Article and photos by Marcus Siu

Now that the majority of music listeners are now choosing streaming (Spotify, Amazon, Apple, Tidal, SiriusXM, etc) as their number one choice to obtain music, it seems fitting to reminisce and nostalgically look back on the past few decades on the final days of reel to reels, 8-track cartridges, and cassettes; all of yesteryear’s glorious physical media that slowly disappeared from the record store shelves.

Today, it clearly seems CD’s may become part of that exclusive list as its sales continue to decline with the music buying public, but surprisingly, vinyl seems to live on as it continues to gain renewed interest year after year.

In fact, vinyl sales have increased every year since 2005.

Like camera buffs who were reluctant to make the transition from analog to the new digital format for the longest time, there are audiophiles in the music world who feel that vinyl is still far the superior format. They contend that vinyl, even when compared with todays technology produces a much warmer sound due to the amount of information stored on the record compared to any of the other formats, including streaming.

Even though 83% of U.S. music revenue came from streaming last year and physical media comprised only 9%, it was for the first time since 1986, revenues from vinyl records were larger than from CDs. Total revenues from physical products were virtually flat at $1.1 billion (down 0.5%). Despite the challenges to retail sales from Covid-19 restrictions, vinyl grew 28.7% by value year-over-year to $626 million, though still only account for 5.2% of total revenues by value. Revenues from CDs declined 23% to $483 million, continuing a long-term decline.

Bottom line: CD’s are on the demise but vinyl continues to rise.

VINYL IS ALIVE AND WELL

To an true audiophile, there is nothing more gratifying than operating a turntable. There is a certain skill of gradually lowering the lever of the tonearm and gently drifting and descending the needle of the stylus manually onto a predetermined track on an album rotating at 33 RPM’s. It makes them feel like they are solely responsible for the music about to be played, just like how a pumped up skillful live radio D.J. feels playing to an receptive audience. Spinning records is truly an art form. Not to knock the user interface of a CD player, but just about any sitting duck can push a “play” button. Operating a CD player just doesn’t have the same effect.

In addition, as the operator of the turntable, you feel that the record album is more of a personal reflection about yourself than just solely the music. There is a heartfelt artistic connection to that recording as though you are part collaborator with the musical artist. It’s as though the heart and soul of the music is right in the grooves.

WHY VINYL THRIVES – IT’S THE PACKAGING

As a passionate collector of LP record albums long before the days of CD’s, I found it quite exhilarating to spend an evening at the local record store, just flipping through record bins throughout the entire store. I would familiarize myself with all the musical artists that might intrigue me as a possible blind buy. As part of my regular record buying ritual, I would go to Tower Records right before they close at midnight a few times a week, just because I had the urge to search out for new music in peace.

Unfortunately, those days are long gone.

In 1987, when CD’s surpassed LP sales and became mainstream, vinyl was on its way out and no longer the consumer’s preferred format. Record store floors that used to pile record albums from the floor up sacrificed more shelving to the blister packages of CD packaging.

Record cover art was shrinking before our very eyes. Just compare some of the incomparable Rolling Stones covers that might be impossible to recreate for a similar release for CD for obvious reasons; zippers, lenticular 3-D, or an elaborate die-cut design. (Sticky Fingers, Their Satanic Majesties Request, or Some Girls). Original artwork intended for record albums is so much more imaginative and creative than artwork intended for CD’s

The 12.375 inch record album square was being replaced with a 4.274 inch CD, which is nearly three times smaller. Buyers of CD’s would be missing out on great album artwork, such as The Beatle’s “Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Heart’s Club Band” where Peter Blake’s pop-art assemblage of who’s who would be impossible to identify everyone on the smaller format.

In contrast to the CD booklets, usually, album sleeves were always being handled and looked at for lyrics and musician credits. That was the beauty of handling the album right before putting it on the platter of the turntable.

Half the time, CD booklets might not even see the light of day, as they though they were just used as a supplement, much like the multi-folded documentation from your OTC prescriptions. I don’t even remember ever taking out the CD booklet, just because I know that they were quite susceptible for getting permanent fingerprints all over them. I always left it in the jewel box to keep in pristine condition.

Even if I did take it out of the jewel box, it’s certainly not my thing to squint my eyes just to struggle and read the lyrics and turn each page song after song, whereas the album sleeve usually has all the lyrics on one side and large enough so you don’t need a magnifying glass.

Nowadays, it seems record studios are releasing everything all over again. Albums you never thought you would see the light of day are surprisingly showing up again. These record albums are being reissued, repressed, and hopefully remastered.

Some vinyl also have exclusive material not found anywhere, especially in these $150 box sets that are very limited. Collectible colored vinyl is making a comeback. Much of anything labeled “180 gram” vinyl are also highly sought after by audiophiles, even though it may be more of a marketing gimmick and doesn’t guarantee a quality pressed record, except that it does seem to carries its weight.

You can credit part of vinyl’s success to “Record Store Day”, an annual event that is like Christmas for vinyl collectors. This year RSD2021 falls on June 12th with limited releases that will disappear in no time.

United States recorded music revenues grew 9.2% in 2020 to $12.2 billion at estimated retail value. This is the fifth consecutive year of growth for the industry, as paid subscription services continued to be the primary drier of revenue increases, and reached a record number of subscriptions. Covid-19 affected the industry significantly through tour cancellations, retail store closures, and other disruptions. Revenues from recorded music measured at wholesale value grew 8.9% to $8.0 billion.

Joshua P Friedlander, Serior Vice President, Research and Economics, RIAA

TURN TURN TURN – HYBRID RETRO TURNTABLES

Recently, record players and turntables have been making a comeback thanks to the the resurgence of vinyl. For much of this decade, it was nearly impossible to find an amplifier or audio receiver that had a built-in phono input as a standard option. Most audio manufacturers didn’t even consider it, since they felt it was just added an unnecessary cost in the new digital age. It was only reserved for the top tier models where you would definitely notice it in the list price.

Today, many retailers and independent record stores have quite a nice selection of “retro” turntables for sale. Two companies have dominated the market by creating hybrid turntables; Victrola, who have been in business since 1901, during the Thomas Edison days, and Crosley, who ironically, have been around for 30 years betting vinyl wouldn’t go away. Luckily for them and us, it didn’t.

These are the turntables that the younger generation of buyers prefer as it combines updated features similar to a what a laptop would have, such as built-in speakers, headphone jacks, Bluetooth technology, and even USB functionality to create audio files, as compared to the traditional turntables that are strictly components to a stereo system.

At this years CES 2021, Victrola announced the partnership with Audio Technica and unveiled the “Eastwood Hybrid Turntable” (pictured), which has an exclusive custom-made moving magnetic Audio Technica (AT-360LA) cartridge built right in the tonearm.

While the record is playing on the Eastwood, you have the option to listen through its built-in speakers or any external Bluetooth speakers. Other options include attaching personal headphones directly to it, using its RCA output jack to amplify the sound to an amplifier or receiver (like a traditional turntable), or even use the turntable’s built-in speakers to use as an external speaker for your phone, tablet, or device that connects to Bluetooth.

The fact that Victrola is only charging $99 is just astounding, as any who has ever replaced a stylus knows how expensive a good quality Audio Technica cartridges costs, even if it’s just an entry level one. In comparison to other turntables at this price point, this turntable with its magnetic cartridge would make it a step above if you plan to use it with headphones or through an external source, as the technology that Victrola uses in partnership with AT ensures high quality sound. Whether it’s used as a starter turntable, it’s surely an economical way to go if all you want to do is spin records.

Looking forward to seeing more vinyl releases in the record stores.

Vinyl is just simply groovy.