According to the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA), CD sales have seen a significant boost in the first half of 2026, with 17.5 million units sold, a 45.7 percent increase from the previous year. This surge in sales is part of a wider trend towards physical media, with vinyl sales also climbing by 21 percent from last year, reaching 26.5 million units. The RIAA report suggests that Gen Z and millennials are treating CDs more as collectibles, with only half of buyers actually owning a CD player.

Interestingly, even as physical media sales are on the rise, streaming remains a force to be reckoned with. Streaming revenue grew by 4.7 percent to $4.9 billion, significantly outpacing the growth of physical media. This indicates that despite the resurgence of physical media, digital platforms are still where the bulk of music consumption happens.

Other forms of physical media, such as CD singles, DVDs, cassettes, and SACD, saw a surge of over 73 percent in the first half of 2026, reaching 1.6 million units. This suggests that the revival of physical media is not just limited to CDs and vinyl, but has spread to other formats as well.

The RIAA’s findings highlight a fascinating shift in consumer behavior. While younger generations are embracing physical media, they are not entirely abandoning digital platforms. This could indicate a hybrid future where physical and digital coexist, each fulfilling different needs and desires.