Is physical media the next big trend?

It was reported by the RIAA this week that vinyl revenue surpassed $1 billion in 2025, a 9.3 percent increase from the previous year.

The sale of CDs and digital downloads, meanwhile, dropped 7.8 and 0.8 percent.

I'm honestly surprised to learn that revenue was just one billion given how expensive vinyl records are (Discogs says the average price is now $37.22) and how ubiquitous they've become across all age groups (Taylor Swift and Sabrina Carpenter had the top selling records last year, not The Beatles or Rolling Stones).

The rebirth of the format is great news for our favorite artists, who are being robbed blind by streaming services. It's also good news for one of my favorite local businesses, a combo tap room-record store that's literally a two-minute jog from my front door.

The funny part is that it doesn't seem like vinyl records should be succeeding in 2026.

They're large, clunky and you have to get up halfway through the album to flip it. And as I noted before, building a collection isn't cheap.

But I'm sitting next to a huge crate of records as I write this and I can tell you about the appeal.

I love the sound of my record player, the intentionality of the experience and being able to thumb through all of my favorites. If any visitor comes to my office, they can do the same.

Throw in the hunt for old albums or new limited pressings and it can be a fun pastime.

So what does the return of records mean for the larger media space?

There's no doubt people are increasingly returning toward physical media. The American Booksellers Association reported that 323 new brick-and-mortar bookstores opened in 2024. Barnes & Noble opened 70 new locations in 2025 with plans for 60 more in 2026.

Blu-Ray sales grew 3.1 percent in 2025 as streaming services take away old classics and replace them with reality filler and true crime docs.

Meanwhile, The Onion returned to printing on newspaper and sending it out in the mail, a monthly arrival I anticipate and greatly enjoy.

The desire for a tactile experience combined with the collecting aspect makes me think there's an opportunity for word-first outlets to explore an alternate revenue stream.

No, they're not going to pivot back to print after the Internet iceberg wrecked many a ship over the past two decades. The industry's shrinking margins wouldn't support that, nor is anyone really asking for a newspaper to throw away at the end of each day.

But it seems like there would be a market for quality commemorative editions after championship seasons (not the hastily-thrown together stuff we see now) or collections of great writing that rate a little more evergreen.

I mentioned in last week's newsletter that a tweet I wrote about Sports Illustrated and its impact on making the moment last went more viral than anything I'd ever written.

As digital media goes faster and faster, the market keeps serving us with reminders there's a lot of people who want to slow things down.

And there's definitely a business opportunity in that request.

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• I got rid of a ton of CDs in a decluttering binge a few years ago, but made an executive decision to keep about 60 or so classics. Hey, who’s to say CDs won’t make a similar comeback in a few years?

• Did you know they make CD players to look like little record players now?

• Shoutout to Sturgill Simpson for going physical-release only on his new Johnny Blueskies album. Curious to see if any other artists follow suit.

• Having my girls ask me about their standing in the neighborhood March Madness contest I organize each year. Kenzie’s riding with Arizona. Karina is Team Michigan.

Neither had the sense (along with their dad) to pick yet another early UW exit.

• This new book about Johnny Carson.

• Watching old Chuck Norris/Conan videos. BTW, anyone else think “Chuck Norris” should become an ongoing role like “Captain America?” As in, once one goes away, someone else steps up to take the position? I’m interested in applying, if so.

Have a great weekend everyone!

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