History and comeback.
While vinyl as a media never truly “died,” the consumption of full length albums sunk to the absolute lowest between the 90’s and early aughts. According to Luke Garcia, “In 2007, 1 million vinyl records were sold in the U.S.” While that seems impressive, Garcia says, “In 2020, that number rose to 27.5 million. In the first half of 2021, 19.2 million records were sold. Those metrics are solely new vinyl as well. Looking at used sales the numbers are
staggering, as the used media market of records, tapes, and cds made over 1 billion in revenue in 2021.
Vinyl Prevalence
The real question is why? What exactly is the itch that scratches music fans and casual fans alike? In my opinion there are a couple factors- First, as outlined in Shout Out UK’s excellent article, people are looking for a deeper connection to the music they're listening to. In the age of information, it’s become easier than ever to search and find music and listen at their pace. However, I argue it’s more fun to physically hold the record, place it on the turntable, hear the slight crackle as the needle hits the groove while reading the liner notes. In high school, I bought a reissue of Pink Floyd’s seminal record, ‘The Dark Side of The Moon.’ Up until that point, I viewed Pink Floyd as a dad rock group that your family members would reminisce about old music being awesome or the cover art being synonymous with a shirt you’d find at Hot Topic. Either way, I was trying to find more introduction into psych leaning music and it seemed like an obvious leadway. Even with my trashy 79 dollar 2 for 1 record/speaker combo, I sat there in awe and in that moment really felt close to the music. Another point of conversation is while most artists are available on most streaming platforms, popular artists like Joni Mitchell, Garth Brooks, De La Soul, etc. are not accessible for listening unless you own the physical media. At any point, streaming services can pull your favorite artists from its library, incentivizing music listeners to invest in artists. In addition, collecting records is just fun. Like any hobby, the thrill of the hunt is a major contributor. The feeling of going on a whim to your local record/thrift store and finding a familiar favorite or buying something completely randomly because the cover has cool art. It could suck, or, just maybe, be a true gem.
CDs and Cassette Comeback
As much as vinyl seems like a stretch for outsiders looking in, CDs and cassette tapes are making a splash not just with quirky Urban Outfitters shoppers but music fans alike. Like vinyl, I think they’re a couple reasons. First, during the pandemic, all record processing plants were backed up due to supply chain issues. So, logistically, indie and major labels pushed cassette and CD sales as the turnaround was much faster. Also, the cost for new tapes and CDs is much more affordable at around $8-$10 while new records average between $20-40. So, it makes sense for music fans who don’t want to break the bank and still own a piece of media and its added benefits.
Conclusion
Regardless of the actual cause of physical media, I believe that it will extend beyond just a trend and will continue to live for future decades.
Little about me
Hi! My name is Cameron (Scott, Aaron, Jon, etc. call me Cam and it stuck, so you’re more than welcome to call me that). I graduated from UK in Spring, 2022 and have joined the team since then. I supply the media at the store and update it weekly from familiar favorites to ones I think the art just looks cool.
Written by:
Cameron Taylor
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