Rumors of CD Demise Exagerated? New Hegel

According to RIAA report, 41 million vinyl units were sold compared to 33 million CDs in 2022, highlighting a "remarkable resurgence" of the physical music format. CD sales were up by 4% in 2022 and according to Billboard, 17.5 million CDs have been purchased so far in 2023, which is up 3% from the same time last year.  

Physical media far from dead but Streaming services account for the vast majority of all music revenue in the US—84%. 

I see new formats erasing the old having one thing in common, convenience. The cd had remote control and track skipping. It was also novel with clean playback and tight bass for the masses.

Streaming has unlimited access to new sound/songs, radio and made-for-me playlists. It was novel too.

There seems to be a resurgence when it’s recognized that the previous format can give superior sound at a lower price point and it has become novel in itself. Those who can afford the best don’t really fuel the comeback. It’s the kids.

There will be a market for CDs and LPs as long as at least a few companies continue making them, though it'll never be at the level it was in the past. 41 million LPs is a lot, but still no where remotely close to the nearly 350 million units sold in 1977. .For CDs, the top figure was over 900 million CDs sold each year in 1999 and 2000. And remember the population was much smaller back then. 

Heck, there is still a market for buggy whips and horse saddles, though nowhere near the product volume and number of manufacturers there were in 1890. 

actually lots of good new CD Players have been released recently...Marantz, Rotel, Hegel, Denon, Leak and others,  transports too...

@misstl

Not sure how relevant quoting sales from 1977 is, when there was no other options for the consumer.  The fact that vinyl and CD sales are growing is a positive sign regardless.