Amidst the reports of 2008's plummeting CD sales, are these observations involving vinyl.

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Ironically, as digital downloads grew, vinyl album sales also climbed. In 2008, more vinyl albums were purchased (1.88 million) than any other year since Nielsen SoundScan began tracking sales in 1991.

More than two of every three vinyl albums were purchased at an independent music store during the year, the company reported. The top selling vinyl albums were Radiohead's "In Rainbows" (26,000 units), the Beatles' "Abbey Road" (16,500) and Guns 'N Roses' "Chinese Democracy" (13,600).

http://www.verizon.net/ne...le=1498021


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Although vinyl albums gave way to CDs years before SoundScan launched, it's worth noting that vinyl sales hit a 17-year high in 2008 with 1.88 million, up dramatically from just under a million in 2007.

http://www.usatoday.com/l...bers_N.htm

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The ranks of vinyl devotees are growing. Lately, the anachronistic LP has experienced an unlikely spike in sales, decades after the mainstream music industry wrote off the format as obsolete. Major labels are expanding their vinyl offerings for the first time since they left records for dead nearly two decades ago, music executives said.

While the niche may still be small measured against overall sales of recorded music, the surge of interest in vinyl — and, particularly, its rising cachet among young listeners — is providing a rare glimmer of hope in a hemorrhaging industry.

http://www.nytimes.com/20...vinyl.html


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FABIO @ EARWAX RECORDS: All sorts of people are coming in to buy records lately. The big chunk seems to be a lot of younger people, say 18-30 crowd. I think it's partly a fad and partly that they are actually getting SOMETHING for their money which they can hold and refer to. There are also a fair amount of foreigners coming through to get deals with their Euros, Kronar, etc... I know this is in a way looking backwards, and to be honest, it's hard to say that this will last, but for the moment, there is a real interest in vinyl.

http://www.amoeba.com/blo...rease.html

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tA

Tribal Disorder

http://www.soundclick.com...dID=182431

In a word, the resurgence in interest in vinyl is...quaint. With all that's goin' wrong in the world today, people really are justified to be nostalgic. But to be honest, since I sold off my record collection, I really don't miss all the snaps and pops and skips that I had to put up with. I don't know why it is people have to have something to hold in their hands. No matter what format it's in, the only way you can actually hold the songs (which are what you're supposed to be buying the album for, right?) is in your mind and/or heart. When you're holding a record, you're holding a COPY of the song.

eaglebear4839 said:

If you took care of your vinyl those pops and snaps wouldn't happen.

I was in my local record store (not a used record store) and noticed a vinyl section both used and surprisingly new vinyl. The new vinyl (new artists) was nothing I would personally buy but I thought it was odd that it existed.

More 2 come.....

Exactly. I have very few albums that contain pops and snaps and they are all over 20 or 25 years old. As for 45s, I have several that contain them, however, I never kept the paper covers to the 45s because I used to have a lot of them in those wire racks they used to make for 45s.

Like you said, snaps and pops are a result as to how well a person takes care of their records over the years.

If Amoeba Records can be a litmus test, I'd say there is a new shift in the music paridigm.

I am seeing LOTS of new issues on Vinyl as well as reissues onto heavy Vinyl. Take a look at Bjork...she just re-released all the sugarcubes and her first 4 on heavy vinyl. I think we are going beyond nostalgia.

I think the shift is off of CD's (which still sell) to Digital downloads. I think that if you want to "own" music you get the vinyl. Many artists are going the route of offering a digital link or USB stick with a Vinyl Purchase. Or what Madonna did with Hard Candy...You got 2 pieces of colored vinyl, a bonus 12" AND a CD of the album...for 30 bucks. Totally worth the price if you ask me.

Interesting! Thanks!

Alot of the rise in Vinyl came about through exclusives that artists signed, and certain stores were carrying these in limited numbers, artists like Elton John,Ryan Adams, RadioHead and others offered bonus tracks if you bought the vinyl version through downloads. But make no mistake the price of producing vinyl is enormous, alot more than cd, so dont expect vinyl to be anything more than a "limited edition" thing for artists that already have loyal fan bases.

lastdecember said:

Especially compared 2 the production cost of a cd.

IAintTheOne said:

I have hundreds of vinyl albums and most are in mint condition.I often buy sealed,un-opened albums from Ebay.