Vinyl is back.
Are you old enough to remember vinyl records or do you have memories of those large black discs that many of our parents have rotting away in their closets are making a comeback. Well according to Nielsen Soundscan sales of vinyl have risen by 89 percent from 2007 to 2008 while CD sales continued their march downward by 14 percent. So are we seeing an analog resurrection?
Occurring mostly in the indie music scene, with bands like Radiohead, Fleet Foxes, Portishead and Neutral Milk Hotel all among the top 10 vinyl sellers of 2008. But we aren't seeing a resurgence of cassette tapes, 8 tracks or VHS tapes in the entertainment industry, so why records?
Perhaps the first obvious reason for people buying records again is simply because it's seen to be cool. We see records used in movies and TV shows, and many of us have grown up listening to The Beatles or The Beach Boys revolving on turntables. Anything that reminds us of growing up and being a child has an automatic draw to it , and the doubling of vinyl may also be an indication that a generation of music lovers wants it back.
Modern, young music fans been downloading their music for most of their lives, but many "older" fans feel unsatisfied with digital copies of music. Maybe even cheated when the act of making a few clicks and you get your music.
There's something almost magical about going to a store, for some people, and buying a physical copy of the music, and at this point CDs are simply out of style. The act of peeling off the shrink wrap, opening up the gatefold, putting the album on the turntable, and listening to a new album is an experience in itself.
Records can cost around the price of a CD and many come with a free download key to get a legitimate high-quality MP3 version for your portable mp3 player. For some the benefits for buying records can often outweigh the cost, especially if you're already a small-time collector.
Perhaps this phenomenon can give lessons to the music industry and the movie industry regarding enforcement of illegal file sharing. The record executives should learn that the only true way to compete with a free product is to make a better, more-desired product. A product that people don't actually mind paying for. Since it already has a firm and growing cult base and with the flux of record sales, many record companies invest in the image and marketing of vinyl.
What better way to liven the atmosphere and relax with your music than listening to records in your home? Plus of course you can enjoy the artists' artwork and support your struggling musicians.
Finally there is one thing you can't do with a downloaded mp3 file that you can do with a discarded vinyl disk .... make a lovely fruit bowl.
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