Vinyl Sales Plummet by 33% in 2024 After A Decade of Rapid Growth

Music Room
83

I do not like the colour varient options for sure I have never collected more than one copy of anything unless I need to replace a damaged item.

Reissues of a Kind of Blue is useful for the many who do not have the several hundreds of pounds on an original copy.

The used market prices are market-driven driven and when they are every high a remastered or reissued version makes sense both for business and consumers who can own a copy for a fraction of the price of an original.

Up to a point, this also means reissued records are market driven too as there is no point releasing one that no one wants to buy.

We as consumers have a choice to buy or not. Buying LPs is not compulsory. If it is not about the music then one has left the path of wisdom grasshopper.

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The challenge is manufacturers are now pressing short runs and frequently only one limited edition run. They don’t want to be left with over production they have to clear out at a discount. In some cases if you don’t move fast you will miss it or end up paying more than list. The Don Rendell jazz reissues are an example. Nicely done, great music, great sound quality. I was a bit late and so far have only gotten one (Dusk Fire) at normal price. Out is stock everywhere and ebay and discogs already sell at premium. Vinyl is indeed more expensive than before covid - but if the value is there with a well done disk of terrific new or classic music i am willing to pay these prices - but not so excited about paying even more which is increasingly the decision with this limited run situation.

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Reading some of the comments above, the vinyl revival seems to have a large “collector” element.

Pop groups are issuing coloured vinyl in all the colours of the rainbow, to drive multiple purchases, of copies that probably will never be played. I see some of the London Jazz scene players are playing the same game too. It works, because when I visit Bandcamp to look at some music that interests me, the coloured vinyl versions are always sold out. This marketing ploy is working well for the record companies. I also read somewhere that a big percentage of all vinyl records that are bought, never get played.

I wager, that in a few years time, when Taylor Swift, has been forgotten, you will find all her coloured vinyl records in your local charity shop for peanuts.

A friend who works in the world of music, quipped that old rare records, are usually rare, because the music on them is not very good and best forgotten. There is probably a lot of truth in this as the truly good music from the past has been kept in catalogue or repeatedly rereleased. Pat Metheny 's ECM stuff, has never been out of the catalogue. You can still easily buy Bright Sized Life from 1975. Dark Side Of The Moon?

I personally believe, like many others that the sound quality of a well mastered digital music file is superior to the same music on vinyl. The equipment used for playback counts too. So my music buying strategy probably different to those who buy vinyl. All my CD’s still play, even those I bought in the eighties. As a carrier, it is indeed stable, if looked after.

I have a cupboard full of pre CD vinyl, and a bigger cupboard full of CD’s. I have a tiny 2TB external disc on top of my streamer, that can hold thousands of albums. I am seriously considering just buying my music as Wav downloads in the future. I have already ripped a ton of CD’s A backup SSD will cost me just €80. I have digital photography files from twenty years ago, and with backups, I have never lost anything.

If those of us who grew up buying our music on vinyl or CD, can get past the ingrained habit, of buying music on these formats, the digital download is the most logical. Streaming is perhaps another matter. You are at the mercy of the provider, who might take music out of catalogue, or start making extra charges.

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86

Worst offender I’ve come across is Black Pumas. 33 variant versions of their eponymous debut LP among 3 markets

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I can appreciate that many people who are serious about music replay and have invested heavily in their equipment prefer the sound their equipment gets from digital files but as someone who has done the same with vinyl I don’t feel the need to bash them over the head with the fact and repeatedly tell them at every single given opportunity THAT MY WAY IS BEST AND BETTER and to show them all of the facts and figures backed up with written depositions from people in the know that MY WAY IS RIGHT!!! And many vinyl enthusiasts are equally as bad.

And what have you all got against people who are led by fads and fashions, we are all led by one fad or another and all wear the uniform to prove it be it a nice safe Marks and Spencer combo or a man bun and yoga mat. If I’d visited my parents in my early twenties to hear my bad droning on about Spotify I’d have run to the nearest record shop bought myself a nice coloured record and worn it as a hat.

