Culture
Animated Chart: The Rise and Fall of Music Sales, by Format (1973-2021)
The Rise and Fall of Music Sales, by Format (1973-2021)
We live in a world of music. Whether when driving to work or jamming out at home, people around the world like to have their favorite tunes playing in the background.
But while our love for music has been constant, the way we consume media has evolved drastically. The past 50 years have seen many different music formats used to access these tunes, mirroring society’s shift from analog to digital.
This video, created by James Eagle using data from the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA), highlights sales of different music formats in the U.S. over the last 50 years.
Vinyl
Up until the late 1980s, vinyl dominated the music format industry, earning billions of dollars in sales annually. Records of Bruce Springsteen’s Born to Run or Pink Floyd’s Dark Side of the Moon were some of the top selling albums available.
Vinyl is said to provide its listeners with analog sounds that reverberate and the warm notes of almost-live music. For vinyl users and enthusiasts to this day, the music produced by these sleek yet massive records is unparalleled.
8-Track
If you’re a millennial (or younger), you may have never heard of the 8-track. But this music format played an integral part in the history of music.
When the booming automotive vehicle industry found it challenging to translate the music experience to cars using vinyl, it looked to the “Stereo 8” eight-track cartridge, better known as the 8-track. This cartridge used an analog magnetic tape and provided 90 minutes of continuous music play time.
8-track carved a niche for itself much before the advent of cassettes and CDs. And through the proliferation of vehicles, 8-track sales climbed to reach a peak revenue of $900 million in 1978.
Cassettes
The era of cassettes pushed 8-tracks into the history of music in the early 1980s. These pocket-sized tapes were more convenient to use than 8Tracks and quickly spread worldwide.
By 1989, the cassette format reached its peak revenues of $3.7 billion.
CDs
First released in 1982, the Compact Disc or CD came into the music market as the successor to the vinyl record.
Developed by Philips and Sony, sales of the sleek and portable CD grew quickly as home and car stereos alike added CD functionality. The format brought in $13.3 billion in revenue in both 1999 and 2000. To date, no other music format has reached the same milestone since.
Digital Music Formats
When it comes to preferred music formats over time, convenience (and cost) seem to have been the biggest catalysts of change.
From the start of the early 2000s, CDs had started to be replaced by other forms of digital storage and distribution. The massive shift to internet consumption and the introduction of digital music, available through downloads, pushed audio CD sales down rapidly.
The launch of streaming platforms like Spotify in 2006 exacerbated this decline, with CD sales dropping by around $4 billion in five years.
Digital sales continued to evolve. Ringtone sales alone brought in $1.1 billion in 2007, and in 2012, the revenues from downloads shot up to a peak of $2.9 billion. But music streaming platforms kept climbing through 2021, and will likely continue to be the future face of music consumption.
Rank | Music formats | Revenue in 2021 |
---|---|---|
1 | Streaming | $11.5 billion |
2 | Vinyl | $1.0 billion |
3 | CD | $0.6 billion |
4 | Downloads | $0.5 billion |
Other | $1.4 billion | |
Total | $15.1 billion |
Music streaming and subscription services pushed the accessibility of music to new highs, especially with free ad-supported platforms.
In 2021, streaming secured the music industry a whopping $11.5 billion in sales, good for 76% of the total. If it keeps growing in popularity and accessibility, the format could potentially challenge the peak popularity of CDs in the late 90s.
The Vintage Comeback?
There’s no doubt that digital music formats are getting increasingly popular with every passing year. However, one of our vintage and beloved music formats—the vinyl record—seems to be making a comeback.
According to the RIAA database, the revenue earned by LP/EP sales has shot up to $1.0 billion in 2021, its highest total since the mid-1980s.

This article was published as a part of Visual Capitalist's Creator Program, which features data-driven visuals from some of our favorite Creators around the world.
Maps
Mapped: Countries Where People Don’t Exercise Enough
This map shows the share of people in each country who don’t get enough exercise per week. Stark regional patterns emerge.

Mapped: Countries Where People Don’t Exercise Enough
This was originally posted on our Voronoi app. Download the app for free on iOS or Android and discover incredible data-driven charts from a variety of trusted sources.
