Analogue CDs making a comeback in the US.

Despite the existence of various digital streaming platforms such as Spotify and Apple Music, CD sales have increased for the first time in 17 years — thanks to the likes of pop powerhouses Taylor Swift and Adele. 

It was a ride, so I threw my arms up and screamed! Love you all ♥️ https://t.co/QyxTf5ciTM pic.twitter.com/9nFsgNX5TS

— Adele (@Adele) November 19, 2021

In their year-end statistics review, Billboard reported that compact disc sales in the US reached 40.59 million units last year, increasing by 1.1% from 40.16 million in 2020. This jump is due to a number of top-selling artists, namely Adele and Taylor Swift. Adele's new hit album, 30, took the top spot with a total of 898,000 CDs sold, while Taylor Swift follows behind in third and second places with her re-recorded versions of Fearless and Red, at 263,000 and 237,000 units respectively. 

It never would have been possible to go back & remake my previous work, uncovering lost art & forgotten gems along the way if you hadn’t emboldened me. Red is about to be mine again, but it has always been ours. Now we begin again. Red (my version) is outhttps://t.co/ZUAWDuv4jL pic.twitter.com/Ji26KdOlWQ

— Taylor Swift (@taylorswift13) November 12, 2021

The top-10 CD sales list includes American Music Awards' Artist of the Year recipient: BTS with two 2020 albums on the list: Map of the Soul:7 with 210,000 units in sales, and Be with 187,000 in sales. Breakout star Olivia Rodrigo's critically-acclaimed debut album, Sour, also appeared on the list with 195,000 in sales. Taylor Swift makes her third appearance on the list with her 2020 album, Evermore, at 213,000 units. 

It's no surprise to see these familiar digital chart-toppers selling out their CDs. Adele's 30 was also the best-selling vinyl album of the year.

Check out the full year-end report by MRC data here.