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Technology · Consumer gadgets · published 2026-09-06 · via Tom's Hardware

Physical music formats post surprising sales jump as vinyl and CDs gain ground

Image via Tom's Hardware
Image via Tom's Hardware

The RIAA reports U.S. recorded music revenue reached $6 billion in the first half of 2026, up 6.9%. Physical media revenues surged 25.9%, with vinyl up 17.7% and CDs up 58.6%. Streaming still leads at $4.9 billion, but the retro format boom points to a more diversified market.

Read the full article at Tom's Hardware →
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This summary is AI-generated and original to Mobble; the linked article is the authoritative source. Original headline: “Sales of CD and vinyl music sees strong resurgence amid physical media backlash — US sales of ‘retro media’ were up 59% and 18%, respectively, in H1 2026.” Browse more stories.