18-24 year olds driving vinyl sales resurgence

[Cupe]

18-24 year-olds are driving the vinyl music revival, according to research by ICM.

The research (taken from nationally representative online survey of 2030 consumers) reports that in the last month 5% of respondents had bought music in vinyl format with sales of new and vintage vinyl biggest amongst 18-24 year olds with 14% having bought vinyl in the last month compared to 9% of 25-34 year olds and 5% of 35-44 year olds, going against the typical view of younger consumers growing up as largely digital consumers of music.

In qualitative answers respondents referred to the ‘raw sound’, artwork, collectability, tactility that vinyl offered and described it as ‘more akin to an actual instrument’ in reference to mixing.

Of the sample, those preferring to shop in independent record stores accounted for 85% of record buyers and almost a third of wider respondents from the overall sample (32%) said indie stores were their preferences – with 47% of that made up of 18-24 year-olds of whom 10% visit on a monthly basis, and 78% spending up to £15 per visit.

Around a quarter of respondents treasured their vinyl as art pieces and not audio – with 27% saying they don’t play the records they own and buy CD versions for audio with respondents saying: “It allows me to display the cover in my frame and leave the CD in the rack to play," and “You can own what is essentially a piece of art in a size where artwork can be appreciated (unlike most CD covers).”

The research also pointed out that Britain’s independent record store numbers have declined from around 2,200 in the 1980s to just under 300 today.

Maurice Fyles, research director at ICM Research said: “Our research shows that independent record stores are driving and fulfilling a growing demand for music on vinyl – from new Limited Editions to second-hand collectibles.

“With the closure of many branches of HMV some might expect that demand for music shops and physical formats are declining – our research rejects this. Rather, when there is so much music available to buy or download online, people’s needs from the high street record store have changed. Independent record stores offer a diverse, interesting and rare range of music – and that seems to be the key to their continued survival. It’s a real sign that our high street is evolving to changing consumer needs, and that other local independent retailers can take encouragement from this story.” From musicweek.com

[AlexJ]

Fuck yer

[OxyKon]

good to see that vinyl isn't completely dead yet, now if we could just get some of the record stores over here, that would be dope

[russell]

i'm in the 9%

[eggssell]

im a 5 per center

but really. play your vinyl kids! its to be enjoyed

[legunner]

I buy vinyl but don't play them. They are purely collectible.

[AlexJ]

Ayeee who buys the vinyl just to frame it all! I can understand a few but for that to be the whole point of the collection..

[AlexJ]

I think every once in a while you need to appreciate the specific sound that made it collectible

[eggssell]

i dont understand it at all. its not like playing it say once a week is gonna kill it, and what are the chances you will play the same record over and over again. i mean i get a bit lazy and just keep flipping sides on the same record while im say playing xbox. but chances are next week that one wont get a rotation.

nah like my shoes, i buy to use. i inherited (walked out the home with... ) my old mans beatles collection. it was some box set that came out late seventies (possibly 1978, was only missing magical mystery tour). he played them all the time when we were growing up. i started playing them from when i was about 13 (many many years ago). and i still rock em today.

[russell]

i dont understand it at all. its not like playing it say once a week is gonna kill it, and what are the chances you will play the same record over and over again. i mean i get a bit lazy and just keep flipping sides on the same record while im say playing xbox. but chances are next week that one wont get a rotation.

nah like my shoes, i buy to use. i inherited (walked out the home with... ) my old mans beatles collection. it was some box set that came out late seventies (possibly 1978, was only missing magical mystery tour). he played them all the time when we were growing up. i started playing them from when i was about 13 (many many years ago). and i still rock em today.

exactly. I've got records from the 60's, 70's etc that play just fine.

if your a scratch DJ your shit will get fucked up a lot quicker right enough.

[GREMM1S]

I wouldnt just play wax for background music, would only spin it in a dj sense, just smash the ipod when youre doing xbox or something.

[Tomy]

how much of that is dance though? indie kids love telling everyone they have vinyl.

[eggssell]

I wouldnt just play wax for background music, would only spin it in a dj sense, just smash the ipod when youre doing xbox or something.

a lot of vinyl i have is stuff i haven't got (sometimes can't get) digitally, which is why if i want to hear it ill use vinyl. so yeh if running in background i usually stick to LPs

though i remember when i got cairo's (chev's) single i was playing while setting up for a party. so had to keep putting it back to start! hahaha

pretty sure my old mans marantz had that auto reload function. that was pretty cool.

[GREMM1S]

I wouldnt just play wax for background music, would only spin it in a dj sense, just smash the ipod when youre doing xbox or something.

a lot of vinyl i have is stuff i haven't got (sometimes can't get) digitally, which is why if i want to hear it ill use vinyl. so yeh if running in background i usually stick to LPs

though i remember when i got cairo's (chev's) single i was playing while setting up for a party. so had to keep putting it back to start! hahaha

pretty sure my old mans marantz had that auto reload function. that was pretty cool.

That's true actually, should record those rare ones in case you ever kill them or lose them.