-
-
Record of the Month
With interest in vinyl records on the rise, it should be no surprise that another pop music tradition is on its way back - the record club. With interest in vinyl records on the rise, it should be no surprise that another pop music tradition is on its way back - the record ... more
-
Vinyl records are getting back in the spin
As of this story, Best Buy Inc. is bringing back vinyl to their retail chain, but at selected stores to see if it's a viable option.
Vinyl records are like fruits and vegetables, insists Saul Moss. "When they're in season, you've got to have it, and when they're not, you get rid of them," said Moss, owner of Cleveland's Downtown Records & Tapes, which sells new records of current and oldies styles.
Seduced by compact discs and byte-sized digital formats, music fans found the 1980s and '90s the ripe time to abandon the classic audio format. Moss saw his store's vinyl inventory dwindle from 95 percent of all its merchandise when it opened in 1950 to 5 percent earlier this decade.
But recently, the season for vinyl records has returned, bringing with it reborn vinyl fanatics and a new generation of addicts, say Moss and other sellers throughout Northeast Ohio.
"We saw an increase in sales starting about five years ago," said Rob Pryor, general manager of Cleveland Heights' Record Revolution, which has been in business since 1968. The store sells used records.
"We definitely get more and more people coming in for vinyl," Pryor said.
The most recent sales report from the Recording Industry Association of America shows the U.S. music industry sold 36.6 percent more extended-play and long-play records in 2007 than it did in 2006. That upswing increased vinyl-record sales revenue by 46.2 percent, taking a toll on CD sales revenue, which decreased 20.5 percent during the same period.
Collectors seek vinyl for the album art. DJs get them to scratch. But many people turn to the format for its audio quality.
"The analog sound of vinyl is where it's at, because the digital sound is just a reproduced sound. Analog might have a couple of crackles and pops, but on a good system, it sounds like the band is right in the room for you," Pryor said.
Other signs point to the revival of the classic format that emerged in the 1930s, when RCA launched the first commercially available long-playing record.
When Radiohead's album "In Rainbows" came out in October, Music Saves in Cleveland sold more of it on vinyl than on CD.
Coffeehouses and lounges in cities such as Portland, Ore., are featuring vinyl-record listening sessions. Stores like Urban Outfitters are selling portable record players.
Last fall, Amazon.com started a vinyl-only section. Vinyl-record pressing plants are ramping up production, and some musicians, such as Hell's Information from Akron and other indie-rock bands, are selling albums primarily on vinyl.
Events such as Record Store Day in April and Vinyl Record Day this Tuesday celebrate the vinyl culture.
"One main reason for the vinyl resurgence among the younger people is [that] labels offer free digital downloads with the purchase of their records," said Kevin Neudecker, co-owner of Music Saves, which carries 10 times more new and used vinyl than it did when it opened in 2004.
"That crowd gets disappointed and mad now if they can't get the coupon for the free download."
Used vinyl records cost $1 to $12 at Music Saves, while new recordings there sell for $12 to $30, co-owner Melanie Hershberger said. Compared with prices for new CDs ($10-$24) and MP3s ($1 for a single on iTunes), new vinyl can be a little more expensive, but people are willing to shell out a few more dollars for the analog sound it produces, owners agreed. As of this story, Best Buy Inc. is bringing back vinyl to their retail chain, but at selected stores to see if it's a viable opti... more -
World’s Smallest Record Player
The world's smallest record player appears to be a toy car, but actually has a needle, amplifier and speaker!
-
Can vinyl save the music industry?
EMI is releasing 15 of their most popular albums on vinyl Aug 19 in hopes to boost sales.
they will be priced in the $20-30 range, and some titles include every radiohead album (except "in rainbows"), John Lennon’s "Imagine", A Perfect Circle’s "Mer de Noms".
http://www.rollingstone.com/news/story/20947918/vinyl_r...
"As CD sales continue to decline and MP3s are traded without thought, the left-for-dead LP is staging a comeback. In 2007, according to Nielsen SoundScan, nearly 1 million LPs were bought..." EMI is releasing 15 of their most popular albums on vinyl Aug 19 in hopes to boost sales. ... more -
Bridge Nine Records partners with New Found Glory for new EP on 7" Vinyl
The first time we've seen new NFG songs on vinyl in a long long time!!
check out the link:
http://mickieszoo.blogspot.com/2008/01/bridge-nine-reco... The first time we've seen new NFG songs on vinyl in a long long time!! check out the link: ... more -
Vinyl gets its groove back
From college dorm rooms to high school sleepovers, an all-but-extinct music medium has been showing up lately. And we don't mean CDs. Vinyl records, especially the full-length LPs that helped define the golden era of rock in the 1960s and '70s, are suddenly cool again. Some of the new fans are baby boomers nostalgic for their youth. But to the surprise and delight of music executives, increasing numbers of the iPod generation are also purchasing turntables (or dusting off Dad's), buying long-playing vinyl records and giving them a spin. From college dorm rooms to high school sleepovers, an all-but-extinct music medium has been showing up lately. And we don't mean ... more
-
Vinyl Records will be the death of CD's!
As counterintuitive as it may seem in this age of iPods and digital downloads, vinyl -- the favorite physical format of indie music collectors and audiophiles -- is poised to re-enter the mainstream, or at least become a major tributary. As counterintuitive as it may seem in this age of iPods and digital downloads, vinyl -- the favorite physical format of indie music co... more
-
Records vs. Downloading
Erasure gives their take on how the changes in the music industry have added and taken away from our experience as listeners and their experience as musicians. Visit them online at erasureofficial.com Erasure gives their take on how the changes in the music industry have added and taken away from our experience as listeners and their... more
-
What's the best used music store in San Francisco?
I think Rooky Ricardo's is a great shop that specializes in amazing classic soul vinyl. Send us your favorites, with links if you got 'em. I think Rooky Ricardo's is a great shop that specializes in amazing classic soul vinyl. Send us your favorites, with links if you... more
-
related topics
Vinyl Records
Contributors (27)
Vinyl Records
