The sales of CDs have seen year-over-year growth for the first time since 2004, according to a report from the Recording Industry Association of America.
Combined with the decade-long vinyl sales explosion, overall physical music sales grew for the first time since 1996, as reported by Axios. CNBC reported vinyl sales went up 108 percent in the first six months of 2021, compared with the same period in 2020.
Streaming is the lifeblood of the music industry. It accounts for about 83 percent of recorded music avenues in 2021, according to RIAA.
However, sales of physical music exploded in the United States by $1.65 billion in the last year in the U.S., according to RIAA reports. Physical sales accounted for 11 percent of sales last year with digital downloads accounting for 4 percent.
CD sales grew to $584.2 million nationally last year, up more than $100 million from 2020. By comparison, 2021 vinyl sales increased to $1 billion annually, up from $643.9 million.
The most popular format in the music industry was CD’s, peaking at $13.2 billion in annual sales in 2000.
According to Axios, the rise of vinyl and now CD sales are appreciated by artists as it gives them another avenue to sell their music.
Boosts in physical music sales can likely be attributed to a few big album releases. Adele, Taylor Swift, and Olivia Rodrigo all moved heavy volumes of physical CDs in 2021.
