tech
December 23, 2025
CDs return to Christmas shopping lists as gen Z embrace ‘retro renaissance’
Demand for CD players rises 74% this year amid deluxe releases from artists such as Taylor Swift and Pink Floyd
TL;DR
- CD players and compact discs are seeing a revival this Christmas, linked to 90s nostalgia and deluxe artist releases.
- Retailers like John Lewis have increased their CD player range due to a 74% rise in sales.
- Manufacturers report a 15% year-on-year increase in CD production orders.
- Gen Z and Gen Alpha are showing strong interest in physical music, with Gen Z buying more CDs than millennials, Gen X, and baby boomers in the last year.
- Deluxe CD editions from artists like Taylor Swift and Sam Fender are contributing to the trend, often priced more affordably than vinyl.
- While overall CD sales have declined significantly from their peak in 2004, the rate of decline has slowed, and physical music remains important for chart results and artist support.
- Secondhand CD marketplaces are also seeing increased activity as people seek personal collecting forms.
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