CBS News: Vinyl sales at record high
- Thread starter jfrech
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We've said that as nauseum here!
Not to mention major sellers like AS, etc. As well as hearing it's a fad and will die in two years despite 22 years of growth. How do you argue when the stats show otherwise? Because one person predicted the housing collapse everybody has a magic crystal ball? From the same people who don't believe anything but measurements? Personally seems that they want LPs to go away for some odd reason.....
Regardless of its accuracy, of which I don't think is a lot for the reasons Myles indicated, it's good these stories appear in the press.
If the majority of people knew that vinyl was still actually being pressed (and most don't know that) and knew how good it sounded if played back correctly (and most don't know that either), vinyl would be much larger than it is now in the market place. Meanwhile back at the ranch, CD is deader than a Crip in a Blood's neighborhood.
The wrong impression of what? Do you imagine that most of the people driving this comeback are playing 80 gram limited pressings and talking about the weight of their mulit-thousand dollar turntables on internet audiophile forums? Or do you think the vast majority are probably listening to mass-produced vinyl on tables that cost a few hundred bucks at the most? I think vinylphiles see this trend as sweet justification for their hobby, but in reality, I'd bet the farm that the overwhelming majority of the vinyl resurgence listeners are in a different hobby altogether. It's like the collector of Rolexes imagining his hobby is going mainstream because there is a love in the Gen Y crowd for huge, cheap wrist watches.
Choices are good. Reality is good too.
Tim
where I work a number of fellow employees of various ages have started listening to vinyl, and like anything, the degree of investment and awareness of sound quality is variable. however; they all share a recognition that it is more enjoyable to listen to vinyl (as well as being more 'hip' 'cool' or whatever term you choose) than other ways they have listened to music.
some have entry level tt's; and some have moved up a notch or two over the last few years. and they will think about the best sounding pressings for music that is important to them.....not to the degree I do....but it matters to them. it's part of the whole direction.
it's not all $149 specials in dorm rooms.
I hope they aren't listening to 80 gram vinyl. I'm also not thinking that everyone who is buying records has a great table. My point was rather simple though. I wish that when stories like these were published they would show a decent table so people can also see that good tables really exist because I'm sure most of the people who aren't aware that vinyl still exists (or ever existed) also aren't aware that we actually have something that is leagues beyond the crap they show on TV.
Like the Technics SL1200, still beloved by many at other audiophile forums, and a c____y 'table if there ever was one?
But whatever, LP sales have been growing only since about 2004-5. Before that, there was a low point over a few years following a surge around the turn of the century, which had followed the nadir of the mid-'90's.
the vinyl resurgence isnt a surprise, LA seems to add a new/used LP store every week - i cant keep up. its a backlash to mediocrity, no different than how the culinary arts took off. as we dig out of the recession and people have more disposable income, they want to go back to the basics done right - and they'll pay a premium for it . lots of chain fast food locations in the city have been replaced by hot new eateries run by young innovative chefs, hand made fare with fresh ingredients.The vinyl record scene in LA is right in middle of this. go to any one of them on a weekend and they're busy! I think the draw isn't just for 'crate diggers' but its social. you can actually associate with a fellow human being about new music, touch, hear (even smell) the merchandise - not a bad way to kill a saturday.
The 1200 crappy? Not for what I use them for.
Back on topic…..
My cousin, a rock musician, passed away a few years ago. We were very close. Thinking about it, he probably taught me half of the stuff I was supposed to learn MUCH later in life, while the other half was taught by my brothers. To my surprise, last week I learned that one of his albums had been released on vinyl. This is the Philippines, a developing country half way around the world and even here indie albums are being pressed. I don't know what further proof is needed that there are enough people out there wanting more vinyl and actually buying it.
Back on topic…..
My cousin, a rock musician, passed away a few years ago. We were very close. Thinking about it, he probably taught me half of the stuff I was supposed to learn MUCH later in life, while the other half was taught by my brothers. To my surprise, last week I learned that one of his albums had been released on vinyl. This is the Philippines, a developing country half way around the world and even here indie albums are being pressed. I don't know what further proof is needed that there are enough people out there wanting more vinyl and actually buying it.
Here's a shocker....Last weekend I was checking out my local Marshall's dept store. ( You know the one, they have the discounted clothes and other sundry items...also known as TJ Max...Large stores here on the West coast; NOT sure IF they are anywhere else in the country).Lo and behold, what greets me at the entrance...a shelf displaying about thirty records for sale! All new LP's and set-up as a display for father's day, LOL. Now if this doesn't say something I don't know what does.
.
All that I know, it is making it harder to find any GOOD used records for a buck ......
bins at the thrifts in the past 6 months or so, have had doodly
but it doesn't stop me from looking, makes the hunt more of an adventure.
......bins at the thrifts in the past 6 months or so, have had doodly
but it doesn't stop me from looking, makes the hunt more of an adventure.
All that I know, it is making it harder to find any GOOD used records for a buck
bins at the thrifts in the past 6 months or so, have had doodly
but it doesn't stop me from looking, makes the hunt more of an adventure.
That's very true. Plus now everybody that owns records figures they are all worth far more money...resulting in trash/trashed records being offered at stupid prices.
Actually you couldn't be expected to know this since you haven't bought a record since 1980. But the vast majority of records being released, whether they're rock, jazz or classical today, are 180 (not 80) gram because it's sexy. Even ordinary LPs today are 180 and at least 140 gm, not the floppy, dynawarp discs of yesterday.
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