Vinyl Revival

Vinyl revival refers to the growth of vinyl record sales in twenty-first century. Initially thought be a short-term trend when first reported 2008 and 2009, popularity LPs among music consumers has since become perennial talking point for industry observers, particularly as CD have steadily declined (figs. 1 2). Observers typically contextualized popular revivals within ideas nostalgia, roots, authenticity, indeed those discourses are present this ongoing revival, often deployed alongside notions material fetishization superiority records’ tactility analog sound (over digital formats) explain their attraction. The is significant, however, not because it mobilizes these contested concepts but rather its perpetual frustrates accepted logic—both that fads physical formats no future increasingly industries. Indeed, now outsell CDs (as 2020), recording format return dominance from near-extinction.According data provided by Recording Industry Association America (RIAA), LP United States peaked at $2.5 billion 1978.1 fell cassette increased, overtaking 1983. were introduced late 1982, growing 1987 ($1.6 $793.1 million) cassettes 1991 ($4.3 $3.0 billion; figs. 2).2 reached meteoric heights throughout 1990s: spurred reissues major labels’ marketing campaign replace collections with newer format, $13.2 2000, driving force behind RIAA’s cumulative $14.6 revenue peak 1999. remained largely forgotten, bottoming out $10.6 million 1993 routinely selling tens millions dollars (compared multiple billions 1988 onwards).At turn century, records steady if insubstantial component recorded revenue, sustained otherwise unrelated niche markets catering club DJs, high-end audiophiles, DIY indie underground.3 A side effect very successful replacement was massive glut used flooded secondary market, most got rid records. This huge cache low-priced catalyzed collecting remaining collectors, younger collectors new (such myself, who started buying dime apiece garage 1990s), sample-based producers. In culture, parodied eccentric introverted works such Nick Hornby’s High Fidelity, Daniel Clowes’s Ghost World, feature films based on both.4 Music journalists Brett Milano Amanda Petrusich tended take more sympathetic approach portraits (wary, perhaps, similarities they shared); photographer Eilon Paz profiled many his website Dust & Grooves, documenting diversity community.5 Scholarly perspectives included Will Straw’s depiction masculine pursuit connoisseurship, Roy Shuker’s nuanced discussion mix characteristics Marion Leonard’s collecting’s potential decenter canons music’s institutionalized histories, Sophia Maalsen Jessica McLean’s analysis lack gender (in which women’s framed “consumers,” contrast men’s “serious, authentic collecting”) both reflecting reproducing industries.6In short, there lot say about continued vitality culture 1990s early 2000s. Nevertheless, observers followed industries’ lead instead attended narratives capital. After 1990s, declining 2001 seemingly unstoppable slide RIAA attributed piracy.7 decade after had 74% $3.4 (fig. 1).8 decline makings another shift, albeit one neither planned nor promoted labels. transition individual files (mostly compressed .mp3 files, also including other driven consumers, supported exploited technology companies Apple), only grudgingly (and belatedly, following overlapping period resistance) labels.But then funny thing happened: while shrank result increasing. By 2010, $88.9 million—a level seen twenty years. Journalists newsworthy, reporting quirky fad nostalgic supposedly extinct format.9 “Don’t call comeback,” Jay-Z might admonished; indeed, experienced ignores passionate labels, DJs kept afloat during intervening two decades. And yet, vinyl’s commercial reignited attention showed signs abating 2010s. few pressing plants added third shift keep up increased demand, ones opened; stores, whose paralleled CDs, rebounded prioritizing over CDs; turntable grew; books documentary celebrated culture; fairs attracted willing pay premium prices now-rare commodities; customers queued sidewalks hours Record Store Day.LP topped $619.6 2020, outselling time 1986.10 2010 2020 decreased 85% almost 600% 2021, success passé; discussing seems quaint. Younger all, barely known world nearly extinct, rest us longer surprised dismayed staying power. all foregone conclusion remarked upon. discussions why increasing disappeared, even reasons themselves still resonate collectors: importance traces an world, belief superior sound, desire support artists monetarily, materiality fandoms (particularly live concerts ceased COVID-19 pandemic), others. reflects status mass market commodity than any reasons: labels expand production big box retailers stock records, label (including catalog reissues) outpace genre audiophile seems, here stay.