Move over Spotify - CD sales are on the rise for the first time in 20 years

CDs
(Image credit: Pixabay)

While we might be waiting a while for the launch of Spotify HiFi, there's a way to get CD-quality music sent to your home without using any data. It's called a CD. 

For the first time in 20 years, the humble compact disc format has seen in an uptick in sales according to data published by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA), with 46.6 million discs being sold last year.

Admittedly, it's not a statistically significant jump considering how far sales have fallen in the last 20 years - there were more than 900 million CD sales in the year 2000 before the popularization of music streaming services - but it's enough of a surprise to give us some hope for the obsolescent format.

Looks like it might be time to dig that CD player out of storage for one last go 'round.


Analysis: Is there any advantage to CDs over streaming?

No one is going to claim that CDs are more convenient to use than the half-dozen streaming services we carry around on phones at all times, but you could make the argument that CDs still sound better than most* streaming services.

Most free Spotify listeners, for example, are limited to 160kbps, while Spotify Premium subscribers only get around 320kbps. Compared to the bit-rate of 1,411kbps available on CDs, you're missing out on a lot of music data.

That being said, music streaming services have started to get on board with CD-quality streaming. Apple recently upgraded most of the songs on Apple Music to lossless audio quality (the same as CD's bitrate), and don't forget that Tidal built its entire platform around the idea of CD-quality streaming.

It's unlikely that CDs will ever be a competitor to streaming services again, a point that's corroborated by the RIAA's data, but the format remains a good way to obtain a clean copy of your favorite album that won't disappear should a streaming service collapse under financial strain.

Olivia Tambini

Olivia was previously TechRadar's Senior Editor - Home Entertainment, covering everything from headphones to TVs. Based in London, she's a popular music graduate who worked in the music industry before finding her calling in journalism. She's previously been interviewed on BBC Radio 5 Live on the subject of multi-room audio, chaired panel discussions on diversity in music festival lineups, and her bylines include T3, Stereoboard, What to Watch, Top Ten Reviews, Creative Bloq, and Croco Magazine. Olivia now has a career in PR.

Read more
The FiiO DM13 CD player sitting open on a speaker
I’m swapping Spotify for CDs with the affordable Fiio DM13 in 2025 – here's why
Spotify logo on a mobile device
Spotify HiFi: release date rumors, price predictions, and everything we know so far
Hand holding a phone with the Spotify app logo
Spotify will 'double down' on music in 2025, but does that mean Hi-Fi or AI?
Metalic Spotify Logo
Spotify seems to be gearing up for more expensive subscriptions, and I'm annoyed
The Bandcamp home page on a laptop. Badge reads: Tech resolutions 2025
Forget Spotify – I’m going all-in on Bandcamp for music in 2025, here’s why you should too
bose sports wireless earbuds
How to pick a music streaming service: Spotify, Apple Music, Amazon Music Unlimited, YouTube, Tidal or Qobuz?
Latest in Hi-Fi
JBL Charge 6
JBL's new Bluetooth speakers bring all the upgrades I most wanted to see, and they're coming soon
Sonos speakers and soundbars on a green background
Huge Sonos sale live at Amazon – get up to $100 off top-rated speakers and soundbars
Samsung Music Frame on a table beside some books and a vase
I spent six weeks listening to the Samsung Music Frame and it kept missing the beat
A close up of the limited edition vinyl turntable wrist watch from AndoAndoAndo
This limited-edition timepiece turns the iconic Technics SL-1200 turntable into a watch, and I want one
Groov-e Boston DAB radio on a wooden table
I tested this affordable DAB radio and, sadly, its tinny output made me think of every car garage I've ever been to
Victrola Stream Carbon turntable playing David Bowie, with the tonearm being operated
Victrola adding Bluetooth and Roon to its Sonos-only turntables is the hi-fi equivalent of ‘I think we should see other people’
Latest in News
Three iPhone 16 handsets on show
Apple could launch an iPhone 17 Ultra this year – but we've heard these rumors before
Super Mario Odyssey
ChatGPT is the ultimate gaming tool - here's 4 ways you can use AI to help with your next playthrough
Ray-Ban smart glasses with the Cpperni logo, an LED array, and a MacBook Air with M4 next to ecah other.
ICYMI: the week's 7 biggest tech stories from Twitter's massive outage to iRobot's impressive new Roombas
Brad Pitt looks over his right shoulder with 'F1' written behind him
Apple Original Films will take you behind-the-scenes of a racing cockpit in this new thrilling F1 movie trailer
AI writer
Coding AI tells developer to write it himself
Reacher looking down at another character from the Prime Video TV series Reacher
Reacher season 3 becomes Prime Video’s biggest returning show thanks to Hollywood’s biggest heavyweight