026. The company believes the increase in demand is due to the release of special editions by K-pop stars such as BTS. The report points out that Generation Z and Millennials view physical media as collectibles, driving the popularity of CDs. According to Luminate’s estimates, only about half of optical disc buyers own a CD player and use it for its intended purpose.
Meanwhile, the vinyl record renaissance continues. In the first six months, 26.5 million records were sold, an increase of nearly 21% compared to the same period in 2025. Information sales of other physical media also increased by more than 73%, reaching 1.6 million.
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