The sale of physical media, specifically DVDs and Blu-rays, continues to drop in the United States, according to the country’s Digital Entertainment Group.
Granted, the tastes and purchasing habits of the average American don’t necessarily reflect those of consumers elsewhere. However, the trend is clear worldwide: physical media is rapidly declining in popularity. In the U.S., sales of DVDs and Blu-rays plummeted by a staggering 26% in the third quarter of this year, as reported by various sources. Earlier this year, the country’s second-largest retail chain, Target, saw the writing on the wall and announced it would stop selling discs entirely by 2025. Compounding this issue is another noteworthy trend: movie theater attendance also dropped, with 22% fewer Americans visiting cinemas compared to last year.
4K Blu-ray as the Exception
The outlook for DVDs and Blu-rays may seem grim, particularly as manufacturers of players could eventually follow suit, further accelerating the downward spiral. However, there’s a glimmer of hope for physical media in an era dominated by streaming: the 4K UHD Blu-ray catalog expanded by 10%. Evidently, there is still a market for high-quality media and collectible editions.
Meanwhile, vinyl and even cassette tapes are experiencing a resurgence. Yet, despite their growth, these formats remain niche markets. For savvy producers and retailers, however, such niches can still be quite profitable.