Source: Boing Boing
Physical media consumption is resurging among Gen Z and younger millennials. They cite streaming's algorithmic curation and perceived ephemerality as reasons to return to CDs, which offer tangible ownership, curated tracklists, and liner notes—friction that contrasts with frictionless consumption models. Younger consumers report anxiety around playlist disappearance, licensing shifts, and algorithm capture. They're willing to pay premiums for intentional discovery and access they control. The pattern aligns with broader "New Consumer" behavior: trading convenience for authenticity and agency. Platform ubiquity alone doesn't satisfy demand for investment, collection, and permanence.