I recently took a trip around the amazing selection of record shops that Sheffield has to offer and I found myself engaging in lengthy chats with a few of the owners. Apart from being generally positive about business, they all commented on seeing an increasing number of young people purchasing vinyl.
Indeed, a study carried out by the Digital Entertainment and Retail Association revealed that vinyl sales in the UK have grown for a fifth consecutive year. A recent report by Vinyl Alliance concludes that 18-24 olds have the highest proportion of listeners engaging with physical formats, including vinyl, CDs, and cassettes.
So what explains the sudden growth in popularity of physical media, especially amongst younger people? More obvious reasons are the sense of true ownership and the aesthetic elements of vinyl records. However, vinyl records also provide us with a unique sense of escapism and relaxation. In an environment where overconsumption is the norm, a record forces you to take a step back and focus your full attention on one album in your collection – although it can be a struggle picking out the one you want to spin! Instead of being able to easily skip to your favourite track or curate a playlist that is a mismash of artists, you find yourself dedicating your undivided attention to the album in its entirety. Listening to music in this way, as the artist intended, makes you feel more connected to both them and the music.
For many, vinyl acts as a time capsule, transporting listeners back to the pre-streaming era. Reflecting a growing trend amongst younger generations to feel nostalgic for a time they never experienced, a longing expressed through music, fashion and technology. However, this sense of nostalgia can also stem from personal influences, rather than pursuit of a retro lifestyle. As a consumer of physical music, records still hold a unique power to return me to the feeling I had as an excited child, picking out an album from my grandparents’ collection whenever I visited. Vinyl records provide a tangible experience that deepens your connection to the artist and their music, but also help you feel more connected to yourself.
Don’t get me wrong, the endless database of music available at our fingertips through streaming services certainly still has its place. However, it would appear that an increasing number of young people today who once wandered in the wilderness of endless streaming, are beginning to see, or rather hear, the light, of physical music. The comeback of vinyl in the UK shows that the format remains an essential part of music consumption, even as streaming dominates in a digital world. Vinyl provides benefits not only for the consumer and the artist but also UK high streets. Over the past year, the growing appetite for physical music has led to the opening of 28 new independent record shops, and their increasing presence on UK high streets is a trend that I think we can all agree is welcome to stay and continue growing.
Image Credit: jennyfriedrichs, Pixabay
