Vinyl record sales hit an 18-year high ....

[joeinid]

Vinyl record sales hit an 18-year high

Sales reach over a million for the first time this millennium thanks to British bands including Arctic Monkeys, Oasis and Pink Floyd

Vinyl record sales are at their highest since 1996

 

[bzr]

Well, by this time next year I fully intend to help those figures climb to the stratospheres....

 

[XV-1]

That is just for the UK. Global sales are significantly higher

Sales in the US grew 32% in 2013. I wonder what the 2014 figures will be. In the US for the half year - 4million units vs 2013 6.1 million units.

Vinyl Record Sales Increased 32% in 2013 [CHART]

 

[still-one]

Wow, they might hit 4% of all music sales this year.

 

[joeinid]

:snicker:

Wow, they might hit 4% of all music sales this year.

 

[bzr]

Wow, they might hit 4% of all music sales this year.

Well, at least thats 4% more happy people...

 

[mep]

Wow, they might hit 4% of all music sales this year.

You can send me your table and phono section if you don't want it and I will pay shipping.

 

[Albert]

I just bought the Beetles mono LP box set off of Amazon.ca. I usually buy old, used records but the price was right and I have read some good things about these records. This is the first time in about 20 years since I've bought a new record so I guess I am right on trend.

 

[Johnny B Good]

i am doing my part

 

[Myles B. Astor]

Wow, they might hit 4% of all music sales this year.

Actually in this day and age where record labels are crying poverty, they'll take an additional 4 pct or more profit. (those stats are understated.)

 

[bzr]

I just bought the Beetles mono LP box set off of Amazon.ca. I usually buy old, used records but the price was right and I have read some good things about these records. This is the first time in about 20 years since I've bought a new record so I guess I am right on trend.

Ha! Albert, thanks for the chuckle.

 

[still-one]

Actually in this day and age where record labels are crying poverty, they'll take an additional 4 pct or more profit. (those stats are understated.)

Not really Myles. I understand that the vinyl sales numbers may not account for some of the specialty or non-standard outlets, but the CD and digital download sales numbers do not fully account for all of the "partial" album sales that would increase those values too.

 

[mep]

Actually in this day and age where record labels are crying poverty, they'll take an additional 4 pct or more profit. (those stats are understated.)

When the digital genie came out of the lamp, it turned out to be a demon and the first thing it killed was the goose that was laying the golden analog eggs. All the record labels lost control of the distribution of the music they owned and the profits it used to generate.

 

[FlexibleAudio]

If the goal is to draw any conclusion about vinyl from an SQ perspective, to me this stat is kinda apples and oranges. A significant portion of the music sales are to the "average listener" looking to get pop music into a convenient playback system. This part of the market is NOT going to place SQ over convenience. It is an entirely different buying decision and distorts the measurements if the purpose is to attempt to measure what the market is saying about the more preferable format for SQ.

The more revealing stat to me would be to track the percentage of vinyl music sales to the audiophile community. I would like to see that trend.

 

[Myles B. Astor]

Not really Myles. I understand that the vinyl sales numbers may not account for some of the specialty or non-standard outlets, but the CD and digital download sales numbers do not fully account for all of the "partial" album sales that would increase those values too.

Jim you can argue what you want but the facts are the facts. This is not from me but from the record labels.

 

[still-one]

Jim you can argue what you want but the facts are the facts. This is not from me but from the record labels.

I actually increased the sales number to 4%.. That was a fact'

 

[Myles B. Astor]

I actually increased the sales number to 4%.. That was a fact'

And you know the record labels aren't releasing LPs out of the generosity of their hearts.

 

[mep]

And you know the record labels aren't releasing LPs out of the generosity of their hearts.

Jim is just trying to poke a thumb in analog's eye and diminish the value of the increased sales and the upward trend. Just giving it 'perspective' don't ya know.

 

[rbbert]

Remind me; what is the "value" of the increases sales and upward trend (other than money in the pockets of record company suits)?

 

[still-one]

And you know the record labels aren't releasing LPs out of the generosity of their hearts.

Myles
No one is debating the fact that vinyl sales are significantly increasing their sales year over year. I am not questioning the fact that additional vinyl capacity has been added over the past several years. Of course it is not out of the generosity of their hearts. There must be a business case for making money especially when they want to charge double for the same titles. My point is that even with these large year over year increases the total volume is still low single digits. Let us keep it in perspective.

The good news is that more and more newer titles are being released in both vinyl and hi-rez. That might get more than just audiophile nerds excited about music.