Compact discs are seeing a surprising resurgence in popularity as listeners seek a break from the limitations of streaming services. Data from John Lewis indicates a 96% increase in searches for CD players since July, while recent industry trends suggest that physical CD sales have climbed by 16% this year.
For many collectors, the appeal lies in the physical nature of the format. Andrew Wales, a 67-year-old from London, has amassed a collection of over 10,000 CDs. He prefers owning his music outright rather than relying on platforms like Spotify. Wales, who bought his first player and a John Scofield album in 1991, notes that the format remains essential for classical music enthusiasts, as some recordings are released exclusively on disc. While he also maintains a library of 2,000 vinyl records and hundreds of cassettes, he values the space-saving benefits of CDs in his home. We asked music fans why they favour discs over other formats, and if it is a new preference or a lifetime habit, with this in mind. According to andrew Wales, 67, from London, owns “well over 10,000” CDs. “My wife’s very considerate,” he, Over the phone. “There’s quite a few in this room where I’m speaking. They have also spilt into the next bedroom and into the corridor. So that’s another bonus.”, the [size of the] CD format allows me to own the number I own despite living in a two-bedroom flat and not a country mansion. Much of the classical music Wales buys and listens to is available only on CD. “I bought my first CD in 1991 – John Scofield, Meant to Be – around the same time that I bought my first CD player. Both in terms of pressing and presentation, and their limitations meant that often or not songs or tracks were included on the CD release, but not on LP, lPs were becoming increasingly shoddy. There are still cases where that happens today.”. That said, Wales also owns “about 2,000 LPs”, “a few hundred cassettes” and an increasing number of Blu-rays. “I’m not always wedded to a single format.”.
The return to physical media is not limited to long-time collectors. Gabriela Crowley, a 32-year-old from San Jose, California, began using CDs again over the past year. She and her husband found their vinyl collection too bulky after having a baby, opting for a CD player gifted by her father-in-law instead. Crowley appreciates that CDs allow her to avoid the “paradox of choice” inherent in streaming, noting that the format forces listeners to engage more intimately with their music rather than being subjected to AI-generated playlists. Unlike Wales, Gabriela Crowley, 32, from San Jose, California, started listening to CDs only over the last year. “Growing up, my parents had a tonne of them,” she says. “My dad played them in the car and everywhere. Everything had started to shift away from physical media.”, by the time I was like 18. “And it means I own the CD for ever,” he says. “Streaming means you are basically renting the music, and it can disappear from the streaming sites. But everybody’s taste is kind of random.”, i think algorithms make everything predictable.
Others are driven by a desire to support artists directly. Neil Cumming, 53, from Gloucester, buys CDs from small independent and folk bands to ensure they receive a larger share of his money compared to streaming royalties. For Cumming, there is a distinct ritual in selecting a disc that feels more rewarding than digital playback. He views streaming as a temporary rental, whereas a CD purchase provides lasting ownership. According to “I bought my first CD in 1988 and have been collecting ever since,”, Neil Cumming, 53, from Gloucester. “I have several hundred of them.
The aesthetic and narrative experience of an album is another major factor. Asha Varadharajan, 65, of Toronto, uses a multi-disc player to build personal listening sequences, viewing the process as the “antithesis of scrolling.” She finds that the focus required to listen to a CD makes the music more memorable, whereas she feels streaming often relegates songs to ephemeral background noise. Varadharajan also values the durability of discs, recalling the stress of handling vinyl records as a child. With a mug of tea or a glass of whisky, I find the experience of a CD more satisfying.”, but in the evening. Unless I’m boogying while vacuuming.”, i’ve never been a fan of music as white noise in the background. Varadharajan has owned her CD player since 1999, “which allows me to listen to five CDs at a time in any order I choose, building my own narrative arc as I listen. She says. “I’m a klutz and was terrified of scratching albums as a child because I never could place the needle accurately without my hand shaking.”, it helps that CDs are hard to damage.
Cost is also playing a role in the shift.
Ed, a 63-year-old from London, has collected CDs since 1986, starting with records by Genesis and Level 42.
While his interest previously fluctuated due to concerns over sound quality, he has returned to the format over the last two years.
He cites the “almost throwaway prices” of CDs as a major draw, especially when contrasted with the high cost of vinyl.
For Ed, a high-quality digital source now offers an experience just as engaging as a traditional record player, providing the tactile satisfaction he craves in his music collection. ‘They give me something tactile and tangible’.
