The Rebirth of Vinyl: Why Old-School Record Collecting Is Back

Back in the 20th century, vinyl record collecting was the standard for audiophiles and casual music listeners alike. It was the only massively-available format for music in the United States, after all. When new formats were introduced toward the end of the 20th century in rapid-fire succession, the vinyl record started to fall out of favor. At least, on a mainstream scale.

Digital streaming and music file downloading became a thing in the 2000s, and we haven’t looked back since. Plenty of purists have kept vinyl alive but on a much more niche scale. However, it looks like things are starting to change in favor of the good ol’ spinners.

Is Vinyl Recording Collecting Coming Back Into Vogue?

So much of our lives revolve around digitization. It goes so beyond using Spotify to listen to your favorite tunes. Technology and digitization dominate everything, from what we read to the art we consume to how we manage our lives and communicate with one another. Gen Z is likely getting burnt out on it. Hence, analog and physical media are coming back into style.

It’s been a long time coming. Back in 2007, vinyl record sales began to steadily increase. Those sales have steadily increased year after year right up to today. In 2022, vinyl beat the CD as the most-purchased physical music format; something that hasn’t happened since 1987. In 2023, vinyl accounted for 72% of all physical music format revenues in the US. That’s millions of dollars over CDs.

So, what’s going on, exactly? There are a few factors to consider.

To start, Record Store Day is only getting more popular. The “holiday” launched back in 2008, and it seems like everyone (regardless of race, creed, gender, and age) has been very into the culture of independent record businesses in the US. The exclusivity of events surrounding Record Store Day makes it all the more attractive.

Then, there was a particular global incident that happened a few years ago in 2020 that affected… you know, everybody. In 2021, vinyl saw a whopping 68% increase in sales volume. The niche hit $1 billion in sales for the very first time since the 80s. Vinyl collecting is the perfect hobby for a rainy day, even if that rainy day ended up lasting several years.

There are other factors, too. We mentioned burnout over digitization already. There’s the American love of nostalgia. The aesthetics and collectibility of vinyl are other factors that have contributed to the boost in love for records. 

Either way, we’re glad it’s happening. You just can’t beat the sound of vinyl!

Photo by mates. (Photo by Chris J Ratcliffe

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