The compact disc, once written off as an obsolete format, is making an unexpected comeback in the United States, with CD revenues surging almost 60 percent in the first half of 2026.

The figures are contained in the latest report from the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA), which found that physical music revenues jumped 25.9 percent in the first six months of the year. Vinyl revenue rose 17.7 percent, but the standout figure was the 58.6 percent increase in CD revenue.

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The result suggests that the revival of physical music is no longer simply a vinyl story. After years in which vinyl has been positioned as the tactile, hipster-audiophile alternative to streaming, listeners appear to be rediscovering the less glamorous compact disc – perhaps attracted by its convenience, sound quality and the simple pleasure of owning an album rather than accessing it through a subscription.

It comes as some listeners are experiencing what might be called streaming fatigue: the sense that unlimited choice can become its own form of exhaustion. Algorithm-driven playlists promise to remove the work of choosing music, but can also reduce listening to an...