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Vinyl Records Were The Past, And Are Poised To Be The Future
that about 58 per cent of records sold are used ones, opposed to the 38 per cent people who buy only new ones.
The rise in the popularity of vinyl could also be attributed to the notion of“ whatever is old is new again.” With everything so virtual and processed to perfection, the imperfections of a vinyl record is a breath of fresh air. When you hear Jim Morison singing Riders On The Storm on a record player, as opposed to Apple Music, you can hear the crackling of the tape, and the nuances of what was recorded that day. The digital music is revisited again and again to perfect it, which might sound great but, not as personal as The Doors had intended to.
The idea of believing that just the vinyl records will be the future of music listening experience is naive, and nobody is suggesting that. But, this is not a fad either. People who have always listened to vinyls or recently discovered them, do like going back to them from time to time. But, vinyls are also an expensive entity to own. Audiophiles, or people who REALLY care about the sound of what they’ re listening to, are no alien to spending a fortune on vinyl records. Interestingly, the most expensive record ever auctioned is God Save The Queen by Sex Pistols. One of the best punk rock records ever made, and no surprise that a person splurged that amount of cash just to own a vintage record.
Spotify, the largest music streaming service in the world has over 70 million subscriber. Its closest competitor is Apple Music with over 35 million subscribers. But, if anyone has even a hint about the music industry, the would know about the resurgence of vinyl records. Once considered a thing of the past, the vinyl records industry has hit the billion dollar mark for the first time the millennium.
Quite extraordinary is the rebirth or re ignition of a“ technology’ that seemed past its heyday. That being said, it is still nowhere near the success of the industry during its prime. In fact, according to a financial firm, vinyl record sales crossed a billion dollars in 1981 alone. That was, of course, the purple patch of the gramophones and record players.
But, as our music streaming services try to tighten their hold over our music listening habits, the younger generation seems to be revolting. Apparently, 56 per cent of vinyl buyers are men under the age of 25. This definitely goes against the notion of“ millennials are always on YouTube or some other app.” For the most part, it is true that digital streaming still dominates the industry but, vinyls have somewhat caught up with the time. Or, it has retained its essence, which has intrigued the new generation.
In today’ s world of instant gratification, going through records and finding an album you love is still an alien concept. A report claims that many people know what they want to buy before they even enter a record store. And,
But, it is also more than just the sound. Ask any record owner and they’ ll tell you that it is the personal touch that draws them to vinyl. As I said before, the imperfections of a song is what makes it beautiful. You don’ t want to listen to a clean high-pitched Robert Plant. You want that raw on-the-vergeof-breaking sound to feed your ears.
So, apart from the young males of the present, will people care about vinyl records? Yes, they will. As long as the digital music subscription services grow, people will always want to take a break and go back to a record. While portability and accessibility rules the roost for the most; rustic, old-school and raw sound is what hits the spot for others. Vinyl is the past, and will be a part of the future, for sure.
The Score Magazine
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