The CD Comeback and Why It Matters | Raleigh News

0:00So, you know how Grand Theft Auto ZIs coming out and everyone was hyped? Well, Rockstar Games dropped a bomb, saying no physical discs, just digital. Gamers went wild, and they had to backtrack, saying discs would drop later. It's a whole thing about people not wanting to just rent their entertainment anymore. This whole situation with GTA V6 is just a symptom of a bigger trend. We're seeing a pushback against everything being digital and streaming. Sure, streaming is convenient, save space, and can be cheaper, but you don't actually own anything. If the service goes down, or your internet cuts out, your whole library can vanish. Because of that, younger folks are actually going back to physical media, think DVDs and Blu-rays for movies. And in music, while vinyl has always had its niche, CDs are making a surprising comeback, too. People want something tangible to hold onto. The numbers are wild. CD sales in the US, shot up by 46% in the first half of this year, compared to last year.

1:02That's way faster growth in vinyl, even though vinyl still sells more overall. Streaming still dominates, making up most of the money, but CDs are the fastest growing part of the physical music market. A big driver for this CD surge is K-Pop, with its collectible releases. But even without those numbers, CD sales are still growing strong. Experts are calling it performative audio-filia, where having a physical format is a deliberate choice, a statement against just letting algorithms. Decide what you listen to. It's like the 80s and 90s all over again, with Walkmans and Dismans, but now it's CDs and headphones. From your city, powered by AI, this is Rolly News today.