15th October 2008 - by Robert Benson
The Vinyl Revival and the Resurrection of Sound
It's all over the news- from countless newspaper features
(including a write-up in the Wall Street Journal), online
articles and even the CBS Evening News with Katie Couric. It's
the vinyl record revival and more importantly, the resurrection
of analog sound.
Yes, vinyl records, left for dead with the advent of the
'digital age' are selling again. In fact, according to the
Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA), sales of
vinyl records jumped to 1.3 million last year, which represents
a 36.6% increase from 2006; a figure that some industry experts
feel does not accurately represent the true sales figures. The
experts deem it to be too low because independent record stores
sales, where vinyl does the best, are not usually included in
these figures. Additionally, according to Billboard Magazine,
vinyl record sales jumped 77% in the first half of 2008 (when
compared to the first half of 2007), selling more than 803,000
units.
This is not a fad or cycle; music lovers young and old are
being drawn to this historic audio format. Moreover, it seems
to be a worldwide event, preorders and sales of vinyl records
are on the increase in many countries across the globe. In the
UK alone, sales of seven-inch singles (45's) have climbed 87.3%
compared to the same three month period last year.
Vinyl is cool again. Teenagers, who once may have scoffed at
their grandparents' and parents' record collections, now wait
in line to get the latest releases. More and more mainstream
artists are releasing new material via the format and Capitol
Records (along with many other major record companies) are now
reissuing classic albums on vinyl. And now, along with the baby
boomers, a new generation is discovering the special allure
that vinyl records have - the limited editions, colored vinyl,
picture discs, audiophile records (180-220 gram), the album
cover art and the sound - all elements in this grand
resurgence.
This resurgence is fueled by many other factors. Let's explore
some interesting aspects of the vinyl record.
The Sound
Yes, the hiss, snap and crackle of a record are soothing music
lovers around the globe. Vinyl records use analog recording
methods; it is a clear, well-defined sound. The music is not
compressed and digitized into the ones and zeros that you get
with the CD or MP3; or what I term as "binary sound." There is
a warmth, an ambience that vinyl brings to the music and since
the human ear hears in analog-not digital-vinyl records
naturally sound better. So this is the secret that the DJ's,
record collectors and audiophiles knew all along!
The Collectible Factor and Availability of
Vinyl
Most recording artists are also fans of other artists' music;
they own vast and eclectic record collections. Sometimes
finding rare and collectible vinyl created by artists who have
influenced their own music and whom they admire can be just as
satisfying as creating and recording their own music. They also
delight in finding rare vinyl of their own music. In fact, John
Lennon was an avid record collector and amassed quite a
collection of Beatle's bootlegs.
Buying and selling records is big business. Besides the garage
sales, flea markets and yard sales, online auction sites such
as eBay sell millions of records. It is reported that eBay
users buy and sell six vinyl records each minute (or an average
of one every ten seconds) totaling more than three million
records each year. Some records still maintain their value
decades after their initial release and have sold for thousands
of dollars. It's been reported that the album that is bought
and sold the most in the vinyl format is the Beatles' "White
Album." Other acts such as Elvis Presley, the Rolling Stones,
Pink Floyd, Bob Dylan, Madonna, Led Zeppelin, among many
others, are highly sought after and still command top dollar
for specific releases. Soul and jazz music, along with classic
rock, are always in demand. Additionally, online giant Amazon
is committed to expanding their 'vinyl section' offerings to
include thousands of music artists.
There is also a lot of vinyl support in such musical genres as
hip-hop, punk and heavy metal. "Indie" music is now being
pressed into colored vinyl, limited edition releases and
picture discs. These are the future collectibles and sometimes
sell for higher-than-average prices. The online community has
responded as well with literally thousands of web sites
dedicated to the vinyl format. Many music artists are making
sure that they give their fans a choice of music formats, with
vinyl appearing to be taking the lead.
The Vinyl Experience
In our age of iPods and MP3 music, playing a record is almost a
ritual experience. There is the physical interaction between
the person playing the album, the music itself and the machine.
Playing a record can be a communal event where the music is
shared with friends and family. But it is not only the music
that intrigues the masses. Add unique and compelling album
cover art and deluxe packaging, and a whole new generation of
vinyl record lovers can share in this phenomenon.
Going hand-in-hand with the increase in vinyl record sales is
the increase and availability of turntables. Nationally,
turntable sales shot to over 500,000 last year compared to
275,000 in 2006. Manufacturers of turntables have given the
consumer a plethora of options to choose from, from the very
affordable unit to some that cost thousands of dollars.
Students in colleges around the U.S., as well as globally, are
now beginning to consider a turntable in their dorm room one of
their necessities.
The Perks
Many recording artists are not only releasing their new
material via vinyl but in digital format for those who choose
that medium. Many records may come with a certificate for a
free Internet download, which can sometimes be a bonus cut that
may not be included on the record. It also allows the music to
be portable, and the consumer can choose between the alternate
formats. As the demand for vinyl continues its upward climb, so
to will the affordability of the records. Many mainstream
releases via the vinyl format are competitively priced,
allowing for more units to be sold. Add to this the already
flourishing used vinyl record market, where a music lover can
pick up an LP for under five dollars, and we have a new vinyl
model that will flourish for decades to come.
Will vinyl records regain their dominant position in the music
industry that they once held? One can only guess, but with CD
sales continuing to plummet and more and more music lovers
discovering the value of vinyl, this historic audio medium will
not fade away anytime soon.
Article Source: http://www.megamusictalent.com
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