In the last few years, vinyl records have made a comeback in the music industry. Though they were once replaced by digital formats, vinyl records have seen a resurgence in popularity due to the warmer sound and nostalgic feel they provide. Record stores have been popping up all over the place, and artists are releasing their music on vinyl again. So, what caused this vinyl revival?
The RIAA has released its annual year-end revenue report, surveying the state of the recorded music industry at the end of 2020. Despite the coronavirus pandemic, trends across the past several years carried on: Streaming is up 13.4%, generating $10.1 billion last year compared to $8.9 billion in 2019, accounting for 83% of the total revenue of the industry. Vinyl sales have continued to rise, too, increasing a whopping 29.2% to $619.6 million, compared to $479.5 million in 2019.
The rise in vinyl sales made up for the continued decline in CD sales, leading to a marginal 0.5% decrease in revenue across all physical media from to 2019 to 2020. Music downloads continue to trend downwards, too, decreasing by 18% to $674.4 million last year as compared to $822.8 million in 2019. The RIAA report concludes that streaming has driven the industry to grow for the fifth consecutive year, with revenues increasing 9.2% in 2020, generating $12.2 billion in total
Vinyl Creates a Sense of Connection and Closeness
People are investing in modern and vintage vinyl records to enjoy the connection and closeness of the music. This is because taking the initiative to go out into a store to choose records that suit them is incredibly satisfying.
Music lovers can’t instantly download vinyl records from the cloud. Instead, they walk into a physical store and go through different albums to find what they want. Being in the presence of pure artistry brings a greater sense of appreciation and connection.
In addition, vinyl records come with great covers, some with incredible art that speak volumes about the music album. Seeing and understanding the art on the cover allows people to analyze the artist’s motivations and connect deeper to their music.
Vinyl Acts as a Great Collectible or Heirloom
Having a favourite artist’s album as a vinyl record is a great collectable and heirloom that can be passed down through generations. People can also share it with friends and enjoy a common interest that brings them together.
The best part is the cover art and detailed liner notes. Each vinyl record will have different details, making it unique and pleasing. When stored, these vinyl records can be aesthetically pleasing to showcase the art and add an element of detail to the space.
So, as an artist, realising that people will continue to invest in vinyl records to add to their collection gives you a great advantage.
The vinyl comeback – why vinyl records are better than digital records
Though digital music formats have become the dominant way to listen to music, there has been a recent resurgence in popularity for vinyl records. There are a number of reasons why vinyl records are making a comeback, and many of them have to do with the sound quality and listening experience that they provide. Vinyl records tend to have a warmer sound than digital formats, which can provide a more pleasant listening experience. In addition, because vinyl records are physical objects, there is a certain level of nostalgia associated with them. Listening to music on vinyl can be a more immersive experience, as you can see the album artwork and hold the record in your hands.
There’s a ritualistic aspect to vinyl that a lot of people are drawn to, too. The act of putting a record on—carefully removing the record from the sleeve, placing it on the record player and gently dropping the needle on the right groove—is a more assiduous, mindful way of engaging with music. For vinyl lovers, records represent a different way to experience music.
When you’re listening to vinyl, you can’t tap a button and go about your day while the streaming service provides hours of music. You need to stay close to the record player to move the needle and flip the record over. With LPs, music becomes an activity that you take part in rather than just background noise. In our busy, hectic modern society, it could be that many of us need the element of slowing down that enjoying records represents.
It’s clear that the vinyl revival is well underway, and vinyl records are truly making a comeback. In an increasingly digital society, there’s something to be said for analogue experiences. Perhaps one of the great things about being alive in the 21st century is our ability to have the best of both worlds—the timeless appeal of tangible, physical records alongside the seamless, easy access to vast music libraries that streaming offers.
If you’re looking for the best possible sound quality, then vinyl is still the way to go. Digital formats like CDs and MP3s are compressed, which means that some of the audio data is lost in the conversion process. This results in a loss of detail and subtlety in the music. Vinyl records, on the other hand, are analog recordings that don’t go through this type of compression, so they sound closer to the original performance. There are plenty of reasons to choose vinyl over digital formats, whether it’s for the superior sound quality or the nostalgic experience. If you’re looking to get the most out of your music, then give vinyl a try. We for one are happy for the vinyl comeback!
