CD Sales Jump 58.6%
Revenue hits $171.1 million as 17.5 million units sell in retro tech boom
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Korean pop accounts for a substantial share of the CD sales boom, with BTS' Arirang being the year's top-selling disc so far.
Story published. Revenue hits $171.1 million as 17.5 million units sell in retro tech boom
CD sales have seen an unexpected comeback, with revenue growing 58.6% to $171.1 million in the first half of 2026, according to the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA). This growth is part of a larger trend of renewed interest in retro tech, including vinyl, dumbphones, and physical media.
The RIAA reported that 17.5 million CD units were sold in the first half of 2026, a 45.7% increase from the same period in 2025. This surge in sales comes after a decline in 2025, when CD revenue fell 7.8% from $338.9 million to $312.4 million, and unit sales dropped 11.6% from 33.3 million to 29.5 million.
The trend of renewed interest in retro tech is not limited to CDs. Demand for dumbphones, digital cameras, typewriters, landlines, and physical media like vinyl is also on the rise. Startups such as Tin Can, Ooma, and Pinwheel are producing landline phones, while others like Light, Dumb Co, and Minimal are producing non-smartphones.
## Why it matters The growth in CD sales and the broader retro tech trend may be driven by a desire for simpler technology and more control over when and how people engage with it. For Gen Z, this represents a yearning for an era of tech they never experienced, where devices were less invasive and addictive. As a result, several startups are playing in this space, and consumers are snapping up old gadgets at thrift stores or on vintage tech websites.
The RIAA's method of calculating dollar figures changed in 2025, switching from estimated retail value to wholesale value. However, the growth in CD sales and revenue suggests that the trend is real and may be bigger than the RIAA's numbers demonstrate.
## What happens next As the retro tech trend continues to grow, it will be interesting to see how the music industry and other sectors respond. Will CD sales continue to rise, or will they plateau? How will startups in the retro tech space innovate and adapt to changing consumer demands? Only time will tell, but for now, it's clear that CDs are back in the game, and retro tech is here to stay.
