CD Sales Surge as Physical Media Rebounds
AI-generated image · US National Wire
New RIAA data shows a sharp increase in CD revenue and unit sales, signaling a broader shift toward tangible tech among Gen Z consumers.
Compact discs are seeing an unexpected resurgence in a market previously dominated by streaming, as TechCrunch first reported. According to a report from the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA), CDs brought in $171.1 million in revenue throughout the first half of 2026. This represents a 58.6% increase over the $107.9 million earned during the same period in 2025.
Unit sales mirrored this growth, with 17.5 million CDs sold in the first half of 2026, up 45.7% from the 12 million units sold in the first half of 2025. This rebound follows a difficult 2025, where the RIAA reported full-year CD revenue fell 7.8% to $312.4 million and unit sales dropped 11.6% to 29.5 million.
TechCrunch reports that this trend is part of a larger movement toward "simpler tech" among Gen Z consumers, who are seeking more control over their digital engagement and a reprieve from algorithms and notifications. This demand extends beyond music to include digital cameras, typewriters, landlines, and "dumbphones." New market entrants catering to this shift include landline companies Tin Can, Ooma, and Pinwheel, as well as non-smartphone makers Light, Dumb Co, Minimal, and the upcoming Clicks. Consumers are also sourcing vintage hardware via eBay, Retrospekt, and thrift stores.
Overall physical media revenue—which includes vinyl—rose 25.9% to $731.5 million in the first half of 2026, driven by the CD surge and a growth of 17.7% for vinyl revenue. TechCrunch notes that RIAA figures may undercount the trend, as they exclude used sales from garage sales or thrift bins and do not track discs passed down from Gen X parents.