Vinyl record sales in the United States, long considered the world’s leading music market, reached nearly 50 million units in 2023. The figure marks a 14.2 percent rise from 2022, continuing an 18th straight year of growth for the format and the third year in a row beating CD sales. Yet both physical formats still trail streaming in global profitability. Worldwide, vinyl and CD combined generated about 5.1 billion dollars, compared with 19.3 billion from music streaming, which accounted for about 17.8 percent and 67.3 percent of total recorded-music revenues respectively. These numbers underscore a shifting but persistent appetite for physical formats alongside streaming growth.
Vinyl was once a marginal presence during the revival era. It is no longer on the fringe. The sales trajectory has steepened over the past five years, and the artist lineup driving demand has undergone a near-complete renewal. In 2019, nine of the top ten vinyl albums in the United States were catalog titles, with only one by an active artist: Billie Eilish. In 2020, four titles featured current artists, including Harry Styles, Billie Eilish (two), and Kendrick Lamar. In 2021, the share rose to eight, with releases from Adele, Olivia Rodrigo, Taylor Swift (three), Harry Styles, Billie Eilish, and Kendrick Lamar. In 2022, seven entries showcased current stars, such as Taylor Swift (two), Harry Styles, Olivia Rodrigo, Kendrick Lamar, and Tyler, the Creator (two). In 2023, nine entries highlighted current acts, led by Taylor Swift with five titles, followed by Travis Scott, Olivia Rodrigo, and Lana Del Rey with two. The enduring classic Rumours by Fleetwood Mac remained a notable survivor at ninth place. Beyond the pop music star power, the year’s spike in the song Silver Springs — previously left off the original album — significantly influenced the ranking thanks to its viral popularity on streaming-linked platforms.
Thus, the contemporary peak of pop music also extends into a segment once dominated by reissues of classic albums. The takeaway: younger listeners who were born when vinyl almost died have become active participants again. Industry observers note that vinyl is now widely perceived as the most appealing format, not just for nostalgia, and this shift comes as CD respect wanes. The renewal of artists driving vinyl sales aligns with a growing base of superfans, defined as highly engaged fans who gravitate toward mass consumption of artist-related products. This phenomenon reflects a broader trend in music culture toward emotional connection and collectability.
Without turntables
In 2023 a study by Luminate, a U.S. entertainment analytics firm, showed that half of vinyl buyers in the prior year did not own a turntable. This reality, according to industry observers, points to vinyl functioning as a display-worthy shelf presence for many collectors and fans who want a tangible symbol of their tastes.
Janira Planes, a 26-year-old brand analyst, cannot recall a time without Spotify Premium and also relies on SoundCloud in its free form to stay connected with underground rap and related urban scenes. She speaks from the perspective of a new generation of vinyl purchasers who buy records to differentiate themselves and to showcase their musical preferences. The phenomenon is deeply linked to the TikTok and Instagram era, to the vintage aura, and to a desire to be less dependent on broad digital ecosystems.
Some mainstream pop figures still show affection for cassettes in this vinyl revival, but tapes remain a minor novelty. About 436,000 cassettes were sold in the United States in 2023, down roughly 0.75 percent from 2022. The shift from vinyl to CD represented a cultural loss that sparked debates about sound quality between the two formats. Yet, decades later, vinyl has surged back into prominence with undeniable momentum, reshaping the landscape of popular music consumption.