Plastic rectangles with a magnetic strip are snapping shut once again on shop shelves.
The familiar click-clack sound is back, but this time it isn’t the 1980s.
The people queuing for cassette tapes weren’t even born when Sony Walkmans ruled the world.
Cassette tape sales soared by 204.7 per cent in the first quarter of 2025, reaching 63,288 units, according to industry data—a revival that surprised even seasoned music executives.
Young listeners, mostly Gen Z, are driving this resurgence, transforming a format once thought obsolete into the hottest music trend of the decade.
The rise of cassettes is not just about nostalgia—it’s about novelty.
Total cassette sales climbed from 3,823 in 2012 to more than 195,000 in 2022, marking 10 consecutive years of growth, a more than 5,000 per cent increase in just a decade.
'It's a bit of a twist: nostalgia for something they never actually lived through.'
For some, the appeal goes beyond curiosity. Luminate CEO Rob Jonas said: 'Millennials in the U.S. are 42 per cent more likely to buy cassette tapes than listeners from other generations' as a way to support their faves.
The format is bridging generations, with grandparents reminiscing about the original cassette era and grandchildren discovering it for the first time.
Australia is quietly part of this global revival, participating in Cassette Store Day since its UK launch and seeing local retailers embrace the trend.
Matt Huddy, manager of Red Eye Records in Sydney, said: 'There's a nostalgia thing to it, obviously, young kids find them cool and a bit of an oddity. The price is cheaper than an LP, sometimes they come with a digital download code which I think helps sell them.'
Australian cassette milestones
First gold-certified cassette: Skyhooks' 'Living In The '70s' (1974)
Current retailers stocking cassettes: JB Hi-Fi, Red Eye Records, independent record stores
Popular Australian artists releasing on cassette: Stella Donnelly, King Gizzard & the Lizard Wizard
Annual celebration: Cassette Store Day (October)
RTM could produce finished tapes for artists within two weeks, a major advantage over months-long vinyl pressings, which became crucial during the pandemic when vinyl production faced delays.
Affordability also attracts younger buyers, with cassettes typically selling for $15–25, compared to $50–80 for new vinyl records in Australia.
Australian musician Stella Donnelly explained: 'Vinyl is very expensive, so for a first EP that would come at a massive cost, and unless you have a big label backing you it's not feasible. So I think that's why a lot of people put it out on tape.'
The technology has evolved alongside the format, with new cassette players being launched for listeners unfamiliar with older devices.
FiiO Electronics Technology released the CP13 player, featuring a copper flywheel that reduced 'wow' and 'flutter' distortions, while French brand We Are Rewind introduced the WE-001 model, combining retro appeal with modern performance.
Did you know?
The original Sony Walkman The TPS-L2, launched on 1 July 1979, sold 220 million units worldwide and became so iconic that all portable cassette players were called 'Walkmans'.
For many, cassettes offer something streaming cannot: tangible ownership, allowing listeners to hold tapes, admire artwork, and flip through liner notes.
The format is also fostering family connections, with grandparents sharing old collections and introducing younger relatives to music that shaped their youth.
Why cassettes are making a comeback
- Affordability: Much cheaper than vinyl records
- Speed to market: Faster production than vinyl
- Tangible ownership: Physical connection to music
- Nostalgia factor: Appeals to multiple generations
- Collectibility: Limited editions and special releases
- Supporting artists: Direct way to financially support musicians
Industry experts believe the cassette revival has staying power, with Scott Register of ThinkIndie Distribution saying: 'It reminds me of the early days of the vinyl revival. I'd go to conventions and speak about vinyl and laughter would ensue. I'd go back the next year and report higher sales percentages, and there would be less laughter.'
Streaming growth is slowing, further benefiting physical media, with consumption rising 6.6 per cent year-on-year in Q1 2025, down from 11.3 per cent in Q1 2024, prompting record labels to rethink their approach to physical formats.
What This Means For You
Cassette sales surged by 204.7 per cent in the first quarter of 2025, driven largely by Gen Z and millennials, signalling a revival that many thought was long over.
Australia has joined the trend, celebrating Cassette Store Day and seeing local music retailers embrace the format once again.
Factors such as affordability, speedy production, and the tactile ownership that cassettes offer make them particularly appealing to younger buyers, while new technology and the multi-generational appeal of the format are helping to sustain this comeback.
