‘It brings me joy’: how young people are making CDs cool again
Compact discs are back, with searches for players up 96% at John Lewis and popular models sold out online
TL;DR
- Searches for CD players have increased by 96% at John Lewis, with popular models selling out online.
- CD sales are up 16%, outpacing vinyl sales, with K-pop and artists like Olivia Rodrigo cited as drivers.
- The affordability of CDs (£12) compared to vinyl (around £35) is a significant factor for consumers with limited disposable income.
- Younger consumers are drawn to CDs for their cost-effectiveness, portability, and perceived better audio quality compared to phone streaming.
- The revival of CDs is linked to a broader trend of appreciating retro technology, including vinyl and cassette tapes, and a desire for physical music objects.
- This trend is described as 'performative audiophilia,' where owning physical music signals taste and cultural capital, and offers a rebellion against the ubiquity of streaming.
- The experience of selecting an album, inserting a disc, and listening from start to finish is appealing as an alternative to frictionless, infinite streaming.
- The USB stick is suggested as a potential next retro tech revival, following the trend of DJs using them for gigs.