THE RETURN OF VINYL
THE RETURN OF VINYL
Vinyl is back! Is it the quality of the sound? Nostalgia? A retro-cultural fad? A collector’s item?
Whatever it is, it’s still a small percentage in music sales around the world. However vinyl sales are on the rise for 13 years in a row and this year 2020 was the highest ever in spite of all the madness caused by the corona virus lockdown!
It’s the first time in 34 years, since 1986, that vinyl records sales surpassed CD sales. We are talking about revenue, not unit sales.
In the firs 6 months of 2020, Vinyl record sales where $232.2 million vs. CD sales $129.9 million according to the report of The Recording Industry Association of America.
WHY?
Well for one the quality of the sound is better, richer, fuller. But it goes beyond that.
Vinyl is not just vinyl! It has visual art, photography, it has smell and emotions connected to it. It creates a bigger impact not only audibly, visually, but to other of our perception senses as well, better than a CD does.
It is also a collector’s desired item. A piece of art, a piece of history with memories and emotions connected to it.
HISTORY
So, let’s take a look on how this all began…
In 1877, Thomas Edison recorded his voice by reciting “Mary Had a Little Lamb” nursery rhyme song to a phonograph. This was the first sound ever recorded.
In 1887, Emile Berliner created the first device that you could record and play back sound using a flat disc. This became the forerunner of the record player.
Record Players and records kept evolving for several decades. But then cassette tapes came along.
In 1962, in Belgium, Lou Ottens led the Philips team that invented the Cassette tape. It was introduced in Europe on 30th August 1963 at the Berlin Radio Show, and later in the United States in November 1964.
In 1982 CDs were made available to the public. However, the first digital compact disc device that was ever invented was in the late 1960s by the American physicist James Russell.
In 1997 the first portable MP3 player, called “MPMan” player, was launched by Saehan Information Systems.
In 2001 Napster came up with the first streaming music service available for a monthly fee. And through the years many have followed like Pandora, Apple Music, Spotify, YouTube Music, Amazon Music just to name a few. Presently streaming music service represents the biggest source of income in sales in the music industry.
So how is it that after 133 years since the beginning of the forerunner of record players was created, we have a resurgence of the vinyl and more importantly, who is leading this movement?
VINYL GENERATION
We might think that the generation leading this “Return of the Vinyl” would be the Boomer generation or the Generation Xers…
Actually, based on surveys while they are definitely part of the resurgence of vinyl, the real generation driving this trend is the Millennial generation!
THE WAY WE LISTEN TO MUSIC
The way most people listen to music has changed and keeps changing as our culture, technology and way of life evolves.
In the “old days” people would sit down to listen to an entire vinyl record from beginning to end, either alone or in gatherings.
Then as our way of life changed and instant gratification and practicality led technology to create other formats of consuming music we began to embrace the cassette tape, then the CD/DVD player, then the MP3 player and now streaming in our iPhones, computers and iPads.
So, what does this mean? Well, it first means we are consuming more and more music than before and in many different ways. Streaming is now leading music sales.
Music seems to be everywhere. When we go to the gym, to the coffee shop, in the car, at home, in our computer, iPhone, Sport events, movies, video games, clubs, planes, restaurants, elevators, TV, YouTube, you name it.
The thing with vinyl records is there seems to be something very special about taking a record out of the jacket and sleeve, putting it on a record player, place the needle in the grooves and hear the crackles until the music comes on.
Not to mention looking at the artwork, reading the credits lines and listening to an art form that is warm and sexy.
It’s a piece of memory, part of your life history, your emotional reservoir, it brings joy, nostalgia, romance and happiness. Both musically and visually. No other format does it like vinyl records do!
RECORD PLAYERS
Record players were more expensive before new technology came along. Due to the competitive market, today you can buy a good quality record player at a low price or go for higher quality record player, still at an accessible price. Below are two examples of record players that are very popular and accessible in the market (affiliate links):
A good quality record player would be the Victrola Vintage 3-Speed Portable Suitcase Record Player with Built-in Speakers.
A high-quality record player would be the industry standard Audio-Technica AT-LP1240-USB XP Direct-Drive Professional DJ.
Both of this models will satisfy your crave for vinyl and will deliver better sound quality than most record players in the past!
MUSIC SALES 2020
According to The Recording Industry Association of America study vinyl records sales for 2020 have surpassed CDs.
Here is the breakdown:
1. Streaming Music – 85%
2. Downloaded Music – 6%
3. Vinyl Records – 4%
4. CDs – 2%
5. Other Miscellaneous formats – 3%
USA VINYL RECORD SALES – 2020
Click below to get your favorite vinyl records (affiliate links):
2. The Beatles – Abbey Road Anniversary
3. Pink Floyd – The Dark Side of the Moon
7. Harry Styles – Harry Styles
8. Billie Eilish – When We All Fall Asleep, Where Do We Go?
9. Frank Sinatra – Ultimate Sinatra
11. Miles Davis – Kind Of Blue
13. The Beatles – Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band
14. Amy Winehouse – Back to Black
16. Creedence Clearwater Revival – Chronicle: The 20 Greatest Hits
19. Johnny Cash – The Essential Johnny Cash
20. Fleetwood Mac – Fleetwood Mac: Greatest Hits
UK VINYL RECORD SALES – 2020
Click below to get your favorite vinyl records (affiliate links):
2. Amy Winehouse – Back To Black
4. Liam Gallagher – MTV Unplugged
7. Fontaines Dc – A Hero’s Death
8. Lewis Capaldi – Divinely Uninspired To A Hellish Extent
9. Billie Eilish – When We All Fall Asleep Where Do We Go
11. Gerry Cinnamon – The Bonny
13. Biffy Clyro – A Celebration of Endings
14. 1975 – Notes on A Conditional Form
15. Tame Impala – The Slow Rush
16. Bob Marley & The Wailers – Legend
17. Pink Floyd – The Dark Side Of The Moon
18. Bob Dylan – Rough and Rowdy Ways
20. Oasis – What’s the Story Morning Glory
WE LOVE VINYL
Vinyl records are here to stay, be enjoyed and are not only part of our lives but of future generations. So, pull out one of your favorite records and put it on a record player, set the needle to the beginning of the groove and let music take you to that special place that only this art form can do. And remember to…