This revival presents a unique opportunity to reconnect with a format you once knew well and to share that experience with grandchildren or younger family members, bridging generations through music and memories.
Cassette Sales Explode by Over 200% While CDs Keep Sinking in 2025 — Reports that cassette tape sales jumped 204.7 per cent in Q1 2025, reaching 63,288 units, surprising the music industry.
https://www.headphonesty.com/2025/05/cassette-sales-explode-cds-continue-downward-slide/
Cassette tape sales at 20-year high — Notes that total cassette sales rose from 3,823 in 2012 to over 195,000 in 2022, showing 10 consecutive years of growth.
https://www.nme.com/news/music/cassette-tape-sales-at-20-year-high-3432784
Cassette Sales Explode by Over 200% While CDs Keep Sinking in 2025 — Highlights that nearly 59 per cent of 18- to 24-year-olds regularly listen to music on physical formats, including cassettes.
https://www.headphonesty.com/2025/05/cassette-sales-explode-cds-continue-downward-slide/
NDAs, Obsessive Buyers, and $400 for Sublime: Inside the Baffling Revival of the Cassette Tape — Luminate CEO Rob Jonas states that U.S. millennials are 42 per cent more likely to buy cassette tapes than other generations to support their favourite artists.
https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-features/cassette-tape-comeback-walkman-1234606978/
Why more Australians are expected to press ‘Rewind’ on cassettes — Australia has joined global Cassette Store Day since its UK launch, with local retailers noticing renewed interest.
https://themusicnetwork.com/cassette-popularity-australia/
Why more Australians are expected to press ‘Rewind’ on cassettes — Red Eye Records manager Matt Huddy explains that nostalgia, affordability, and digital download codes contribute to cassette appeal.
https://themusicnetwork.com/cassette-popularity-australia/
Why more Australians are expected to press ‘Rewind’ on cassettes — Half of the 350,000 sales of the first two #Skyhooks albums were on cassette, making them Australia’s first gold-certified cassettes.
https://themusicnetwork.com/cassette-popularity-australia/
NDAs, Obsessive Buyers, and $400 for Sublime: Inside the Baffling Revival of the Cassette Tape — Notes that cassettes can be produced in two weeks compared to months for vinyl, accelerating release schedules.
https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-features/cassette-tape-comeback-walkman-1234606978/
Why more Australians are expected to press ‘Rewind’ on cassettes — Australian musician Stella Donnelly explains vinyl is expensive, making cassettes more accessible for new releases.
https://themusicnetwork.com/cassette-popularity-australia/
Cassette Sales Explode by Over 200% While CDs Keep Sinking in 2025 — Companies are creating new cassette players for younger listeners unfamiliar with older technology.
https://www.headphonesty.com/2025/05/cassette-sales-explode-cds-continue-downward-slide/
Cassette Sales Explode by Over 200% While CDs Keep Sinking in 2025 — FiiO Electronics released the CP13 player with a copper flywheel to reduce distortions.
https://www.headphonesty.com/2025/05/cassette-sales-explode-cds-continue-downward-slide/
Cassette Sales Explode by Over 200% While CDs Keep Sinking in 2025 — French brand We Are Rewind introduced the WE-001 model combining retro style with modern technology.
https://www.headphonesty.com/2025/05/cassette-sales-explode-cds-continue-downward-slide/
Cassette Sales Explode by Over 200% While CDs Keep Sinking in 2025 — Highlights that physical cassettes offer a tactile experience that streaming cannot replicate.
https://www.headphonesty.com/2025/05/cassette-sales-explode-cds-continue-downward-slide/
NDAs, Obsessive Buyers, and $400 for Sublime: Inside the Baffling Revival of the Cassette Tape — Scott Register notes similarities between the cassette revival and the early days of the vinyl revival.
https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-features/cassette-tape-comeback-walkman-1234606978/
Cassette Sales Explode by Over 200% While CDs Keep Sinking in 2025 — Physical media sales are rising while streaming growth slows, increasing just 6.6 per cent in Q1 2025.
https://www.headphonesty.com/2025/05/cassette-sales-explode-cds-continue-downward-slide/
Have you kept any of your old cassette tapes, or are you tempted to start collecting again?
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