People in almost all parts of the world are pulling records from attics and searching for albums from secondary shops and thrift stores. Since 2006, vinyl records have seen a continuous resurgence each year, showing no sign of slowing down. Technology isn’t known for being cyclical, and with streaming services dominating the entertainment industry, the rise of vinyl records isn’t less than some magic. You may wonder why it’s rising after over two decades downstream. Vinyl Groove is officially back.
The 20th century saw the initiation and development of each invention in the music industry to give customers an efficient playback experience. But when and how did this all happen? And how did it go through a downfall before seeing a resurgence again?
This article will discuss its brief history and how it is gaining more popularity in this age.
Modern Vinyl Records
By 1930, the company RCA Victor launched its first commercial vinyl record. This was the beginning of modern vinyl records with a speed of 33⅓ rpm instead of 78 RPM and a 12-inch diameter. In other words, it can record long durations of sound. Its rival company, Columbia, released the 12-inch “long play” 33 1⁄3 rpm microgroove record in 1948. RCA battled with a smaller 7-inch record. It can play a song called “extended play” at 45 RPM.
Currently, artists still use long plays and extended plays (LPs and EPs), whether music is available in physical format. Vinyl records saw a huge decline in the 1970s because of the introduction of compact cassette tapes and eight-track cartridges. This trend continues with CDs, digital downloads, and streaming services.
Record Store Day
Most customers prefer independent record stores to department stores because of the more extensive selection, even when stores are small. Store Day is celebrated internationally on the third Saturday of April each year. It is conceived to celebrate the art of music. Fans, artists, and thousands of independent record stores nationwide come together to celebrate it.
The day was officially founded in 2007. Since then, it has been celebrated globally. Hundreds of recording artists and other artists participate in celebrations by making special appearances, performing, and meeting and greeting fans. They hold art exhibits, the issuing of special vinyl and CD releases, and promotional products.
In 2013, 68,936 records were sold in the United Kingdom for the week of Record Store Day, an 86.5% rise from 36,957 in 2012. If we break it down:
- 1,249 7″ albums
- 25,100 12″ albums; 27,042 7″ singles
- 15,545 12″ singles
From December 29, 2017, to June 28, 2018, there was an increase in vinyl sales from the previous year in the same period. Vinyl records also hold 18% of physical record sales in the United States, compared to 11% the previous year.
Resurgence of Vinyl Records
In 1988, after the half-century dominance of vinyl records in the music format, CD sales surpassed them. It reached its lowest ebb in 2007, with only 1 million sales in the US.
Record Store Day was founded in 2007 to celebrate the art of music. Since that year, vinyl records have seen new affinity among music lovers. Where sales were only 1 million in 2007 in the US, the number reached 27.5 million in America in 2020. And the trend is following an upward direction.
In 2022, according to the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA), 41.3 million EPs and LPs were sold in the U.S., which is 45-fold more than the number in 2006. So, how big is the comeback of vinyl records? According to Luminate’s 2022 Year-End Music Report, LPs accounted for 43 percent of album sales in the US. Considering streaming and downloads of single tracks, their number is less than five percent of music consumption. In the 1970s, during the glory days of vinyl records, sales of LPs and EPs were around 300 million in a single year.
However, how big or small does riding LP sales impact the music industry? The good thing is that it’s fascinating to think how a hundred-year-old technology is seeing a resurrection from near extinction. Physical goods still have value in this digital world. Interestingly, it has become a collector’s item for fans who have an affinity for digital stuff but still have or want to have a physical object. Luminate reports only 50% of vinyl buyers have record players.
UK Official Record Store Chart
The Official Record Store Chart is a weekly music chart that gives data based on physical sales of albums from almost 100 independent record stores in the United Kingdom. The Official Charts Company (OCC) compiles it. The OCC official website announces the week’s number one first on Sunday evenings. The OCC launched the chart on April 17, 2012. British record stores sold 4.5 million albums per year during this period. They account for 95 percent of the country’s total vinyl sales.
Why Are Records Popular?
So, what’s causing the popularity of something invented 100 years ago and returned from near extinction? For this, you have to understand what made the format so successful. Sound quality has always been a highlight. Music lovers have enjoyed the audio quality difference between vinyl and more modern formats.
Modern digital audio uses compressed files, especially when streaming; files must be uploaded quickly with as little bandwidth. The tangibility of vinyl records is another factor that lures many young and older music fans. It offers a deeper connection to music.
Wrapping up
The music industry can be unpredictable. Who would have known that something invented a hundred years ago would see a huge resurgence even in this highly advanced digital age? Engineers are looking to improve record players, record-pressing technology, and the materials used in making records. Everything is an attempt to make things more environmentally friendly.
No matter what caused the resurgence of vinyl records, this is not a trend. The rise is so vigorous that some artists and labels struggle to get records printed quickly.