By Michaela Gordoni
We all remember that familiar snapping sound a DVD case makes when you crack it open…which, apparently, Gen Z misses.
Barnes & Noble, one of the few stores that still sells physical media, says its DVD and Blu-ray sales have increased over the last year, Relevant reported.
“We see across all of our platforms, books, vinyl, everything, is way up for us. People want to own things and build libraries,” said Bill Castle, the director of B&N’s music and video section.
“It’s convenient. They can listen or watch them at any time,” he explained. “They don’t have to worry about what streaming service has it up.”
Though physical media is still on the decline, it’s not falling as fast as it was a few years ago. iPod sales are also a little higher. eBay searches for iPod Classic and iPod nano rose 25% and 20% respectively from January through October 2025 compared to the previous year.
Related: Are DVDs Making a Comeback?
As many music streamers have paid services for ad-free streaming, the appeal to play your chosen music without interruptions at no cost makes sense.
“In the dawn of streaming, it seemed like maybe this was not going to happen, but it has definitely happened,” said Peter Becker, president of Criterion, which provides physical media products. “We’re seeing a lot of evidence, including at the Criterion Mobile Closet, that more young people are thinking about physical media in a different way. In an age where so much is available to us on demand, it becomes increasingly important to us.”
Morning Brew pointed out that iPods are also popular with Gen Alpha. As schools ban internet-connected devices, the music players are a good workaround.
Some say the iPod trend isn’t all about practicality and cost-saving.
“Gen Z and young adults are experiencing a lot of uncertainty in our lives, and it’s very hard for us to have a lot of hope in the future,” said Natalie Constantine, who received an iPod Nano this past Christmas. “So, we kind of attach to things that brought us hope and happiness in the past, like using an iPod.”
Another iPod user, Katherine Easters, said, “Sometimes, I just want to go out, take a walk, and I want to listen to music, but I don’t necessarily want 20 notifications.”
The app Brick, which blocks certain apps or internet with a physical NFC device, has had a 600% increase in downloads in January compared to last year.
With all of the things out there to grab our attention, it’s nice to know that physical media is still there when we want to get a little break.
Read Next: Is Physical Media Better Than Streaming?
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