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Retro technology is experiencing a surprising revival, and this week, the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA) provided concrete evidence of the trend through its latest music consumption data. Despite the dominance of streaming services like Spotify, CDs are making an unexpected comeback.
According to the RIAA’s latest report, CD sales generated $171.1 million in revenue during the first half of 2026. That represents a 58.6% increase from approximately $107.9 million during the same period in 2025. Unit sales also climbed significantly, reaching 17.5 million CDs—up 45.7% from roughly 12 million units sold in the first half of last year.
The resurgence of CDs is especially surprising given the format’s struggles in 2025. According to the RIAA’s full-year report, CD revenue declined by 7.8%, dropping from $338.9 million in 2024 to $312.4 million in 2025. Sales volume also fell by 11.6%, from 33.3 million units to 29.5 million.
The renewed interest in CDs is part of a wider shift toward simpler, less connected technology. Products such as dumbphones, digital cameras, typewriters, landline phones, CDs, and vinyl records are attracting attention as consumers look for alternatives to today’s always-connected devices. Among Gen Z, this trend may reflect a fascination with a technological era they never experienced—a time when people had more control over when and how they used technology, with fewer notifications, addictive apps, and algorithms competing for their attention.
