FEATURE:
Like a Broken Record (In the Good Sense)
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The Continuing Popularity and Demand for Vinyl
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THIS is a subject that I keep coming back to…
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but, as it is good news, I thought I would raise it once more! I am not surprised that there is a continuing rise in vinyl sales. It is not just in the U.K. where vinyl sales are roaring: the U.S. market is seeing its biggest year for vinyl sales for a long time. This article gives us some details regarding vinyl sales in the U.K. this year:
“Vinyl sales grew to their highest level since the Britpop era this year, as consumers turned to the format during the coronavirus pandemic.
Some 4.8 million vinyl albums were purchased in the UK over the past 12 months, up nearly a tenth on sales in 2019, according to figures from the British Phonographic Industry (BPI).
This marks the 13th consecutive year of growth for the format since 2007.
It is also the highest total since the early 90s, when bands such as Blur and Oasis dominated the charts.
Sales initially dipped during the first lockdown but by September had began showing positive year-to-date growth.
Campaigns such as LoveRecordStores, the postponed Record Store Day and National Album Day also helped rally sales for independent record shops and specialist chains.
The end-of-year figures, released by industry body BPI using Official Charts Company data, indicate vinyl albums now account for nearly one in five of all albums purchased (18%).
The BPI expects to announce classic albums Rumours by Fleetwood Mac, (What’s The Story) Morning Glory? by Oasis and Back To Black by Amy Winehouse as among the year’s best-selling vinyl albums as part of its annual report.
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It also projects that some 157,000 cassettes have been purchased in the past 12 months, double the total of the year before and the highest number since 2003, when 243,000 tapes were sold and Now 54 was the biggest seller on the format.
This would mark an eighth year of consecutive growth for the format, which has returned to fashion in recent years and is now available on many major label album releases as standard.
Geoff Taylor, chief executive of BPI, said: “In a year when all our lives have changed, music’s power to inspire has never been more evident. The immediacy and convenience of streaming make it the go-to audio format for most of our listening, but more and more fans choose to get closer to their favourite artists and albums on vinyl.
“It’s remarkable that LP and audio tape sales should have risen at all given the challenges we’ve all faced. The surge in sales despite retail closures demonstrates the timeless appeal of collectable physical formats alongside the seamless connectivity of streaming.”
The BPI will report its final music consumption figures on January 4 2021”.
It is, perhaps, not a shock that people have wanted to support record shops at a time when we are all being hit hard. I think the lack of human contact has, oddly, resulted in people seeking out physical forms of music. Many have been aware that, without high sales, many record shops will close – the desire to see these invaluable elements of the community thrive has been at the forefront for record lovers.
It is heartening that there is some positive news from the music industry when it has been a struggle and really hard for venues and artists. I do think that, when we are past the worst of things, the appetite for vinyl will continue. As Music Week reported, music is providing us with strength and hopefulness:
“Geoff Taylor, chief executive BPI, BRIT Awards & Mercury Prize, said: “In a year when all our lives have changed, music’s power to inspire has never been more evident. The immediacy and convenience of streaming make it the go-to audio format for most of our listening, but more and more fans choose to get closer to their favourite artists and albums on vinyl.
“It’s remarkable that LP and audio tape sales should have risen at all given the challenges we’ve all faced. The surge in sales despite retail closures demonstrates the timeless appeal of collectable physical formats alongside the seamless connectivity of streaming.”
Predicted best-selling vinyl albums for 2020 (based on Official Charts Company data)
1. Fleetwood Mac – Rumours
2. Oasis – (What’s The Story) Morning Glory?
3. Amy Winehouse – Back To Black
4. Nirvana – Nevermind
5. Harry Styles – Fine Line
6. Kylie Minogue – Disco
7. AC/DC – Power Up
8. Queen – Greatest Hits
9. Idles – Ultra Mono
10. Arctic Monkeys – Live At The Royal Albert Hall”.
It is a similar picture in the U.S. There is some really positive news regarding vinyl sales. This article explains more:
“Vinyl sales reached another record high this past week in the US according to Billboard, citing Nielsen Music/MRC Data, buoyed by Christmas shopping. 1,842,000 vinyl records were sold in the week ending December 24.
This is the biggest week since Nielsen started tracking vinyl sales in 1991, so one would reasonably expect that when vinyl was the standard format before the 1990’s that sales may have been higher. The prior two weeks in December, records were also set for vinyl sales in the US with holiday shopping. Also important is that vinyl sales outpaced CD sales: 1,842,000 to 1,671,000. This is only the fourth time this has happened since 1991.
Of the 1.842 million records sold, 733,000 were sold via independent record shops, the highest since 1991, so there is some hope for these stores in a very tough year”.
Classic albums are still proving hugely popular on vinyl and capturing new generations but, happily, a few new albums have appeared in the top-ten of 2020. I know that many artists cannot make good money from streaming and, when there has been no touring, vinyl sales are crucial regarding revenue. I am not certain what things are like for the smaller artists and vinyl sales, but I have seen plenty of good news online where artists have thanked their fans for buying their music on vinyl.
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I have not talked about cassette sales but, as they are doing well too, it does seem that the desire for the physical is at an all-time high. One would think that, the more we lean on digital music, the bleaker it would be for vinyl. I am interested to see what happens in 2021. When we start to get back to some sense of our old routine, I do think we will see a swell in sales. A lot of people are ordering vinyl online so, when people are more comfortable buying them in-store (and social distancing is relaxed), I think we will see a shift. I have mooted before that an increase in vinyl sales could see more record shops appear on the high street. Maybe the high rent costs are scaring people off setting up shop but, even in a city like London, there are not as many record shops as you’d want! I do hope that we not only see the survival and prosperity of existing shops, but there are also new ones appearing later next year. Although Christmas buying has helped when it comes to vinyl sales, I don’t think it just a matter of things improving at the end of the year. All through 2020, there has been this demand and increased love for vinyl. In a year when things have been tough and we haven’t been able to bond at gigs and festivals, records are helping to lift the mood and give us a physical connection with an album. Let’s hope that the vinyl market continues to swell and explode, as high sales and good news is…
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JUST what we need to hear right now.