CD sales in the US rose by 16% to 16.3 million units in the first half of 2026, surpassing vinyl's 2.4% growth. Increased sales are driven by K-pop releases and younger generations viewing CDs as collectibles. This reflects a broader revival of physical music sales, including LPs and cassettes.
In the first half of 2026, CD sales in the US grew by 16% to 16.3 million units, according to Luminate's midyear report. This surge marked a notable outperformance compared to vinyl records, which showed a growth of 2.4% during the same period.
While BTS' successful album ARIRANG played a significant role in driving CD sales, the trend extends beyond K-pop. Even when excluding K-pop sales, CD sales still experienced a 6.7% increase year over year.
The resurgence in CD sales is attributed to various factors such as collection building and the affordability of CDs compared to other physical formats. Luminate's report notes that CDs have been redefined as affordable collectibles.
Interestingly, data shows that a significant portion of younger buyers, including Gen Z and Millennials, view CDs as collectibles rather than for functional use, as many do not own CD players.
Changing listening habits among younger fans appear to contribute to the rise of CDs. The report highlights that 60% of Gen Z fans now listen to music from the 1990s or earlier, a substantial increase from 18% in 2021.
This demographic shift is seen as part of the broader revival of tangible music formats, as younger fans seek to own a piece of music history.
In addition to the rise in CD sales, the overall physical music market, including LPs, CDs, and cassettes, recorded a 7.8% increase, totaling 38.2 million units in the first half of 2026.
This growth underscores the ongoing significant consumer interest in physical music formats, signaling a potential long-term trend beyond the digital realm.
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CD sales in the US rose to 16.3 million during the first half of 2026, marking a 16% increase year-over-year. This growth is attributed to collectors’ interest, affordability, significant K-pop releases, and a shift among younger buyers toward viewing CDs as collectibles rather than functional audio formats.
CD sales increased by 16% to 16.3 million units in H1 2026, outpacing vinyl's 2.4% growth. The resurgence reflects shifting listening habits, particularly among Gen Z, and a broader increase in physical music sales.