CD sales surge as retro tech trend gains momentum

Just when the music industry had written off the compact disc as a relic of the pre-streaming era, the disc is staging a comeback. New data from the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA) shows that CD revenue surged in the first half of 2026, driven by a broader wave of retro tech enthusiasm among younger consumers.

Sharp rebound in CD sales

According to the RIAA’s mid-year report, CDs generated $171.1 million in revenue during the first six months of 2026, up 58.6% from roughly $107.9 million in the same period last year. Unit sales followed suit, climbing to 17.5 million — a 45.7% increase from about 12 million units sold in the first half of 2025.

The turnaround is notable because it comes after a lackluster 2025. The RIAA’s full-year data for 2025 showed that CD revenue had fallen 7.8% from the prior year, dropping from $338.9 million in 2024 to $312.4 million in 2025. Unit sales also declined, from 33.3 million to 29.5 million, an 11.6% decrease.

That recent history makes the current upswing all the more striking, suggesting a genuine shift in consumer behavior rather than a one-off blip.

Retro tech craze fuels demand

The CD resurgence isn’t happening in a vacuum. It coincides with a surge of interest in so-called “dumbphones,” digital cameras, typewriters, landlines, and other physical media like vinyl records. For Generation Z, these devices represent a kind of nostalgia for an era they never directly experienced — a time when users had more control over when and how they engaged with technology, and when tech itself had less ability to intrude with notifications, addictive apps, and algorithms.

Startups are already tapping into this appetite, with companies like Tin Can, Ooma, and Pinwheel producing new landlines, and firms like Light, Dumb Co, and Minimal offering non-smartphones. Even a soon-to-launch BlackBerry-style device from Clicks is entering the fray. Meanwhile, younger shoppers are scouring thrift stores and online vintage marketplaces such as eBay and Retrospekt for old gadgets.

Underreported trend possible

The RIAA’s figures might actually underestimate the CD comeback, as they only track new music sold through verified channels. The numbers exclude used CD sales — discs purchased from thrift bins, garage sales, or handed down from parents to kids. Given that many Gen X parents have collections of CDs they no longer use, the actual volume of CDs circulating among younger listeners could be significantly higher than official tallies suggest.

That gap points to a cultural shift that isn’t fully captured by industry revenue reports.

Methodology caveat

One important nuance: the RIAA altered its calculation methodology in 2025, shifting from estimated retail value to wholesale value when reporting dollar figures. Because of this change, revenue numbers from 2024 and 2025 are not directly comparable. However, unit sales, which are unaffected by the methodology switch, tell a consistent story — CDs were still on the decline before this year’s unexpected rebound.

Physical media overall on the rise

The CD growth is part of a larger trend in physical media. Vinyl sales also continued to grow, and the RIAA reported that overall physical media revenue for the first half of 2026 jumped 25.9% to $731.5 million. That increase was fueled by the 58.6% spike in CD revenue as well as a 17.7% rise in vinyl revenue.

For an industry that has spent years pivoting to streaming, the renewed appetite for tactile formats suggests that not all consumers are satisfied with digital-only access to music.

Why it matters

The CD’s comeback, if sustained, could have implications for artists, labels, and retailers that had written off physical formats as a shrinking niche. It might also signal that a segment of listeners — particularly younger ones — values ownership and intentionality over the endless, algorithm-driven playlist. For an industry built on streaming subscriptions, the challenge will be balancing the convenience of digital with the growing desire for physical artifacts. Whether this trend has staying power or is just a nostalgic flash in the pan remains to be seen, but for now, the shiny disc is far from dead.