CD sales make surprising comeback amid retro tech revival
New RIAA data shows CD sales jumped sharply in the first half of 2026, part of a broader wave of renewed interest in older, simpler technology. The rebound follows a year in which CD sales had still been declining overall.
The Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA) has released new figures pointing to an unexpected revival for compact discs. According to the organization's latest report, CDs generated $171.1 million in revenue during the first half of 2026, up 58.6% from about $107.9 million in the same period of 2025. Unit sales reached 17.5 million, a 45.7% increase from roughly 12 million a year earlier.
The rebound is notable because it follows a difficult 2025. RIAA's full-year report for that year showed CD revenue had fallen 7.8%, from $338.9 million in 2024 to $312.4 million in 2025, while units sold dropped 11.6%, from 33.3 million to 29.5 million.
A wider return to simpler tech
The CD growth is part of a broader trend of renewed interest in simpler, older technology, including so-called "dumbphones," digital cameras, typewriters, landlines, and physical media such as CDs and vinyl. For many younger consumers, the appeal reflects a desire for an era of technology they never experienced firsthand — one with more control over when and how they engage, and less intrusion from notifications and algorithms.
Several startups now operate in this space, including landline makers Tin Can, Ooma, and Pinwheel, and non-smartphone makers Light, Dumb Co, and Minimal, along with the soon-to-launch BlackBerry-style device Clicks. Meanwhile, younger buyers are also picking up older gadgets from thrift stores and vintage tech sites like eBay and Retrospekt.
RIAA notes the actual trend could be even larger than its figures suggest, since the data excludes used CD sales and discs passed down within families. A methodology change in 2025 also means dollar figures across years aren't directly comparable, though unit sales, unaffected by that change, confirm the same pattern. Overall physical media revenue in the first half of 2026 rose 25.9% to $731.5 million, driven by gains in both CD and vinyl sales, the latter up 17.7%.
