Get Out the Record Player, Cause Vinyl Just Outsold CDs for the First Time in 37 Years

Let’s start spinnin’.

You know that friend that’s obsessed with vinyl? Well, they might be onto something, because vinyl sales outperformed CD sales for the first time in decades in the US.

It’s me, I’m the friend.

CDs have been the more popular medium for music since 1987, but according to a new report from the Recording Industry Association of America, vinyl has reclaimed the crown.

In 2022, more than 41 million vinyl records were sold, whereas only 33 million CDs were sold.

That amounts to around AUD $1.8 billion in record sales.

Despite music cementing itself firmly in the streaming space, its clear that physical formats are here to stay.

2022 was the 16^th consecutive year of growth in record sales, and physical copies of music once again outperformed digital downloads, (i.e. purchased digital albums) which dropped by 20 per cent in 2022.

And it’s not just your Dad buying Meatloaf records either – Gen Z are the demographic that are most likely to purchase new records.

RIAA chairman and CEO Mitch Glazier said the stats reflect that vinyl has “cement[ed] its role as a fixture of the modern music marketplace."

Second-hand and vintage purchases of vinyl make up a big part of the market, but buyers are also keen to buy new albums, like Harry Styles and Ed Sheeran releases on vinyl.

It seems the physical ownership and appreciation of albums is back on the rise.

If you're the type to vibe with nostalgia and vintage music, check out our review of Daisy Jones and the Six.