Music | April 28, 2009 | 25 comments

Best Buy May Start Selling Vinyl Records

source: http://www.nypost.com/seven/04272009/business/best_buy_turning_the_tables_with_vinyl_166384.htm

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atomiclegion
According to the New York Post, Best Buy is thinking about selling vinyl records again in their stores. I had to read that twice too. I would find "Nixon Returns From Grave" easier to believe.

The reason: Vinyl albums' sales are growing. As much as 15 percent up in 2007 and a whooping 89% more in 2008. The 2009 forecast is better. The numbers are so good that Best Buy started a pilot program in 100 stores. The results were so good that the third largest music seller after iTunes and Wal-Mart is thinking about using as much as eight square feet in each of its 1,020 stores to sell vinyl records.

While sales of vinyl discs are not as big as CDs, the latter numbers have dropped 20%. Apparently, vinyl are becoming a cult object, with an audience seeking the appeal of the physical format and the special sound of analog (which in the case of the classics, could be more attractive than the digital productions). The interest, although minimal considering the rest of the industry, is big enough that big labels are re-releasing old records in vinyl. One example: In September 2008 EMI started to a new line called "From the Capitol Vaults," which included The Beach Boys' "Pet Sounds," Jimi Hendrix's "Band of Gypsies," and Radiohead's "OK Computer."
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25 comments // Best Buy May Start Selling Vinyl Records

  • robotanists
    • 0
      robotanists  

    • F** Best Buy... Places like Orignami Vinyl in Echo Park are already devoting more than 8 square feet to keeping records afloat... Support your local music stores, please.

    • 3 years ago
  • InnerUniverse
  • Aletta
    • 0
      Aletta  
    • InnerUniverse:

      That's not very nice, besides I don't think they're releases new artists on records (though I have to admit I think it's a trippy idea ;D ), just old ones.

      My Grandparents have a record player and a lot of old records. It was the source of much amazement to me when I was little and now to my brother and sister. It's a crappy, cheap new player so the sound is very poor for the most part but it's still a lot of fun. We don't have any indie record stores in my area, so my Grandma delights in finding old records at thrift shops and GoodWill

    • 3 years ago
  • momdee
    • 0
      momdee  

    • Heya anyone worth their salt would have paid attention to indie store record day 2009 last week or so, when many artists were doing special projects. Among the winners were Leonard Cohen, whose 7 inch vinyl of the songs "Suzanne" and "The Future", from his London gig; were salivating wildly on this aspect of a real vinyl schminyl to twirl on a turntable! I got mine and hope to get another, copy on cd to listen to... I won't open mine quite yet - may keep it as a collectible deal ... so there you go! I have his 33 1/3 LP with the original of Suzanne from the 1960's ALL these years, it is a classic. It's been where I've been, folks. ROCK ON!

    • 3 years ago
  • jenniferlane
  • jason_knight
  • seanalyn
  • numinant
  • dannykrug
    • 0
      dannykrug  

    • I'm excited at the prospect of Vinyl becoming more mainstream again, but I hope it leads kids to their local independent record store instead of Best Buy.

    • 3 years ago
  • JayBforthewin
    • 0
      JayBforthewin  

    • This seems strange at the surface but it is simply reactionary to the conditions of the record industry.
      CD sales have dropped due to digital downloads and cassettes have been phased out for proper reasons.
      The last frontier format is records since they are still being packaged and produced. Something retro and hip for new eyes, fingers and ears to get into. Plus there is a nice. warm fuzzy ambience to the sound of a vinyl record.
      There is an indie music store in my local area that began including vinyl releases as well as CDs and DVDs among general musician tabs and equipment a few years ago. I don't see a whole mass of people thumbing through those bins, but there are some in fact who are buying it.
      Another strange thing about this is - that in the age of mini and micro-storage, emerges an old standby that takes up much space and requires meticulous and careful attention.
      The kids can't be leaving the records out of the sleeves, and breaking up their weed on the gatefold covers. Well, at least not the leaving the records out of the sleeves bit.

    • 3 years ago
  • malathion
    • 0
      malathion  

    • buy a decent stereo first . yes , just the handling of vinyl can induce orgasms , but you really look stupid if you go on about all the vinyl you're accumulating and you don't have anything to play it with that makes it sound "better" than any other format . hipster morons are behind this i'm sure . old news

    • 3 years ago
  • Mister_Lackner
    • 0
      Mister_Lackner  

    • I like how they specify that it's "vinyl" records - y'know, as opposed to the plastic ones.

      I agree with a few of the other users - it's great to see Best Buy doing this, but supporting local record stores is a much more logical thing to do. Buy your cd's there while you're at it!

    • 3 years ago
  • banditalamode
    • 0
      banditalamode  

    • groan....
      can corporate America leave anything unscathed by it's infectious popularization? This will drive up the price of records for ordinary collectors.

    • 3 years ago
  • RaceBannon
  • banditalamode
  • lu7cky
    • 0
      lu7cky  

    • please consider buying from your local record shop rather than Best Buy.Although it is great to see vinyl making such a big comeback, it's the independent retailers who have made that happen, along with the vinyl enthusiasts who continually support them. why buy a re-issue of a classic album when you can dig through crates and find an original pressing for the same price.

    • 3 years ago
  • vistapoint
  • sk8r408
  • Kashmir
  • NeverNude
    • 0
      NeverNude  

    • yet another welcome trend that the suits caught on to, "hey guys, ___ has been gaining popularity for some time now, lets flood whats left of the market and smother the stragglers!" thank you suits for being slow on the uptake and ruining a good thing (I support small business)

    • 3 years ago
  • dannykrug
    • 0
      dannykrug  

    • Some Best Buys already do this. I was almost tempted to buy a copy of Against Me's New Wave on Vinyl from Best Buy back in October 2008.

      They can feel free to expand the sale of vinyl, but I will stick to my new favorite record store, Origami Vinyl in Echo Park.

    • 3 years ago
  • sk8r408
  • GavinRags
  • mohsint06
  • Lecti
    • 0
      Lecti  

    • This is awesome. Now I can go into more debt with best buy, and for a totally awesome reason. If only they would sell audio tech that complements my record player...

    • 3 years ago
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