Warbixinta cusub ee RIAA waxay muujisay in CD-yada ay gaareen dhaqaale $171.1 milyan bishii hore ee 2026, taas oo ka badan $107.9 milyan ee sanadkii hore, iyadoo la iibiyay 17.5 milyan oo qof, taas oo ka badan 12 milyan oo qof.
Soo noqoshada CD-yada iyo waxa ka dambeeya
Warbixinta RIAA waxay sheegtay in CD-yada ay ku kordheen dhaqaale $171.1 milyan bishii hore ee 2026, taas oo ka badan $107.9 milyan ee bishii hore ee 2025, iyadoo la iibiyay 17.5 milyan oo qof, taas oo ka badan 12 milyan oo qof.
Sidaas darteed, CD-yada waxay ku soo noqdeen dhaqanka casriga ah ee tiknoolajiyadda, iyadoo la iibiyay 17.5 milyan oo qof, taas oo ka badan 12 milyan oo qof.
Xaaladda sanadkii hore iyo sababta
Sanadkii hore, CD-yada waxay ku dhaceen dhaqaale $312.4 milyan, taas oo ka yar $338.9 milyan ee 2024, iyadoo la iibiyay 29.5 milyan oo qof, taas oo ka yar 33.3 milyan oo qof.
Sidaas darteed, CD-yada waxay ku dhaceen dhaqaale $312.4 milyan, taas oo ka yar $338.9 milyan ee 2024, iyadoo la iibiyay 29.5 milyan oo qof, taas oo ka yar 33.3 milyan oo qof.
Tiknoolajiyadda casriga ah iyo Gen Z
Gen Z waxay ku qaadatay tiknoolajiyadda casriga ah, iyadoo la iibiyay 29.5 milyan oo qof, taas oo ka yar 33.3 milyan oo qof.
Sidaas darteed, Gen Z waxay ku qaadatay tiknoolajiyadda casriga ah, iyadoo la iibiyay 29.5 milyan oo qof, taas oo ka yar 33.3 milyan oo qof.
Compact discs have staged a dramatic comeback, generating $171.1 million in revenue during the first half of 2026, up 58.6% from the same period last year, as a broader retro tech movement drives renewed consumer interest in physical media.
A Dramatic Rebound After a Year of Decline
The surge in CD sales comes after a challenging 2025, when full-year revenue fell 7.8% to $312.4 million and unit sales dropped 11.6% to 29.5 million, from 33.3 million in 2024.
However, the first half of 2026 tells a different story, with 17.5 million units sold, up 45.7% from about 12 million in the same period last year, signaling a sharp reversal in consumer behavior.
Broader Physical Media Growth and the Retro Tech Trend
Physical media revenue overall jumped 25.9% to $731.5 million in the first half of 2026, driven by both the CD surge and a 17.7% increase in vinyl sales.
This trend reflects a wider cultural shift toward simpler technology, with Gen Z consumers seeking control over their digital lives and gravitating toward devices like dumbphones and vintage gadgets.
Caveats and the True Scale of the CD Revival
The RIAA changed its revenue calculation method in 2025, switching from retail to wholesale value, making direct year-over-year comparisons difficult, though unit sales confirm the underlying decline before the rebound.
The reported figures likely understate the true growth, as they exclude used CD sales from thrift stores and garage sales, and do not account for CDs passed down from Gen X parents to their children.
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Sawir: TechCrunch Xigasho
