As the owner of Glitter Records, I have noticed something extraordinary. CDs are making a monumental comeback. I’ve been tracking some data on the recent CD revival on Discogs, and here’s what I found.
Vinyl’s Resurgence
To understand the resurgence of CDs on the secondary market, where I trade, we must first examine vinyl. Records have experienced a tremendous revival over the past decade and remain popular. Much of this resurgence is due to sales facilitated not only through traditional record stores but also online platforms like Discogs.
The information available on Discogs stands out to me because, unlike new record sales, secondhand sales are not traditionally reported to a central authority. This has made the global secondary music market something of a black box until platforms like Discogs and eBay emerged, providing a wealth of information on this vast yet obscure area of the music trade.
On February 17th, Discogs listed 50,402,323 vinyl records for sale, uploaded by a network of thousands of sellers and collectors worldwide. By February 20th, this number jumped to 50,669,058, an increase of 0.53% in just three days. Despite vinyl’s resurgence, particularly in the value of rare records, older and less popular titles are piling up faster than they are selling.
CD Market Turnaround
The CD market presents a striking contrast. Once in decline, the humble CD is now enjoying a spike in sales. You may already know that new CD sales grew last year. As a seller of CDs on the secondary market, I can confirm a similar trend in the past year. The demand for old CDs is surging, with both old and young collectors buzzing with excitement.
To illustrate this trend, consider the recent data from Discogs. On February 17th, Discogs had 23,876,741 CDs for sale. By February 19th, this number slightly dipped to 23,855,181, a decrease of 0.09%. By February 20th, it was 23,866,700. This drop signifies that people are snatching up CDs more quickly than sellers can list them.
Australian Market Insights
Zooming in on Australia, as the owner of the record store with the largest digital catalog of music on Discogs, I have been swamped with mail orders this month. The numbers reflect this trend. On February 17th, Australian sellers listed 1,147,221 total items. By February 20th, this number decreased to 1,135,933, a drop of 0.99%. Not fully counting the fact that local sellers are uploading new items each day, Australian sellers are selling what looks like av average of 3,763 secondhand vinyl, CDs, and other formats per day on Discogs.
Final Thoughts on the CD Revival
Witnessing the market dynamics shift is fascinating, with CDs regaining popularity at an astonishing rate. This trend reflects a broader global movement where music enthusiasts are rediscovering physical media in the digital age. However, it’s particularly intriguing that in Australia, overall music consumption in the secondary market is booming distinctly compared to other areas in the world. What is more a notable resurgence in the CD market also suggests a growing appreciation for physical media among Australians.
I believe that researchers and music fans alike can further study these trends. By delving into the world of recorded media, we can better map out the current trajectory of the secondary music market and better understand the cultural shifts driving this revival. Continued exploration of these trends will undoubtedly reveal more about the enduring appeal of physical media and its place in our increasingly digital world.
