Physical music formats see resurgence amid streaming dominance

Physical music formats are experiencing a resurgence in popularity despite the dominance of digital streaming services. Vinyl records continue to hold significant cultural and symbolic value, offering a tactile and ritualistic listening experience that digital platforms cannot replicate. Anthropologist Rodrigo Marcial Jiménez notes that vinyl's appeal lies in sound fidelity and the sensory connection to the medium.

Similarly, compact disc (CD) sales are seeing growth. In the United States, CD sales reached 16.3 million during the first half of 2026, marking a 16% increase compared to the same period in 2025. This trend is also being observed among younger consumers in Latin America. Rather than serving as the primary method for music access, physical formats like CDs and vinyl are increasingly treated as collectible items, valued for their cover art, booklets, and the ability to own a tangible piece of an artist's work, a trend bolstered by K-pop marketing strategies.