December 3rd 2023.
In a world that is increasingly turning digital, it may come as a surprise to some that vinyl records are making an incredible comeback. Last year saw the highest volume of sales since 1990, with 5.5 million copies sold, and that number is growing. The British Phonographic Industry estimates that in the first nine months of 2020, nearly 4 million LPs were sold - a 13% increase from the previous year.
So what is driving this surge in popularity? According to a spokesperson from the BPI, the resurgence in vinyl is being driven by the emotional connection people feel with the music they love.
As a vinyl collector myself, I can certainly attest to the unique sonic experience that listening to my favourite albums on vinyl provides. Whether it's a remastered edition of The Masterplan by Oasis or the iconic Pink Floyd's Wish You Were Here, each record is a visual treat. And there's something special about holding an album in your hands and admiring the artwork.
Deb McCormick, a record collector from Lancashire, says that when it comes to vinyl, there's no comparison. She has a collection of nearly 1000 records, and got the music bug from her dad who passed away when she was young. She believes the nostalgia of handling a record is part of the appeal, as well as the different variants of the same album that collectors can get.
The tangible element of vinyl is indicative of the return of HMV to its former flagship store on London’s Oxford Street. After a four-year absence, the store is back, thanks to music entrepreneur Doug Putman who struck a deal to lower rent and business rates. It was Madness, with artwork by Sir Peter Blake, who opened the store in a ceremony last week.
Music fans from across England flocked to the opening and Doug Putman believes there is a ‘real magic’ to vinyl as a piece of art and to the sound it delivers. He is optimistic about the future of Oxford Street and hopes the shop can have ‘crowds which will shut down the street’.
It is clear that in this digitally-oriented age, people are still finding something special in the good old-fashioned record. Whether it's the emotional connection it provides or the tangible element of handling it, vinyl has made a remarkable comeback and doesn't look like it will be stopping anytime soon.
Why, in a digitally-oriented age, are we seeing such a surge in the good old-fashioned record? From rock ‘n’ roll stalwarts the Rolling Stones to pop superstars such a Taylor Swift and Lana Del Ray, the vinyl juggernaut is on a return journey – and doesn’t look like it will be stopping anytime soon.
Last year, 5.5 million copies of vinyl records were sold, according to figures from the British Phonographic Industry – the largest volume of sales since 1990. The first nine months of 2023 has seen an even greater increase, with nearly 4 million LPs being sold. So why, in such a digitally-oriented age, are we seeing such a surge in the good old-fashioned record?
A spokesperson for the British Phonographic Industry has an answer: ‘demand for vinyl continues to rise despite many years of growth, driven by the passion fans feel for the format and the emotional connection it provides with the music they love.’ As a vinyl collector myself, I can attest to the fact that it makes for an entirely different sonic experience listening to my favourite albums. From Oasis to Paul Weller, listening to them on vinyl makes for a totally different experience.
The tangible element of holding an album in your hands, looking at the artwork and then the sound of the needle dropping is absolute perfection. This is why many people, myself included, have an ever-growing collection of records. Looking through my own collection is a visual treat, reminding me of the amazing records that I’ve gathered. There’s something infinitely special about pulling out a copy of the colourful Outlandos d’Amour by The Police or Paul Weller’s third solo album Stanley Road. Can you get the same feeling from a static image on a streaming service? I don’t think so.
The popularity of vinyl records has been recognised by business tycoon Doug Putman. After buying HMV out of administration in 2019, he has now opened a flagship store on London’s Oxford Street, returning to the site where the brand first opened in 1921. This decision was made possible thanks to a 20% reduction in the rent and a halving of business rates.
Doug Putman believes that there’s ‘a real magic to vinyl as a piece of art and in the sound that listening to music on it delivers’. He’s also keen to see the Oxford Street store return to ‘its glory days’ when it welcomed live performances and signings from blur, the Spice Girls and Sir Paul McCartney.
On Black Friday, the doors to the new HMV store were opened by Madness, with special guests Hard-Fi, The Reytons, Rachel Chinouriri and Baby Queen also performing. Music fans from across England flocked to London to mark the return of the iconic store, with some even leaving their homes at 3am.
It seems that vinyl record sales are here to stay, as their appeal is unrivaled and they give fans an emotional connection to the music they love. With stores across the UK never being busier, it looks like the good old-fashioned record is here to stay.
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