CD sales rebound, but collecting is doing more than listening
WIRED reports a 16 per cent rise in first-half sales, with collectible K-pop editions helping drive growth as the format remains far below its peak.
CD sales rose 16 per cent in the first half of 2026, according to figures from research firm Luminate cited by WIRED. The report attributes part of the increase to collectible editions from K-pop groups that encourage fans to buy multiple copies.
Sales would still have grown 6.7 per cent without K-pop, WIRED said. The industry sold 16.3 million discs in the period, a small share of the more than 900 million CDs sold annually near the format’s turn-of-the-millennium peak.
WIRED links renewed interest to K-pop, frustration with streaming platforms’ policies and younger drivers whose cars lack Bluetooth. The article suggests CDs increasingly serve as collectibles and merchandise as well as a way to hear music.
The guide covers choosing a player, finding and checking discs, cataloguing a collection, and storing and cleaning CDs. It recommends inspecting used discs for scratches, discolouration and signs of disc rot, which can result from deterioration of the reflective layer.
For storage, WIRED advises keeping discs upright in their original sleeves or cases, away from heat and humidity. To clean a disc, it recommends a microfibre cloth and wiping from the centre outwards.
