While streaming is the music industry’s cash cow these days, CDs aren’t dead yet. According to the Recording Industry Association of America’s , revenue from CDs grew by 21 percent to $584 million in 2021. That marked the first annual increase in CD revenue in the US . The RIAA notes that many record stores opened back up and artists sold music at shows again after COVID-19 put everything on hold .
As has been the case for the last 15 years, vinyl sales are continuing to grow too. Revenue rose by a whopping 61 percent in 2021 to $1 billion. It’s the first time vinyl sales have reached that milestone since 1986. Including other formats, physical music sales totaled $1.66 billion in the US last year.
The RIAA notes that the only major recorded music format to see a revenue decline last year was digital downloads. Sales dropped by 12 percent to $587 million — only $3 million more…
