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Believe it or not: CDs are coming back to steal spotlight from streaming

- LUTHO PASIYA

BELIEVE it or not, but amid the sprawling dominance of digital music platforms, compact discs (CDs) are experiencing a revival that seems almost conflicting in the age of streaming.

Like vinyl records surging back into popularity over the past decade, CDs, which many believed had faded into obscurity, are once again capturing the interest of music enthusiasts across South Africa and beyond.

Not so long ago, physical media formats felt like antiques of the past.

The rapid rise of smartphones and digital streaming services such as Spotify, Tidal, Apple Music, and YouTube Music led to a noticeable decline in CD sales.

Manufacturers even began to phase out CD drives from laptops and cars, further diminishing the physical format’s relevance.

SA saw significant ramifications from this decline, with prominent music retail chains like Musica effectively closing the curtain on physical sales when it shut its doors for good in May 2021.

Adding a dash of intrigue to this unexpected revival was South African singer-songwriter Zonke, who took a bold step by releasing her latest album Embo on CD, USB, and vinyl in 2023.