Key Takeaways
- Two-thirds of the UAE isn’t getting enough exercise, the highest rate for any country in this study.
- In West and South Asia, around half the population falls short of recommended physical activity levels.
- Roughly one in three Americans aren’t hitting the minimum exercise mark.
The World Health Organization recommends 2.5 hours of moderate activity or 1.25 hours of vigorous activity every week.
What counts as moderate and vigorous activity?
A good rule of thumb is checking heart rate and breathing. If you can talk but not sing while doing the activity (walking, hiking), then it’s a moderate level of exercise.
Running and high-intensity sports are in the vigorous zone.
Using the latest data from a study published by The Lancet Global Health in 2024, we map the countries by the share of their population who aren’t meeting minimum exercise requirements.
Ranked: Countries That Don’t Get Enough Exercise
At the very top of the list, two-thirds of UAE’s population isn’t meeting minimum physical activity guidelines. This is the highest rate for any country in the study.
Rank | Country/Territory | % of population with insufficient physical activity |
---|---|---|
1 | 🇦🇪 UAE | 66% |
2 | 🇰🇼 Kuwait | 63% |
3 | 🇨🇺 Cuba | 61% |
4 | 🇱🇧 Lebanon | 59% |
5 | 🇰🇷 South Korea | 58% |
6 | 🇵🇦 Panama | 58% |
7 | 🇶🇦 Qatar | 54% |
8 | 🇮🇶 Iraq | 52% |
9 | 🇵🇹 Portugal | 52% |
10 | 🇸🇦 Saudi Arabia | 52% |
11 | 🇨🇷 Costa Rica | 50% |
12 | 🇮🇳 India | 49% |
13 | 🇸🇷 Suriname | 49% |
14 | 🇮🇷 Iran | 46% |
15 | 🇵🇰 Pakistan | 46% |
16 | 🇻🇪 Venezuela | 46% |
17 | 🇱🇾 Libya | 46% |
18 | 🇵🇭 Philippines | 46% |
19 | 🇷🇸 Serbia | 45% |
20 | 🇿🇦 South Africa | 45% |
21 | 🇯🇵 Japan | 45% |
22 | 🇹🇹 Trinidad & Tobago | 45% |
23 | 🇹🇷 Türkiye | 44% |
24 | 🇧🇧 Barbados | 44% |
25 | 🇰🇳 Saint Kitts & Nevis | 42% |
26 | 🇵🇷 Puerto Rico | 42% |
27 | 🇧🇿 Belize | 42% |
28 | 🇴🇲 Oman | 41% |
29 | 🇨🇾 Cyprus | 41% |
30 | 🇲🇹 Malta | 41% |
31 | 🇧🇷 Brazil | 40% |
32 | 🇮🇹 Italy | 40% |
33 | 🇲🇾 Malaysia | 40% |
34 | 🇸🇻 El Salvador | 39% |
35 | 🇳🇮 Nicaragua | 39% |
36 | 🇧🇭 Bahrain | 39% |
37 | 🇯🇲 Jamaica | 39% |
38 | 🇦🇷 Argentina | 39% |
39 | 🇲🇷 Mauritania | 39% |
40 | 🇨🇱 Chile | 38% |
41 | 🇦🇬 Antigua & Barbuda | 38% |
42 | 🇸🇾 Syria | 38% |
43 | 🇧🇸 Bahamas | 37% |
44 | 🇨🇦 Canada | 37% |
45 | 🇱🇰 Sri Lanka | 37% |
46 | 🇩🇴 Dominican Republic | 37% |
47 | 🇵🇱 Poland | 37% |
48 | 🇬🇹 Guatemala | 37% |
49 | 🇭🇳 Honduras | 37% |
50 | 🇷🇴 Romania | 37% |
51 | 🇵🇾 Paraguay | 36% |
