Vinyl record sales hit an 18-year high

[Cupe]

Sales reach over a million for the first time this millennium thanks to British bands including Arctic Monkeys, Oasis and Pink Floyd

In 2014 you'd be forgiven for thinking the music industry is all about online charts and digital downloads, but the latest figures released by the Official Charts Company reveal a corresponding boom in vinyl record sales which have reached an 18-year high.

More than one million records have been sold in the UK so far this year – a number which is expected to rise even further by the end of Christmas. We haven't bought that many since 1996, back when cassette tapes were still considered technologically advanced...

Sales have been driven primarily by the Arctic Monkeys (whose LP AM is the biggest selling vinyl of 2014), Jack White and Pink Floyd, with Oasis, Status Quo and David Bowie also contributing to the impressive figures.

"In an era when we're all talking about digital music, the fact that these beautiful physical artefacts are still as popular as they are is fantastic," Martin Talbot, the managing director of the Official Charts Company, said on BBC Radio 5 Live.

"It's really remarkable. We're seeing it come back as a significant earner for the music industry as well. Only five years ago this business was worth around £3m a year. This year it's going to be worth £20m."

Whether because of an older demographic continuing to top-up their collections, or the younger generation's obsession with nostalgia and retro goods, there's no denying a resurgence of the record – although it's still a niche and relatively small part of the industry, with vinyl accounting for only 2% of the UK music market.

Source

[Tomy]

Only listens to vinyl

seriously though its a good thing that people are actually paying for music. Sadly though this recent incline in vinyl sales can be attributed to fashion trends as its a cool thing to listen to vinyl at the moment I really do hope it catches on an remains some what sustainable but who knows.

Not sure if many people are old enough to remember when the dance side of vinyl crashed hard. There was warehouses full of vinyl in the Uk as it was such a big market at the time, they just shut their doors because they went bankrupt. I know a few label owners from Australia that got on planes straight away and broke into the warehouse to claim all their vinyl back. Crazy shit.

[Cupe]

That would make a dope story article.

Any chance I can get in contact with someone that did that to interview them about it Tomy?

[Tomy]

yeah man, i'll track him down haven't spoken for a couple of years. sure he wouldn't mind.

[Cupe]

If it's a big hassle don't worry too much, was just a spur of the moment idea