CD Revenue Jumps 58.6% in the US as Physical Music Makes a Major Comeback

According to the Recording Industry Association of America’s latest mid-year report, CD revenue jumped 58.6% during the first half of 2026, reaching $171.1 million. The number of CDs shipped also climbed 45.7% year over year to 17.5 million units.

The surge comes as physical music continues to gain momentum across the country. Overall physical-format revenue reached $731.5 million, up 25.9% compared with the same period in 2025. Vinyl remains the largest physical format by revenue, generating roughly $544 million, but its 17.7% growth was far below the pace recorded by CDs.

The numbers mark a sharp turnaround for CDs, which had spent years losing ground as streaming became the dominant way people consumed music. Their renewed growth suggests physical releases are finding a new role alongside digital listening rather than competing directly with it.

Collectible editions, artist merchandise bundles and renewed interest in owning music physically are helping make CDs relevant again, especially as fans increasingly treat physical releases as part of the experience of supporting an artist.

Streaming still dominates the U.S. recorded music business, accounting for roughly 82% of revenue and generating around $4.9 billion during the first half of the year. But with CDs growing faster than any major format highlighted in the report, 2026 is proving that physical music is far from finished.