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According to the RIAA, It doesn't look good for physical media

The RIAA mid-year 2020 report is out and physical media, CDs or LPs, are not doing well. CDs still ship more units (10.6 million to 8.8 million), but LPs have surpassed them in $ amount shipped (CD - $130 million to LP - $232 million) for the first time since the 80s.

CD units shipped fell 45% from the mid-year 2019 report. LP units shipped gained 2.3%. Downloads also fell. Total Streaming revenues were up 12%. Total revenues for all categories were up 5.6%.

https://www.riaa.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/09/Mid-Year-2020-RIAA-Revenue-Statistics.pdf

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erik_squires
15,774 posts
 
Sad but true. 

It's really hard for me to justify buying music anymore, let alone physical media.
rockrider
181 posts
 
On the bright side, the total is up 5.6%. Very interesting that 85% of the total is streaming. And encouraging that sales are trending up from the 2014 low, which was way down from the historical peak in 1999. By subscribing we are “buying” music! 
rpeluso
1,016 posts
 
I may be one of the very few remaining who love buying and having CDs.  I purchase a lot of them.  A lot.  I like owning music vs renting it.  
lowrider57's avatar
lowrider57
5,394 posts
 
CDs still ship more units (10.6 million to 8.8 million), but LPs have surpassed them in $ amount shipped (CD - $130 million to LP - $232 million)

This statement is misleading.
The statistic of dollar amount of LP’s exceeding CD can be explained by higher pricing of LP’s per unit. Vinyl can be more than 2x the price of a CD.

It is inevitable that units of LP will overtake CD.

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