Vinyl outsells CDs for first time in over three decades, new stats show
Records accounted for $232million in revenue during the first half of 2020
Vinyl outsold CDs in the US for first time in over 30 years during the first half of 2020.
In total, the Recording Industry Association of America reports $232million sales of vinyl music between January and June of this year, compared with just $144million CD sales.
Nevertheless, US sales of digital ($351million) and physical ($376million) music dropped below the level of revenue created by ad-supported streaming services for the first time, according to the same report. Platforms like YouTube and Spotify accounted for $432million in revenue.
Online music marketplace Discogs has also reported a lift in sales, with physical orders through the website increasing by almost 27% compared with 2019. This reflects an ongoing trend, with UK vinyl sales hitting an all-time record high last year. Read our take on whether the resurgence of plastic records can fit with an environmentally conscious dance music scene.