Just pour yourself a glass of Bordeaux, or a Craft Ale, or an expensive Japanese Whiskey or even a Small Batch coffee pick up your iPad or cue up a non coloured, non 180 gm vinyl (bought used from your local record shop) LP and listen to some music.

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88

I do agree with your sentiment, but factually CD is not stable, over time the metallic substrate oxidises in most audio CDs and is unrecoverable. This has happened to a few, but not all of my late 80s CDs… the best thing is to rip them for longevity.
I think it is commonly referred to as ‘disc rot’.

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89

Like many I have a few vinyl albums stored away, mostly from late 70s, including things such as the original many fold out Santana Lotus, Walter (not a typo) Carlos’ Switched on Bach etc. I have circa 800 CDs, now all ripped to a local drive and backed up. Plus from the last few years a number of digital downloads in CD, HiRes and DSD formats.
Thought about going back to vinyl, decided cost was too much especially as I would have to buy a decent turntable. I preferred the ease of playing from local and streaming services (Qobuz and various Internet radio stations) so didn’t buy CDs just the digital downloads as and when desired.
Fairly sure I won’t be investing in any other CD variant either, but never say never. Even if the WWW collapses I still have sufficient local music to keep me going.
So currently I’m just playing and enjoying my music, collectors habit - in check, at least for now. :grinning: :grinning:

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Collecting LPs is a part of why some people buy. I have known of some buy and not open them to preserve their value.

This activity is a small part of a relatively small market compared to streaming and download of music.

I do not collect and many other do not also other than in the loosest terms of buying something and possessing it. I buy my records to play as I enjoy the music which is indeed the end game or should, be that listen by any media/delivery method.

People are welcome to enjoy their music in any way they choose.

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91

I got back into vinyl about two years ago … with a modest vinyl collection, some new, some second hand. What I struggle with the most is a poorer quality (new releases seem not to be mastered for vinyl), poor pressings (scratches on new sealed LP’s!) and generally a lot of greed. Second-hand LP’s are often only judged by looking at them rather than listening to them.

Going to play around with Qobuz this winter to see if I can get used to that :slight_smile:

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92

I buy new records as cheap as £7 and many under £20 and don’t get caught up in any FOMO as there is always more music. I buy about 100+ new vinyl albums a year with modern digital mastering sounds amazing but I often buy the equivalent Hires download and enjoy both equally.

Mastering is key which is why most of the time vinyl sounds much better but not always.

I also don’t care so much about the hardware and cables as my enjoyment has changed since I got back into vinyl, as it’s taken me back to the music which to me is why I got into audio I’m the first place.

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93

Disc rot, on the whole, only occured due to faults in the production of discs made by PDO in Blackburn in the late 80’s. It is not a regular thing.

I have thouaands of discs, many from the early 80’s. All are in excellent condition, play perfectly, with the exception of 3 PDO discs.

99.9 % of 50 year old discs playing perfectly sounds pretty good to me.

Now, how many 50 year old vinyl discs play perfectly… ?

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Lots.

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95

Like new ? Ok take your word for it.

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Well, thats the nature of forums you either do or do not take someone’s word for what they say. Just like I did in your post but did not feel the need to make a comment about it.

I have many (most of them in fact) LPs that play just as well as the day they were bought starting over 50 years ago.

I also have CDs most of these play well too but some do not.

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When I asked “Like new?”, I was seeking clarification. Not confrontation. So important if people are unsure. :slight_smile:

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so what was your second sentence referring to?

I think I will leave you to enjoy your CDs I hope you can do the same for me and my music.

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Whatever makes you happy :slightly_smiling_face:

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Oh, and it means, “If so, then I accept what you say” . :smile:

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Can we go back on-topic please?

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Whoever compiled these numbers clearly is ignoring sales of Taylor Swift lp variations; and the 4xlp anthology version of TTPD is out Nov 30 which will see another boost of vinyl sales.

Here we see all 8 variations of folklore - these are all the same album just different sleeves and colours.

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And yes swifties buy all of them.

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