The CD is staging an unexpected comeback in the United States. During the first half of 2026, its revenue climbed 58.6% and units sold grew 45.7%, according to the latest data from the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA). Vinyl hasn’t peaked either, with revenue up 17.7%. All of this is happening while streaming continues to dominate the market, generating 82% of recorded music revenue.
The CD comeback in 30 seconds
- CD revenue reached $171.1 million in the United States during the first half of 2026, up 58.6%.
- About 17.5 million CDs were sold, compared to 12 million a year earlier.
- Vinyl generated $543.8 million in revenue and grew 17.7%.
- Physical formats overall rose 25.9%, to $731.5 million.
- Streaming remains far ahead, generating roughly $4.9 billion and 82% of the market.
The data undercuts, at least for now, the idea that physical music was destined to shrink down to vinyl for collectors. The compact disc is growing strongly again after years of being pushed aside first by downloads and then by on-demand streaming platforms. But it isn’t replacing streaming. Both formats are growing at the same time, and they serve different ways of consuming music.
The U.S. recorded music industry reached $5.97 billion during the first six months of 2026, up 6.9% from the same period a year earlier. The RIAA notes that the growth outpaced U.S. inflation and occurred across every major revenue category.
CD Sales Are Growing Faster Than Vinyl, Though Revenue Still Lags Far Behind
The CD’s recovery is especially striking given the gap between units and revenue.
During the first half of 2025, roughly 12 million CDs were sold, generating $107.9 million. A year later, volume reached 17.5 million units, while revenue climbed to $171.1 million.
| Format | H1 2025 | H1 2026 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| CDs sold | 12 million | 17.5 million | +45.7% |
| CD revenue | $107.9M | $171.1M | +58.6% |
| Vinyl records sold | 22 million | 26.5 million | +20.9% |
| Vinyl revenue | $461.9M | $543.8M | +17.7% |
Source: RIAA, first half of 2026.
The fact that CD revenue is growing faster than the number of units sold means the average revenue per unit has also increased. The available data doesn’t allow that increase to be pinned on a single cause, so it’s worth avoiding the assumption that it comes exclusively from collector’s editions or special releases.
Vinyl still holds a much larger economic position within the physical market, though.
The United States went from about 22 million records sold during the first six months of 2025 to 26.5 million in 2026, an increase of 20.9%. Revenue climbed from $461.9 million to $543.8 million, up 17.7%.
That means vinyl currently generates a little more than three times as much revenue as CDs.
Minor physical formats, grouped by the RIAA under the “Other Physical” category, also grew. This includes products such as cassettes, MiniDisc, Super Audio CD (SACD), DVD-Audio, and music DVDs and Blu-rays. Their revenue rose from $11.4 million to $16.5 million, up 44.9%.
Altogether, physical formats generated $731.5 million, compared to $581.2 million during the first half of 2025. That’s a 25.9% increase.
| U.S. physical market | H1 2026 revenue | Growth |
|---|---|---|
| Vinyl | $543.8M | +17.7% |
| CD | $171.1M | +58.6% |
| Other physical formats | $16.5M | +44.9% |
| Total physical | $731.5M | +25.9% |
The breakdown also shows just how much vinyl continues to dominate physical purchases: roughly three out of every four dollars generated by these formats comes from vinyl records.
Streaming Isn’t Losing Ground: It Generated Nearly $4.9 Billion
The CD’s growth could be read as a reaction against digital subscriptions, but the RIAA’s figures don’t currently support a mass migration from streaming to physical formats.
What’s happening is practically the opposite: both markets are growing.
Streaming generated roughly $4.9 billion during the first half, up 4.7%, and accounted for approximately 82% of all U.S. recorded music revenue.
Paid subscriptions contributed about $3.4 billion, up 6.4%. Ad-supported free streaming also grew, up 3.7%, approaching $900 million.
| Category | H1 2026 revenue | Change |
|---|---|---|
| Streaming | ~$4.9B | +4.7% |
| Paid subscriptions | ~$3.4B | +6.4% |
| Free streaming | ~$900M | +3.7% |
| Physical formats | $731.5M | +25.9% |
| Synchronization | ~$232M | +18.2% |
Source: RIAA. Rounded figures are as reported by the association.
The difference is in the pace. Physical formats start from a much smaller base and are growing 25.9%, while the enormous streaming market is growing 4.7%.
Digital platforms remain, therefore, the dominant way people listen to music. Physical formats appear to serve a different purpose: buying and owning a specific album can coexist with everyday access to huge catalogs through a subscription.
There is one format that is still losing ground: permanent digital downloads. Revenue from individually downloaded songs fell 13.7%, while album downloads declined 3%.
That contrast matters. American consumers aren’t abandoning digital, but among the ways of buying music outright rather than accessing it temporarily, physical formats are performing far better than traditional downloads.
Physical Formats Are Finding a Different Niche Than They Had 20 Years Ago
The CD’s rebound also doesn’t mean a return to the music market that existed before Spotify, YouTube Music, or Apple Music. The $171.1 million generated by the format is still far from the billions moved by streaming.
What the 2026 data shows is a coexistence that seemed less likely just a few years ago.
Streaming is used as the primary way to access music, while CDs and vinyl preserve the option of physically owning an album. In vinyl’s case, that recovery has been unfolding for years. What’s new is that growth is no longer exclusive to the vinyl record.
The CD is starting to take part in that recovery too.
And it’s still too early to know whether the 58.6% revenue increase marks the start of a sustained trend or reflects a particularly strong half-year. Comparisons with the RIAA’s upcoming reports will show whether the compact disc can sustain that growth.
For now, the numbers leave an interesting paradox for an industry completely transformed by the internet: in the same market where streaming generates more than six times the revenue of all physical formats combined, millions of consumers keep buying discs they could listen to instantly from their phones.
Frequently Asked Questions
How much have CD sales grown in 2026?
In the United States, about 17.5 million CDs were sold during the first half of 2026, up 45.7% from a year earlier. Revenue grew even more, up 58.6%, to $171.1 million.
Do CDs or vinyl records sell more?
Vinyl remains ahead. During the first half of 2026, 26.5 million vinyl records were sold compared to 17.5 million CDs, and vinyl revenue reached $543.8 million.
Is streaming declining because of the return of physical formats?
No. Streaming revenue increased 4.7% and reached approximately $4.9 billion, equivalent to 82% of the U.S. recorded music market.
Which music format is losing sales?
Traditional digital downloads are indeed declining. Revenue from individually downloaded songs fell 13.7%, and revenue from digital albums dropped 3%.
