The gap between vinyl hype and actual listening habits is bigger than anyone expected.
Nearly half of Americans still use CDs, while only one-fifth use vinyl records, according to a new survey.
These findings contradict the music industry’s claims about vinyl’s dominance. What’s more, physical formats continue to show surprising strength in today’s digital streaming world.
The Popularity Gap Between CDs and Vinyl
A Consumer Reports survey of 2,022 adults shows that 45% of Americans still listen to CDs, while only 21% use vinyl records.
This big gap exists even though industry reports suggest that vinyl is continually on the rise. Although, that’s primarily in revenue rather than overall usage.
The survey also found that about 20% of Americans still use digital music players like iPods and another 15% play cassette tapes.
Less popular formats include eight-track tapes at 5% and reel-to-reel tapes at 4%.
Meanwhile, 41% of people surveyed hadn’t used any physical audio formats in the past year.
Market Performance of Both Formats
In the UK, 2024 was a big year for vinyl.
It marked vinyl’s 17th straight year of growth, with sales rising 9.1 percent to 6.7 million records (the highest in over 30 years).
However, despite vinyl’s strong momentum, CDs still outsold records in total units. Consumers purchased 10.5 million CDs.
Sure, that’s 2.9 percent drop from the previous year. But, it’s also a much smaller decline than in previous years.
New releases drive sales for both formats.
Seven of the top 10 vinyl albums in 2024 were new releases, with Taylor Swift’s “The Tortured Poets Department“ leading sales with over 111,000 copies.
Similarly, 19 of the top 20 best-selling CDs were albums from 2023-2024. Coldplay’s Moon Music topped CD sales, moving 182,166 units. This marks the highest first-week sales for any album since Ed Sheeran’s ÷ in 2017.
Why CDs Maintain Their Edge
Several practical reasons help explain why CDs remain more popular than vinyl.
First off is the price.
New vinyl records typically cost $35-50, while the same album on CD costs just $10-15.
Equipment costs also favor CDs. A decent entry-level turntable setup runs about $600 when you include the turntable, phono preamp, stylus, and replacement cartridges. In contrast, you can buy quality CD players for as little as $50-100.
Sound quality is another CD advantage. Vinyl has physical limits that can affect the sound, especially for bass and inner tracks where grooves become tighter.
Practical concerns also favor CDs.
Vinyl requires more effort, like flipping records every 20 minutes and regular cleaning. On the other hand, CDs take up much less space while offering more content in their packaging, including detailed liner notes and bonus tracks.
Physical Media’s Resilience in a Streaming World
Despite streaming services being so convenient, physical music formats show remarkable staying power.
Industry observers note that physical formats maintain both cultural and commercial value. Vinyl’s comeback is tied to its collector appeal, exclusive editions, and a tangible connection to music, while CDs aren’t fading away as quickly as many predicted.
However, this trend extends beyond music formats. The same Consumer Reports survey found that nearly half of Americans (49%) still watch DVDs and Blu-rays.