52 | 🇬🇩 Grenada | 36% |
53 | 🇹🇯 Tajikistan | 36% |
54 | 🇳🇷 Nauru | 36% |
55 | 🇬🇷 Greece | 35% |
56 | 🇬🇾 Guyana | 35% |
57 | 🇳🇴 Norway | 35% |
58 | 🇵🇪 Peru | 35% |
59 | 🇨🇴 Colombia | 34% |
60 | 🇪🇬 Egypt | 34% |
61 | 🇺🇾 Uruguay | 34% |
62 | 🇺🇸 U.S. | 34% |
63 | 🇦🇫 Afghanistan | 33% |
64 | 🇹🇳 Tunisia | 33% |
65 | 🇧🇳 Brunei | 33% |
66 | 🇧🇬 Bulgaria | 32% |
67 | 🇰🇮 Kiribati | 32% |
68 | 🇺🇿 Uzbekistan | 32% |
69 | 🇨🇻 Cabo Verde | 31% |
70 | 🇹🇴 Tonga | 31% |
71 | 🇩🇲 Dominica | 31% |
72 | 🇻🇨 Saint Vincent & the Grenadines | 31% |
73 | 🇻🇳 Vietnam | 30% |
74 | 🇲🇺 Mauritius | 30% |
75 | 🇲🇱 Mali | 30% |
76 | 🇵🇸 Palestine | 30% |
77 | 🇭🇺 Hungary | 29% |
78 | 🇫🇲 Micronesia | 29% |
79 | 🇾🇪 Yemen | 29% |
80 | 🇩🇿 Algeria | 29% |
81 | 🇹🇭 Thailand | 29% |
82 | 🇭🇷 Croatia | 28% |
83 | 🇭🇹 Haiti | 28% |
84 | 🇯🇴 Jordan | 28% |
85 | 🇰🇿 Kazakhstan | 28% |
86 | 🇲🇽 Mexico | 28% |
87 | 🇲🇳 Mongolia | 28% |
88 | 🇹🇼 Taiwan | 27% |
89 | 🇦🇩 Andorra | 27% |
90 | 🇰🇵 North Korea | 27% |
91 | 🇹🇱 Timor-Leste | 27% |
92 | 🇦🇲 Armenia | 27% |
93 | 🇮🇱 Israel | 27% |
94 | 🇲🇰 North Macedonia | 26% |
95 | 🇵🇼 Palau | 26% |
96 | 🇮🇸 Iceland | 26% |
97 | 🇸🇲 San Marino | 26% |
98 | 🇦🇺 Australia | 26% |
99 | 🇲🇨 Monaco | 26% |
100 | 🇧🇪 Belgium | 25% |
101 | 🇨🇰 Cook Islands | 25% |
102 | 🇳🇦 Namibia | 25% |
103 | 🇲🇻 Maldives | 25% |
104 | 🇲🇦 Morocco | 25% |
105 | 🇲🇭 Marshall Islands | 24% |
106 | 🇹🇻 Tuvalu | 24% |
107 | 🇦🇱 Albania | 24% |
108 | 🇬🇪 Georgia | 24% |
109 | 🇦🇿 Azerbaijan | 24% |
110 | 🇨🇳 China | 24% |
111 | 🇨🇿 Czechia | 23% |
112 | 🇸🇰 Slovakia | 23% |
113 | 🇫🇷 France | 23% |
114 | 🇸🇬 Singapore | 23% |
115 | 🇪🇨 Ecuador | 23% |
116 | 🇲🇪 Montenegro | 23% |
117 | 🇧🇴 Bolivia | 23% |
118 | 🇧🇼 Botswana | 22% |
119 | 🇲🇲 Myanmar | 22% |
120 | 🇮🇪 Ireland | 22% |
121 | 🇪🇸 Spain | 22% |
122 | 🇬🇭 Ghana | 21% |
123 | 🇬🇲 Gambia | 21% |
124 | 🇧🇦 Bosnia & Herzegovina | 21% |
125 | 🇱🇨 Saint Lucia | 21% |
126 | 🇬🇦 Gabon | 21% |
127 | 🇸🇨 Seychelles | 20% |
128 | 🇧🇩 Bangladesh | 20% |
129 | 🇱🇹 Lithuania | 20% |
130 | 🇰🇬 Kyrgyzstan | 20% |
131 | 🇦🇹 Austria | 20% |
132 | 🇨🇮 Côte d'Ivoire | 20% |
133 | 🇬🇶 Equatorial Guinea | 20% |
134 | 🇸🇿 Eswatini | 19% |
135 | 🇸🇩 Sudan | 19% |
136 | 🇨🇭 Switzerland | 19% |
137 | 🇬🇧 UK | 19% |
138 | 🇮🇩 Indonesia | 19% |
139 | 🇸🇮 Slovenia | 19% |
140 | 🇨🇲 Cameroon | 19% |
141 | 🇳🇿 New Zealand | 19% |
142 | 🇸🇹 São Tomé & Príncipe | 18% |
143 | 🇳🇬 Nigeria | 18% |
144 | 🇷🇺 Russia | 18% |
145 | 🇸🇴 Somalia | 18% |
146 | 🇧🇯 Benin | 18% |
