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Vinyl Roars Back: Outsells CDs for Second Year
11 Apr
Summary
- Vinyl records outsold CDs in the US in 2023, a repeat of 2022.
- Vinyl sales surpassed CDs in both revenue and units sold in 2023.
- This marks the second consecutive year vinyl has outsold CDs since 1987.

In 2023, vinyl records continued their resurgence by outselling CDs in the United States. This marks the second consecutive year for this trend, following a 2022 that saw vinyl sales surpass CDs for the first time since 1987.
The RIAA reported that vinyl's victory in 2023 extended to both revenue and units sold. Specifically, 43 million vinyl records were sold, outperforming the 37 million CDs sold during the same period.
This development is particularly noteworthy given that CD sales themselves saw an increase, with an 11% jump from 2022. The enduring appeal of vinyl, despite the initial advantages of CDs such as reduced surface noise and improved fidelity, continues to intrigue audiophiles and consumers alike.