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CDs Surge: K-Pop Fuels Physical Media Comeback
15 Jul
Summary
- CD sales rose 16%, largely driven by K-pop artists.
- Dance/electronic music is experiencing a notable increase.
- Catalog music, especially rock, remains highly popular.
The first half of 2026 saw a surprising resurgence in CD sales, marking a 16% increase largely attributed to the influence of K-pop artists such as BTS and ATEEZ. This physical media comeback aligns with superfans' growing interest in aesthetic ownership and direct financial support for artists.
While R&B/hip-hop continues its gradual decline in streaming, it maintains its position as the largest streaming genre in the U.S. Conversely, dance/electronic music is experiencing a notable upswing in popularity.
Additionally, catalog music, defined as tracks over 18 months old, shows increasing traction. Rock music, the second most-streamed genre, is heavily dominated by older tracks, indicating long-term fan loyalty despite a potentially slow year for new releases.
Global on-demand audio streams grew by 9.8% in the first half of 2026, with a stronger growth of 11.8% outside the U.S. compared to a 4.4% increase domestically.
