CDs make a comeback, boosting US recorded music revenue

Sept 1 (Reuters) - A ‌resurgence in ​CD ​demand helped power a nearly 7% increase in U.S. recorded ‌music revenue in the first half of ⁠2026, the Recording Industry Association of America ‌said on Tuesday.

The jump ‌underscores growing consumer interest in retro music formats, building on the revival of ​vinyl that has pushed more artists to release albums on the medium.

Here ⁠are some details:

• U.S. recorded music revenue rose 6.9% from ​a year earlier to $6.0 billion in the first half of 2026, according ​to RIAA data.

• Physical ‌music revenue jumped 25.9% to $731.5 million, driven by a 58.6% ⁠increase in CD revenue and a 17.7% increase in vinyl revenue.

• Streaming revenue rose ⁠4.7% to $4.9 billion, remaining the largest source of recorded ​music revenue.

• The results point to a "healthy, diversified marketplace" supporting continued investment in artists and new ‌ways for audiences to experience music, RIAA VP of Research ‌Matt Bass said.

• Paid subscription revenue rose ⁠6.4% to $3.4 billion ‌in the first ​half of 2026.

(Reporting by Anzar Mehraj in Bengaluru; Editing by Shilpi ‌Majumdar)

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