FEATURE:
Rewind, Pause, Fast Forward
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Given the Rise in Demand for Physical Music, Why Are Manufacturers Not Responding?
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THIS is something that I keep coming back to….
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and I feel that it is very relevant. It is always wonderful knowing physical music formats are flourishing. I think that is the case with all physical formats. There is a definite gulf between vinyl and everything else available. Cassettes and compact discs still have their place. I won’t bring this subject up for a while but, as we keep getting news that physical music is being bought and people want to step away from digital a bit, there is not a supply of devices to match the demand. It means, at a moment where something perhaps some consider retro is very modern and relevant. I can understand why C.D. players and record players have sort of faded. Well, we have turntables, yet most of the designs seem quite old fashioned. Not to suggest a hybrid or something like we had way back when with a combined C.D. player and cassette deck, but there does need to be a device or some kind. For home use, actually having a new Hi-Fi system wouldn’t be a bad idea. There does seem to be a lot of waste happening. I know you can’t make a turntable portable, but I wonder how much time and space people have to listen to vinyl. It is very important that those who buy L.P.s actually get to enjoy them – rather than buying them to support artists and then not doing anything else.
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This feature has been motivated by a couple of different things. I recently shared news that vinyl sales are up in the U.S. That is really encouraging, as it means that more and more are setting money aside to buy albums in their finest form. Even if vinyl is stealing headlines, I don’t think the relatively small increase in cassette and C.D. sales is because people necessarily dislike the format. Whether younger listeners like the retro value or there is the sense that they are cheaper and more affordable way to buy albums, where do they play them?! I am baffled as to why manufacturers have not reacted to the rise in physical sales. We continue to see record players made and widely available. Look online or stores like HMV and you do not see anything like a Walkman or Discman (or non-Sony products). That being said, they do not really stock cassettes. This is confusing. Most artists bring out album bundles with cassettes and C.D.sa included. I am not sure why the cassettes are not sold alongside vinyl and C.D. in stores. Perhaps they feel there is not enough space or demand. I think the availability and visibility of cassettes and something to play them on would be welcomed I feel. I am also thinking about the Barbie film and the feeling that a Walkman would definitely fit in there – a pink one of course! There does need to be some form of symmetry and connection regarding physical music sales and devices to play them on.
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At the moment, people are eager to support artists. That feeling digital music is overwhelming and lacks depth. Something that is not tangible and just disappears. So many albums are being bought and not played. That seems tragic when we have the capacity to produce them. Vinyl is still quite expensive. With a small number of pressing plants around the world, it is expensive manufacturing and shipping. Also, environmental concerns means that physical music does come with this carbon footprint. Cases for C.D.s and cassettes are often made of plastic. I agree artists should keep selling albums on cassette, vinyl and C.D - but, more and more, people are getting them to give money to the artist. They then find they can’t play the album. Portability and accessibility need to be words in the ears and eyes of companies who could manufacture devices that are affordable and environmentally conscious. I can appreciate there would need to be huge demand for a device to play music on. A slight rise in sales of cassettes and C.D.s will not really lead to a massive production of a new version of a Walkman, for instance. There are cassette players available at the moment, yet they are not readily available or on the high street a lot. Many are using ones they had from way back. It is important that we keep alive these formats. Even if they are being bought, so many are left collecting dust because they can’t be played. I hope that someone out there realises this fact and…
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PUTS some into production.