The Surprising Comeback of Vinyl Records
The Journey of Vinyl
Not long ago, vinyl records were dismissed by the majority of people as a viable way of listening to music. For most of the 20th century, vinyl was the dominant music format around the world.
However, with the introduction of compact cassette tapes in the 70s and 80s, CDs in the late 80s and digital streaming in the 21st century it seemed vinyl would forever be seen as museum relics.
Vinyls are big, hard to operate and not portable, so it seemed obvious that they couldn’t compete with newer, more convenient formats. Despite this, starting from 2007, there was a remarkable change. Vinyl record sales started increasing year after year with no sign of stopping to this day. Defying industry expectations, vinyl has made an astonishing comeback and now ranks second only to digital streaming in recorded music sales.
Why people love the Vinyl Experience
The main reason behind vinyl’s resurgence is a shift in how people want to experience music. Many music lovers don’t prioritize just convenience anymore and instead, crave the physical experience that vinyl offers. Setting down the needle, admiring the cover art and discovering little details in the packaging creates a deeper connection to the music than simply pressing play on their phone.
In an age of digital streaming where music projects are rarely listened to as the artist intended and instead chopped up into skippable playlists, the structured way vinyls are listened to is said to be a stronger appreciation. The way of handling the record and listening to a project from start to finish encourages “deep listening”, which some people say is the way to resurrect the personal relationship between artists and listeners.
Many listeners say that the sound of vinyls is also superior to digital streaming. They often praise the way vinyls offer an authentic warmer sound that digital streaming struggles to match. The imperfections of crackles and pops give character to the sound and make listeners feel they are there with the artist.
Vinyl Collecting as a Hobby
Vinyls also make the perfect collectibles. Especially during the pandemic, many people took up vinyl collecting as a hobby. The artwork, combined with memories connected to the artists, gives records a unique aesthetic that makes collectors love them and fans feel they are the best way to support their favourite artists.
Some records have become rare finds, and the thrill of discovering these in thrift stores or independent record shops has been called addictive. Record shops are physical places for music lovers to gather and share their enjoyment of music but with the rise of digital streaming it was thought these would be fully phased out. Fortunately, the revival of vinyl has also helped bring record shops back to life, returning to their place as community hubs to share recommendations and feel like music listening is a hobby.
Written by Sean Furniss