The Keys To A Real Vinyl Revival In The 21st Century

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July 19, 2013 by 45spin

A funny thing has happened to me in regards to how I purchase music in the last few years, I am now starting to buy my new music releases on vinyl and not CD’s. it started when I attended my first Record Store Day a few years ago at my friendly local record store. Not that I wasn’t buying records already, I was buying lot’s of used records from my local record stores, record shows, thrift stores, flea markets and anywhere I could find them. Like a lot of people I had thought that the glory years of vinyl was in our past and my goal was to collect as much of the golden years of vinyl before it all disappeared. The thought of vinyl really coming back and being available as a medium for today’s artists to record on just didn’t seem possible. 

Well folks once again I was wrong (something that happens quite often if you ask my wife) the record companies have decided that just maybe getting out the record business was a tad too hasty. This whole idea that records just might be something that people want to buy and own has their attention. Remember that in the last decade of digital downloads the music industry has shrunken over 50% as people are choosing instead to download music for free, or use streaming music services such as Pandora, Spotify and other web based music services that allow them to have access to millions of songs for less that ten dollars a month. All of these alternatives have had a dramatic impact on how people relate to owning and listening to music. Now accessibility and mobility has replaced audio quality as key concerns with consumers when purchasing music content and music playback equipment (remember those things called stereo’s). 

So far 2013 has been a banner year for vinyl records sales. At this years Record Store Day record labels launched over 350 exclusive vinyl releases for this years 2013 Record Store Day event. Vinyl sales for this years event were up by an amazing 59% over last years event. An even more amazing trend is that more than just a few of the new album releases for this year are are available now or going to be available in both CD and Vinyl formats. Any chance for a long term recovery in vinyl sales is going to require us to purchase records more than just at Record Store Day events.

So here is my view of how the music business needs to keep this recovery going,

1) Make audio sound quality important again – Remember Pink Floyd’s “Dark Side Of The Moon” it was all about how amazing it sounded on a great stereo. The musical dynamics of the recording had a dramatic impact on record sales and how we experienced the album (and yes I did inhale). 

2.) Don’t get greedy – I just bought the new Delbert McClinton Release on vinyl from my local record store. Why is the vinyl release $29.95 and the CD release $14.95 or the iTunes download $11.95. Do you really want to reward us to keep downloading music? 

3) Give us a free download when we buy the record – Why should I have to pay for a digital copy of the same record that I just bought. Some record companies are great about this, others like NewWest Records suck at it.

4) Develop exclusive vinyl releases for independent record stores. Yes we all know that RSD is all about exclusive recordings for the independent record stores but how about supporting them with exclusive records all year round. We have to give people a reason to visit a record store more often.

5) Get back to developing real artists and not just creating media stars. Even one hit wonders in the 60’s could at least sing and play their own instruments. No Pitch Perfect, digital backtracks or sampling required. 

Now you do your part and go down to your local record store and keep this recovery going.

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