Vinyl outsells CDs for first time in over three decades, new stats show

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Vinyl outsold CDs in the US for first time in over 30 years during the first half of 2020. 

In total, the Recording Industry Association of America reports $232million sales of vinyl music between January and June of this year, compared with just $144million CD sales. 

Nevertheless, US sales of digital ($351million) and physical ($376million) music dropped below the level of revenue created by ad-supported streaming services for the first time, according to the same report. Platforms like YouTube and Spotify accounted for $432million in revenue.

Online music marketplace Discogs has also reported a lift in sales, with physical orders through the website increasing by almost 27% compared with 2019. This reflects an ongoing trend, with UK vinyl sales hitting an all-time record high last year. Read our take on whether the resurgence of plastic records can fit with an environmentally conscious dance music scene.