Vinyl Records Outsell CDs for the First Time Since 1987
NPR | March 10, 2023 | Kaitlyn RaddeVinyl albums outsold CDs last year for the first time since 1987, according to the Recording Industry Association of America’s year-end report released Thursday.
It marked the 16th consecutive year of growth in vinyl, with 41 million albums sold — compared to 33 million CDs.
Streaming is still the biggest driver of the music industry’s growth, making up 84% of recorded-music revenue, but physical music formats saw a remarkable resurgence in the past couple of years.
The pandemic led to a spike in demand for vinyl records, driven largely by younger buyers. Vinyl has become a major part of artists’ marketing campaigns.
Vinyl revenue grew 17% and topped $1.2 billion last year, making up nearly three-quarters of the revenue brought in by physical music. At the same time, CD revenue fell 18% to $483 million, the RIAA said.
As CliffyG, my rapper name, my DJ wouldn’t want to live without vinyl.
Ooh, maybe I can get something for my old albums. Anyone wants a fine copy of Disco Duck?
Did I see you on WGT Sunday night?
Probably. I just finished off my free sponsorship half hour. I was playing the Chelsea format.
Younger people prefer vinyl over CD? Why? Is it because it is so easily damaged that every time an LP is played, both the vinyl and the needle are damaged? Is it the lower level of fidelity? The 100,000 times higher noise floor? The shorter listening time? The way the fidelity varies depending on how far from the center of the LP the needle is? The less convenient method needed to play it?
There is no measure in which the vinyl LP is not substantially worse than CD. Idiocracy was supposed to be a comedy, not a warning.
NEWS ITEM:
Video killed the radio star
Video killed the radio star
In my mind and in my car
We can’t rewind, we’ve gone too far…
And now we meet in an abandoned studio
We hear the playback and it seems so long ago
And you remember the jingles used to go
Oh-a oh-a
You were the first one
Oh-a oh-a
You are the last one
I mean nothing brings out the natural tones of a drum machine or the warmth of autotune like an LP.