Demand for CDs in the U.S. rose by nearly 60% and boosted the music industry's revenue – Reuters
In the first half of 2026, revenue from music sales in the United States rose by 6.9% compared to the same period last year, totaling $6 billion. The main factor behind this growth was a resurgence in demand for CDs, with revenue from them rising by 58.6%. Overall, revenue from physical media increased by 25.9%—to $731.5 million—driven in part by a 17.7% rise in vinyl record sales.
Streaming services remain the market’s largest source of revenue: they grew by 4.7% and generated $4.9 billion, of which $3.4 billion came from paid subscriptions. The Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA) noted that these figures indicate a “healthy, diversified market” that supports new investments in artists.
Source: Reuters.
Apple Music released a ranking of the most popular artists in the service’s history, with Canadian rapper Drake taking the top spot. Hip-hop and contemporary pop music dominate the top 20, and there are only two women on the list. The ranking is based on the total number of streams on the platform.
Celine Dion greeted her fans dressed as the Grinch (Video).
