Vinyl record sales in the United States topped $1 billion in 2025, the first time the format has reached that threshold since 1983, according to the Recording Industry Association of America. Sales rose for the 19th consecutive year amid a resurgence driven by younger listeners, special-edition releases, and exclusive variants sold at both national chains and independent shops.
Nearly half of all global vinyl revenue came from the U.S. market last year. Overall recorded-music wholesale revenue, including streaming and physical formats, reached a record $11.5 billion in 2025, the RIAA reported.
Major retailers such as Target and Walmart have expanded the market by stocking exclusive variants available only in their stores. Independent shops continue to benefit from artist-driven exclusives as well. Distributors advise store owners on upcoming releases, but many also rely on customer demand when placing orders, said Saxon Julin, co-owner of Wax Records Inc. in Vero Beach, Florida. Female pop artists and high-quality audiophile pressings currently sell best at his store.
“There are so many demographics that collect vinyl, and there’s so many reasons to collect vinyl,” Julin said. “They are a collectable piece of music history. They’re like artifacts.”
Rising prices have accompanied the boom. Records in mint condition averaged $37.22 in 2025, up from $29.82 in 2020, according to the online marketplace Discogs. Julin said the higher cost has prompted a noticeable increase in CD collecting among customers ages 12 to 18.
“I’ve never seen anything like that in the 12 years we’ve had the store,” he said. “Vinyl is kind of expensive so, unfortunately, it has pushed some of my younger audience out. Instead of giving up, I find it so interesting that they still want to be a part of something. They still want to collect.”
Vinyl sales peaked above $1.5 billion in 1978 before declining sharply in the 1990s with the rise of cassettes and then compact discs. The current revival began around 2006.