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U.S. Compact-Disc Sales Surge 58.6% in First Half of 2026, RIAA Report Shows
In the first six months of 2026, U.S. compact‑disc (CD) sales leapt 58.6% in wholesale revenue, reaching $171.1 million, according to the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA). That surge reflects a 45.7% rise in units sold, with 17.5 million CDs moving in the market.
The RIAA’s mid‑year data differ from the consumer‑sales figures released by Luminate, which tracks retail purchases. Luminate reported 16.3 million CD units sold in the same period—a 16% increase—because it relies on retailer sales and modeling to estimate consumer activity. In contrast, the RIAA reports wholesale revenue net of returns, a metric that aligns with international industry standards. The two sets of data therefore complement rather than contradict each other.
Physical‑music revenue for the U.S. totaled $731.5 million in the first half of 2026, up 25.9% from the same period in 2025. Vinyl accounted for 26.5 million units and $543.8 million in wholesale revenue, a 20.9% rise in units and 17.7% in revenue. Other physical formats—cassettes, SACD, and other non‑CD, non‑vinyl products—sold 1.6 million units and generated $16.5 million in revenue, a 73.4% increase in units and 44.9% in revenue.
The RIAA’s updated 2025 baseline shows CD sales at 12.0 million units and $107.9 million in revenue, slightly higher than the 11.7 million units reported in the previous year’s mid‑year release. The revised baseline confirms that the 2026 rebound is a significant turnaround from the 2025 decline, when CD revenue fell 7.8% and unit sales dropped 11.6%.
K‑pop has been a key driver of the CD resurgence. Luminate attributes a 16% overall increase in CD sales to collectible K‑pop releases, noting that 30% of physical‑music sales in mass‑market retailers were driven by K‑pop fandom. Even after excluding K‑pop, Luminate reports a 6.7% rise in CD sales, indicating that the rebound is not solely due to the genre.
Affordability also fuels the renewed interest. Wholesale prices average $9.78 per CD versus $20.52 per vinyl album. CDs offer lossless digital audio, compact storage, and easy ripping, making them attractive for collectors and listeners who prefer a physical object without the premium price of vinyl.
Physical formats continue to grow alongside streaming. U.S. streaming revenue in the first half of 2026 reached approximately $4.89 billion, accounting for about 82% of total recorded‑music revenue. Physical sales grew while digital downloads did not, suggesting that the appeal of a tangible product, rather than permanent digital ownership, is driving the trend.
The CD market’s growth has also coincided with a broader revival of physical media. New CD players and transports have entered the market, ranging from high‑end models such as the Accuphase DP‑470 to portable players like the FiiO DM15 R2R. These devices support CD playback, ripping, and high‑resolution audio conversion, indicating that consumers are investing in the infrastructure to use the format.
Vinyl remains the dominant physical format, generating more than three times the revenue of CDs. However, the CD’s rapid growth rate—58.6% in revenue versus 17.7% for vinyl—highlights a shift in consumer behavior. The format’s resurgence is driven by collectibility, affordability, and the continued coexistence of streaming and physical ownership.
The RIAA’s mid‑year report confirms that the U.S. physical‑music market is expanding, with CDs leading the unexpected rebound. The data suggest that consumers are willing to purchase physical copies for ownership and fandom reasons, even as streaming remains the primary mode of music consumption.
The industry’s focus on physical formats is now a complement to streaming rather than a replacement. The CD’s revival illustrates that the market for tangible music products is still viable, and that collectors and superfans are willing to invest in new releases.
The RIAA’s data underscore that the compact‑disc market is experiencing a significant turnaround, and that the physical‑music sector as a whole is growing alongside digital streaming.
The RIAA’s mid‑year data differ from the consumer‑sales figures released by Luminate, which tracks retail purchases. Luminate reported 16.3 million CD units sold in the same period—a 16% increase—because it relies on retailer sales and modeling to estimate consumer activity. In contrast, the RIAA reports wholesale revenue net of returns, a metric that aligns with international industry standards. The two sets of data therefore complement rather than contradict each other.
Physical‑music revenue for the U.S. totaled $731.5 million in the first half of 2026, up 25.9% from the same period in 2025. Vinyl accounted for 26.5 million units and $543.8 million in wholesale revenue, a 20.9% rise in units and 17.7% in revenue. Other physical formats—cassettes, SACD, and other non‑CD, non‑vinyl products—sold 1.6 million units and generated $16.5 million in revenue, a 73.4% increase in units and 44.9% in revenue.
The RIAA’s updated 2025 baseline shows CD sales at 12.0 million units and $107.9 million in revenue, slightly higher than the 11.7 million units reported in the previous year’s mid‑year release. The revised baseline confirms that the 2026 rebound is a significant turnaround from the 2025 decline, when CD revenue fell 7.8% and unit sales dropped 11.6%.
K‑pop has been a key driver of the CD resurgence. Luminate attributes a 16% overall increase in CD sales to collectible K‑pop releases, noting that 30% of physical‑music sales in mass‑market retailers were driven by K‑pop fandom. Even after excluding K‑pop, Luminate reports a 6.7% rise in CD sales, indicating that the rebound is not solely due to the genre.
Affordability also fuels the renewed interest. Wholesale prices average $9.78 per CD versus $20.52 per vinyl album. CDs offer lossless digital audio, compact storage, and easy ripping, making them attractive for collectors and listeners who prefer a physical object without the premium price of vinyl.
Physical formats continue to grow alongside streaming. U.S. streaming revenue in the first half of 2026 reached approximately $4.89 billion, accounting for about 82% of total recorded‑music revenue. Physical sales grew while digital downloads did not, suggesting that the appeal of a tangible product, rather than permanent digital ownership, is driving the trend.
The CD market’s growth has also coincided with a broader revival of physical media. New CD players and transports have entered the market, ranging from high‑end models such as the Accuphase DP‑470 to portable players like the FiiO DM15 R2R. These devices support CD playback, ripping, and high‑resolution audio conversion, indicating that consumers are investing in the infrastructure to use the format.
Vinyl remains the dominant physical format, generating more than three times the revenue of CDs. However, the CD’s rapid growth rate—58.6% in revenue versus 17.7% for vinyl—highlights a shift in consumer behavior. The format’s resurgence is driven by collectibility, affordability, and the continued coexistence of streaming and physical ownership.
The RIAA’s mid‑year report confirms that the U.S. physical‑music market is expanding, with CDs leading the unexpected rebound. The data suggest that consumers are willing to purchase physical copies for ownership and fandom reasons, even as streaming remains the primary mode of music consumption.
The industry’s focus on physical formats is now a complement to streaming rather than a replacement. The CD’s revival illustrates that the market for tangible music products is still viable, and that collectors and superfans are willing to invest in new releases.
The RIAA’s data underscore that the compact‑disc market is experiencing a significant turnaround, and that the physical‑music sector as a whole is growing alongside digital streaming.