147 | 🇹🇩 Chad | 18% |
148 | 🇿🇼 Zimbabwe | 18% |
149 | 🇬🇼 Guinea-Bissau | 18% |
150 | 🇸🇧 Solomon Islands | 18% |
151 | 🇦🇴 Angola | 17% |
152 | 🇰🇲 Comoros | 17% |
153 | 🇩🇯 Djibouti | 17% |
154 | 🇧🇫 Burkina Faso | 17% |
155 | 🇬🇳 Guinea | 17% |
156 | 🇸🇳 Senegal | 17% |
157 | 🇨🇫 Central African Republic | 17% |
158 | 🇸🇸 South Sudan | 16% |
159 | 🇳🇪 Niger | 16% |
160 | 🇨🇬 Congo | 16% |
161 | 🇪🇪 Estonia | 16% |
162 | 🇱🇦 Laos | 16% |
163 | 🇫🇯 Fiji | 16% |
164 | 🇨🇩 DRC | 15% |
165 | 🇹🇬 Togo | 15% |
166 | 🇱🇷 Liberia | 15% |
167 | 🇱🇻 Latvia | 15% |
168 | 🇧🇮 Burundi | 14% |
169 | 🇿🇲 Zambia | 14% |
170 | 🇧🇾 Belarus | 14% |
171 | 🇱🇺 Luxembourg | 14% |
172 | 🇲🇬 Madagascar | 14% |
173 | 🇼🇸 Samoa | 14% |
174 | 🇰🇭 Cambodia | 13% |
175 | 🇸🇱 Sierra Leone | 13% |
176 | 🇺🇦 Ukraine | 13% |
177 | 🇵🇬 Papua New Guinea | 13% |
178 | 🇩🇰 Denmark | 12% |
179 | 🇹🇲 Turkmenistan | 12% |
180 | 🇩🇪 Germany | 12% |
181 | 🇪🇷 Eritrea | 12% |
182 | 🇲🇩 Moldova | 11% |
183 | 🇧🇹 Bhutan | 10% |
184 | 🇲🇿 Mozambique | 10% |
185 | 🇫🇮 Finland | 10% |
186 | 🇪🇹 Ethiopia | 9% |
187 | 🇳🇱 Netherlands | 9% |
188 | 🇷🇼 Rwanda | 9% |
189 | 🇰🇪 Kenya | 9% |
190 | 🇸🇪 Sweden | 9% |
191 | 🇳🇵 Nepal | 8% |
192 | 🇱🇸 Lesotho | 8% |
193 | 🇻🇺 Vanuatu | 8% |
194 | 🇳🇺 Niue | 7% |
195 | 🇺🇬 Uganda | 6% |
196 | 🇹🇿 Tanzania | 4% |
197 | 🇲🇼 Malawi | 3% |
Note: Data collected between 2022–2024, via surveys and national statistics programs, published August 2024. Figures are age-standardized, averaged between sexes, and rounded.
In fact, the Middle East and West and South Asia are all swathes of red—indicating about half of the population isn’t exercising enough.
On the other hand, East and Southeast Asian countries are a little better when it comes to physical activity.
Interestingly Japan—known for their longevity—isn’t technically exercising enough by the specified guidelines. However the Japanese are also known for their walkable cities and excellent diet, both points in their favor.
Meanwhile, most people in Europe and Africa meet the requirements. Sub-Saharan Africa in particular is very active, but there are economic reasons at play here as well: a greater share of the population in poorer countries are often employed in subsistence farming or manual labor.
Learn More on the Voronoi App 
To see the correlation between exercise levels and incomes check out The Global Population by Income Group for a quick overview.
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