The Return of Physical Media: Why Vinyl and DVDs Are Making a Comeback
Gen Z is driving a nostalgia-fueled revival of CDs, vinyl records, and even DVDs.
It seemed inevitable that physical media would die. Streaming was cheaper, more convenient, and took up zero shelf space. But something unexpected happened: young people started buying vinyl again. Then CDs. Then stranger still, DVDs.
Gen Z Wants Tangible Things
Gen Z is reviving DVDs and Blu-rays as collectibles, with video rental shops reporting record months and growing membership numbers. Similar to vinyl records that saw a resurgence among millennial customers, DVDs are enjoying a comeback with some Gen Z buyers, even though the discs no longer drive significant studio profits.
Indie bookstores are booming, vinyl leads U.S. music sales, and the trend shows no signs of slowing.
The Numbers Don't Lie
U.S. CD revenue fell 7.8% to $312.4 million in 2025, while vinyl rose 9.3% to $1.04 billion and moved 46.8 million units against 29.5 million CDs. The contrast is stark: one format dying, one thriving.
I have 400 DVDs. My friends think I'm insane, but I can watch them whenever I want, trade them, and they'll still work in twenty years.
The Aesthetics Matter Too
Album art was designed to be seen at LP size. The ritual of flipping a record, dropping the needle, reading the liner notes, this is part of the experience that streaming destroys. For music obsessives and film collectors, the artifact itself is part of the art.