Setting Records: Is the Resurgence of Vinyl Driven by Nostalgia or Fad?
Vinyl is on pace to outsell CDs for the first time since 1986. What does the data tell us about this trend?
In February 2019, the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA) reported that vinyl sales accounted for more than a third of revenue coming from physical releases. Their midyear revenue report showed that record sales have enjoyed constant growth in recent years while CDs have declined three times as fast. What is causing this resurgence, and even more importantly, who? My first guess is nostalgia. Records are tangible and can incite an emotional connection to the music, performer, and the place it takes the listener. Here’s an excerpt from RJ Andrews’s book, Info We Trust.
On the evening of October 24, 1962, James Brown and the Famous Flames performed at the Apollo Theater in Harlem … The concert recording was initially shelved. But, pressed by Brown’s manager, King Records yielded and produced the album. “Live at the Apollo” was released the following year … The album stayed on the Billboard Top Pop Albums chart for over a year, helping launch James Brown to R&B superstardom.
Imagine the nostalgia this record can elicit for a loyal and dedicated fan of James Brown, one who rooted for him…
