Vinyl to out sell CDs in 2019
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Over the past decade, CDs sales have been dropping rapidly. Meanwhile, vinyl sales have been steadily increasing during that time frame. (Of course, streaming has skyrocketed during that same time frame and digital consumption far outweighs CDs and vinyl, combined). Now, according to the RIAA mid-year report, vinyl will most likely outsell CDs for the first time since 1986. Vinyl records earned $224.1 million (on 8.6 million units) in the first half of 2019. CDs sold $247.9 million (on 18.6 million units) during the same time period. Vinyl revenue grew by 12.8% in the second half of 2018 and 12.9% in the first six months of 2019. Meanwhile. CD revenue stayed nearly unchanged. Following this pattern, vinyl will outsell CDs by the end of the year. Records haven't sold more than CDs since 1986.