Vinyl And CD Sales Are Booming
Music lovers today are turning back to vintage formats like vinyl records and CDs in their droves.
According to the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA), streaming remained the largest source of recorded music revenue, generating $4.9 billion, up just under 5 percent from 2025. However, revenues from physical music formats really jumped in 2026, with vinyl sales increasing by 18 percent (reaching roughly $544 million) and CD sales by a whopping 58 percent, to about $171 million. Compared to vinyl LPs - which often retail for $30 to $40 - CDs offer a lower-cost entry point for fans wanting to own physical copies of albums.
Gen Z, in particular, has developed a fascination with older technology, embracing flip phones, analogue cameras, and other vintage gadgets that offer a welcome break from the digital world.
Whilst the RIAA does not comment on why there is a growing love of physical formats, some commentators say that it may be due to the controversial impact streaming services have on artists and the music industry. Buying records and CDs allows you to build a permanent collection that you can keep for years to come, whereas streaming platforms only provide access to music for as long as it remains available on the service.
Buying vinyl and CDs also offers a more direct way to financially support your favorite artists, while streaming services only pay fractions of cents to the artists on their platforms. And good old analog provides a way to mindfully listen to an artist’s record as they intended, without easily skipping songs.
Major mass-market retailers like Target and Walmart continue to expand their physical music sections, accounting for a significant share of total sales.
