Vinyl Albums Outsold CDs for the First Time Since the '80s

If it was any other year, this would be pretty shocking, but 2020 just about has me fully numb. Still, it's a little crazy. For the first time since the 1980s, vinyl records have outsold CDs. (!!!)

In the first half of the year, vinyl accounted for $232.1 million of music sales. CDs only brought in $129.9 million. Vinyl grew by 4% in the first half of 2020, while CD sales were down 48%. Overall, physical sales are down 23%. 

Which isn't all THAT surprising, since the world is pretty much moving to streaming and digital music . . . and records are the only physical medium that's "trendy" right now.

Streaming is up 12%, and accounts for more than 85% of music industry revenue. 

(CNN)


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