# US CD sales rose 16 per cent as listeners seek players

- URL: https://talkfuse.com/story/cds-are-back-but-they-come-with-a-modern-problem/
- Published: 2026-10-31T13:45:00+00:00
- Updated: 2026-10-31T14:12:53+00:00
- Original publisher: Engadget
- Original article: https://www.engadget.com/2298767/cds-are-back-modern-listening-complicated/
- Topics: Gadgets

## Key points

- US CD sales rose 16 per cent in early 2026.
- CDs offer ownership and offline listening.
- Players are less common, but still available.

## Summary

CD sales in the US rose 16 per cent in the first half of 2026, renewing interest in a format that gives listeners a physical copy and more control over their music. The comeback matters because CDs offer an alternative to streaming, though finding a device to play them is now less straightforward.

Luminate recorded about 16.3 million CD sales in the US during the period. Collectible K-pop releases may account for some growth, while nostalgia among younger listeners is another suggested factor. CDs can be bought cheaply, played without an internet connection and copied into a digital library; many modern players and USB drives remain available.

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Summarised by TalkFuse (https://talkfuse.com/). Quote the original publisher for the reporting and link this page for the summary and discussion.