Physical formats are proving they still have staying power. New figures cited by Mixmag show US CD sales jumped nearly 60% during the first half of 2026, a notable resurgence for a format many had long written off in the streaming era.
That growth in compact discs has been a key driver behind the broader physical music market, with total physical revenues in the US estimated at around $731.5 million for the period. While the source material doesn't break down which genres or artists are fueling the uptick, the numbers point to a wider trend of listeners returning to tangible formats.
The rebound adds to ongoing conversations across the music industry about how physical media fits alongside digital and streaming consumption, with CDs apparently finding renewed relevance rather than fading into obsolescence.
